Tidal Waves Kill More Than 120,000 in Asia
#426
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Originally Posted by Myster X
Maybe Kofi Annan's son can donate a few dollars here and there after all the millions he made from Iraq oil for food scandal.
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Originally Posted by nevermind
Yes, but you see the difference is that the NYT has no interest in slamming the Canadian Federal Government, France, or anyone but (you know the rest).
The initial Canadian government contribution was quite "miserly", as was the initial US contribution (I'd assume that it will increase later). I think the criticism by the papers may actually do some good this time, if it results in increased contributions.
On a dollar for dollar impact basis, contribution to the relief efforts will probably do a lot more good for the world than things such as Iraq or the Canadian gun registry.
#429
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Originally Posted by X
I think this is a very good idea and the beginning of a trend in more than just disaster relief. It will put in perspective what we and our allies do versus what the U.N. does. Not to mention how much gets allocated to "overhead" when it goes through the U.N. They're only the middleman anyway, they don't create their own money.
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Originally Posted by Breakfast with Girls
I mean, if you're going to steal, at least steal big, you know?
Kofi was a bad parent.
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Originally Posted by Ranger
It's just one example. There are a LOT of countries we shouldn't give money (especially taxpayers' money) to.
and at least a few Presidents agree, assuming these quotes I saw at another site are accurate
"I feel obliged to withhold my approval of the plan to indulge in benevolent and charitable sentiment through the appropriation of public funds. ... I find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution."
~ President Grover Cleveland, 1887; vetoing an appropriation to help drought-stricken counties in Texas.
"I cannot find any authority in the Constitution for public charity... (such spending) would be contrary to the letter and the spirit of the Constitution and subversive to the whole theory upon which the Union of these States is founded."
~ President Franklin Pierce, 1854; vetoing an appropriation bill to help the mentally ill.
"With respect to the words general welfare, I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers (enumerated in the Constitution) connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators."
~ James Madison,
"I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents."
~ James Madison, objecting to Congress appropriating $15,000 to assist French refugees.
#432
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Originally Posted by mikehunt
Personally, I don't think taxpayer money should be given to any country.
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Originally Posted by mikehunt
Personally, I don't think taxpayer money should be given to any country
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Originally Posted by mikehunt
Personally, I don't think taxpayer money should be given to any country.
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I can see the point there and almost want to agree with it. But I also feel proud when my nation steps up and helps victims like this. It would be a shame if public funds only ever went to attack other countries and not ever to assist them.
That said, I'm all for charitable private donations and consider that to be the truest form of charity since the motivation is purely good.
That said, I'm all for charitable private donations and consider that to be the truest form of charity since the motivation is purely good.
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I was looking over the world map today and realized this is probably the most damage an earthquake caused tsunami could do (with a simular magnitude). The low lands with high populations near a subduction zone. Tsunami warning system in this area probably wont matter now since its been over 500 years since the last tsunami (no records of a tsunami this size in this part of the world since 1509 and no one knows of any legends before that which could infer one).
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I could maybe beok with tax money being used to directly buy food/water/medical supplies/building materials/etc from US companies and then shipping those supplies over. But not just handing out money
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Originally Posted by mikehunt
But not just handing out money
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Originally Posted by mikehunt
Personally, I don't think taxpayer money should be given to any country
It's not a personal shot, Mike - it's just a shot at the attitude of 'not in my backyard' that seems so prevalent in the world today. Nothing these days is ever done without thinking 'how will it affect me'. It's not the problem of the United States, so taxpayers shouldn't be required to do anything about it.
Even the idea of giving goods that are provided 'from US companies' indicates a very much 'me first...me only' attitude that is often associated with America. America invades Iraq...the US companies get lots of money. America gives money to various international humanitarian groups...but they sure as hell want to provide something in return.
No, that may not be true, but it's very much a perception that lingers when politicans do come out saying (certainly at a time like this) things like this - that it's not the job of the US Government to help out people less fortunate. A Government is her people.
As Gil said - giving at a time like this should be something to be proud of. It's a display that, at the end of the day, political differences, boundaries and ideological spats are put aside and we all band together to support each other.
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Originally Posted by naughty jonny
And then you ask yourself why so many people hate Americans.
It's not a personal shot, Mike - it's just a shot at the attitude of 'not in my backyard' that seems so prevalent in the world today. Nothing these days is ever done without thinking 'how will it affect me'. It's not the problem of the United States, so taxpayers shouldn't be required to do anything about it.
It's not a personal shot, Mike - it's just a shot at the attitude of 'not in my backyard' that seems so prevalent in the world today. Nothing these days is ever done without thinking 'how will it affect me'. It's not the problem of the United States, so taxpayers shouldn't be required to do anything about it.
