U.S. gives lowest percent in aid

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.columbiatribune.com/2004/Dec/20041229News024.asp

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration is defending U.S. generosity, even as it figures out how to pay for $35 million it has promised to tsunami victims in Asia. snip

But measuring the generosity of the United States depends on the yardstick.

The U.S. government is always near the top in total humanitarian aid dollars - even before private donations are counted - but it finishes near the bottom of the list of rich countries when that money is compared to gross national product.

Such figures were what prompted Jan Egeland - the United Nations’ emergency relief coordinator and former head of the Norwegian Red Cross - to challenge the giving of rich nations.

more

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[Bucknut213]

3. Don't bite the hand....

While I think we should do more, I don't like hearing other countries complain about our lack of giving. We have no obligation to give anyone a dime, yet we do every year and after every catastrophe. We should give more, but allegations of stinginess should come from within. You should ask for a handout with an insult.

[HuckleB]

7. Read "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" ...

and then see if you can still make the same statement.

[progressiveBadger]

27. Yes!

Exactly what I was thinking.

[RuleofLaw]

10. The shut the F*** up!

I am sick and tired of people saying the US does not have to pay anything. If we want to be the leader of the free world, we should act like a leader. If not we should shut up and go back to our corner.

When will you people realize that by providing help and comfort we are building friendships and and alliances and perhaps people will stop hating us. Much cheaper than actually waging war and longer lasting too.

[KingChicken]

18. I agree, U.S. is obligated to pay, we made it that way...

We insist on controling the world with money, we think we are the world's "police", and we constantly reinforce our image as the world's shepard. When the shit hits the I expect the U.S. to pay, we put ourselves in this position and now we have to put our money where our mouth is.

U.S. can't have its cake and eat it to!

[Deja Q]

33. Bingo. But if we don't pay in one way, someone else will make us pay...

in another way.

It's like a wheelbarrow of BRICs is about to hit us on our collective head.

[Cobalt Violet]

26. The cheapest ones are the one who insist this is a Christian nation.

Well if it Bu$hCo. is acting as if this is a Satanic Nation.

[bpilgrim]

41. Catholic Relief Services: Internet donations for tsunami relief $100K/hr.

https://www.catholicrelief.org/index.cfm

discuss...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2885335

peacce

[mutius]

65. Church people

don't even help their own. they are greedy.

[tiredofthisstuff]

42. Here Here

Perfectly said:toast:

[jdj]

45. it would be so hypocritical not to give generously to over 100,000

people in a natural disaster while having killed over 100,000 iraqis under the premise of "winning hearts and minds".

[Harry S Truman]

73. Exactly!

When it comes to squelching the causes of terrorism, a dollar given to the tsunami victims equals thousands of dollars spent in Iraq. Of course, xenophobes will never understand the world beyond their own applianced-packed front porches.

[SoCalDem]

11. When a millionaire "donates" a thousand bucks and a person making

$15,000 a year donates $50 bucks, who gave the most generous donation?

Of course , in dollar amount, the millionaire did, but if a relatively poor person can donate an amount ($50) that will mean they have really dug into the family budget, why NOT mention that the millionaire gave LESS that what he "could" or "should" have??

A small list of individual companies who have pledged donations so far, SURPASSES what oour whole country has "pledged".. Of course the $20M "line of credit" is conveniently added into the aid, which it should NOT be.

If you are starving, and I "promise" to LOAN you money, have I really HELPED you??

[Kimber Scott]

14. Isn't there something in the Bible about a woman who gave her last

couple of cents to the church, or charity, and how that compared to the rich guys giving a big chunk of money? The rich guys still had plenty to eat with, while the lady gave everything she had.

But, you know, we need the money to wage war and all. We can't go giving it away to people who are hungry, or have no place to live, or parents to take care of them anymore, or children to take care of... Oh, and we have to have money left for the grandest inauguration of them all. Can't forget that.

[priller]

19. Yes, it's called the parable of the "Widow's mite"

She humbly and quietly gave her two coins, all she had. Whereas the wealthy man made a big show of his large (but small to him) donation.

Jesus said, 'Truly, she has the greater reward".

[montana_hazeleyes]

24. Jesus

and his teachings are so opposite of bush** and his rich contributors and followers who claim to be Christian in my opinion.

I think Jesus would be appalled at this oppulant "coronation" of bush** that's coming up. They shouls just cancel it and give the money for aid relief.

[pacifictiger]

30. To illustrate the point

the US first offer of $15mil breaks down to about 5c per citizen.
The increase (after the UN 'stingy'remark) to $35mil breaks down to just under 12c per US citizen. Yet the average US citizen makes more money per year than others around the world.

To contrast, Australia's initial offer of $10mil equates to 50c per Aussie citizen.

[indepat]

67. Wonder what Jesus would say to those who profess to love and follow him

but support their man of God notwithstanding his policies and actions often are not charitable?

[tabasco]

12. You mean like Bush complaining about countries ...

that didn't invade Iraq with us? Were you upset about that, too?

Maybe Bush should have just shut up and let those nations complain from within.

[progressiveBadger]

28. As long as we are spending even a dime

of my money on a illegal war, I have every right to complain that we aren't giving enough. That 160 billion or whatever we have wasted in Iraq could be used to help these people and still have money left over to insure every child in this country.

[LanternWaste]

29. We do have an obligation

We do have an obligation, although not legal. The obligation is charity towards humanity.

Imaginary red and blue border lines on a map don't separate man from his neighbors...

That's what I think, anyways.

[Inland]

32. Allegations of stinginess SHOULD come from within. So why don't they?

Why does it take a SHAMING from a UN functionary to get us to think about it?

And after it takes a shaming to get us to think about it, why blame the person who told the truth to our faces? Seems to me that someone who gets us to do the right thing shouldn't be blamed.

I suggest that in truth, the only people who could criticize the UN functionary are people who really think the criticism is wrong in fact, that we give enough or too much.

[Skittles]

63. our standard of living comes off the backs of people in those countries

please desist with the America-holier-than-thou sickness

[tx_dem41]

66. There never was an allegation that the U.S. was stingy....

read the article again. The UN official was addressing the developed world.

[saskatoon]

75. other countries complain?

Why not when we are going to spend so much glorifying that asshole we call president re his inauguration. We deserve every slam we get.

[fujiyama]

80. What the hell are you talking about?

This is about the % of the GNP.

All other nations are giving a higher percentage.

The US is MORALLY OBLIGATED to give as much as it can. And if the government claims there "isn't enough", maybe we'll have to cut back a bit on say, our bloated defense budget.

[The Stranger]

5. For the billions spent on a pointless war based on lies,

you'd think they could maybe match it helping in a truly humanitarian way.

[trotsky]

6. Talk about fighting terrorism.

Improving our image in the world gets rid of a lot more terrorists than bombing a country does.

[HuckleB]

23. We could educate those who complain that we give too much.

Now wouldn't that be a change of pace? After all, these are the same people who think we give more than anyone else. What if they knew that we didn't give jack diddly? What if they knew that a big part of the wealth of this country was basically stolen from the countries in question through sleazy deals based on keeping those nations without democracies?

What if?

Opinions just might change in the face of reality.

[Sterling]

71. You live in the age of "choose your reality"

Educating people is impossible if they choose to ignore reality in favor of faith in W and the myth of the perfect America. Why do