#441
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Over 100,000 people have died and that number keeps rising. Millions are homeless, the economies will no doubt go to shit. An initial aid offering fo $15,000,000 from the US is pathetic, especially when one considers how many BILLIONS, if not TRILLIONS of dollars we spend on the military, every year. Why not take even a quarter of the money we spend ATTACKING other countries and help one of them out?
We are, after all, all humans, occupying the same planet. It could just as easily have happened in California as it did in Asia.
Maybe if everyone set their differences aside and actually helped each other out, especially in such a horrible, horrible situation as this, we wouldn't lived in such a fucked up world and be so pissed off at each other.
The comments some people have made in this thread are shameful.
We are, after all, all humans, occupying the same planet. It could just as easily have happened in California as it did in Asia.
Maybe if everyone set their differences aside and actually helped each other out, especially in such a horrible, horrible situation as this, we wouldn't lived in such a fucked up world and be so pissed off at each other.
The comments some people have made in this thread are shameful.
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and I'm not just talking about this flood case, I'm against tax funded foreign aid in general. Besides, even when we give we're still hated, so that obviously has no effect
How much did the UN get countries to send us after the FL huricanes?
How much did the UN get countries to send us after the FL huricanes?
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Originally Posted by mikehunt
and I'm not just talking about this flood case, I'm against tax funded foreign aid in general. Besides, even when we give we're still hated, so that obviously has no effect
How much did the UN get countries to send us after the FL huricanes?
How much did the UN get countries to send us after the FL huricanes?
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Originally Posted by mikehunt
How much did the UN get countries to send us after the FL huricanes?
Disaster, tragedy, poverty...they don't just stop at our border and cease to be our problem. The 'rich, evil West' opinion is (IMO) in part because we have this attitude. And I'm not just talking about the US - I'm including other nations as well (including Australia).
Even when we do give it, we expect something in return. Trade deals, favoured nation status, expectations that people will change their way of life because we've given them money (World Bank and cash crops). We as nations don't give simply because it's the right thing to do...we do it because it's going to benefit us in some way.
As for the $15 Million, well...IMO, that IS pathetic. With a population of 300 million people, that equates to $0.05 cents per person. If you tried to even give that as a tip to your waitress, you'd have it thrown back in your face. And yet your Government thinks it's acceptable.
Even our Government's $26 million (US dollars, around US $1.30 per person) is pretty paltry when you think that wouldn't even buy us a sandwich for lunch.
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oh and where is this 15 million coming from?
our initial amount it 35mil with more once our people get on site and evaluate the situation. I watched Colin say that very thing on the news
our initial amount it 35mil with more once our people get on site and evaluate the situation. I watched Colin say that very thing on the news
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Originally Posted by naughty jonny
This is what I mean by perception. We won't donate (as a Government) because "they didn't give anything to us".
Disaster, tragedy, poverty...they don't just stop at our border and cease to be our problem. The 'rich, evil West' opinion is (IMO) in part because we have this attitude. And I'm not just talking about the US - I'm including other nations as well (including Australia).
Even when we do give it, we expect something in return. Trade deals, favoured nation status, expectations that people will change their way of life because we've given them money (World Bank and cash crops). We as nations don't give simply because it's the right thing to do...we do it because it's going to benefit us in some way.
As for the $15 Million, well...IMO, that IS pathetic. With a population of 300 million people, that equates to $0.05 cents per person. If you tried to even give that as a tip to your waitress, you'd have it thrown back in your face. And yet your Government thinks it's acceptable.
Even our Government's $26 million (US dollars, around US $1.30 per person) is pretty paltry when you think that wouldn't even buy us a sandwich for lunch.
Disaster, tragedy, poverty...they don't just stop at our border and cease to be our problem. The 'rich, evil West' opinion is (IMO) in part because we have this attitude. And I'm not just talking about the US - I'm including other nations as well (including Australia).
Even when we do give it, we expect something in return. Trade deals, favoured nation status, expectations that people will change their way of life because we've given them money (World Bank and cash crops). We as nations don't give simply because it's the right thing to do...we do it because it's going to benefit us in some way.
As for the $15 Million, well...IMO, that IS pathetic. With a population of 300 million people, that equates to $0.05 cents per person. If you tried to even give that as a tip to your waitress, you'd have it thrown back in your face. And yet your Government thinks it's acceptable.
Even our Government's $26 million (US dollars, around US $1.30 per person) is pretty paltry when you think that wouldn't even buy us a sandwich for lunch.
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Originally Posted by mikehunt
oh and where is this 15 million coming from?
our initial amount it 35mil with more once our people get on site and evaluate the situation. I watched Colin say that very thing on the news
our initial amount it 35mil with more once our people get on site and evaluate the situation. I watched Colin say that very thing on the news
"At this point, we don't know exactly how much of that will be in terms of cash to be disbursed, or whether it'll be commodities. But we anticipate that our initial reaction to this is going to be in the neighborhood of $15 million. That may increase, it may change."
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=363473
(That has since been raised, but it was the initial amount when they knew that at least 20,000 lives had been lost).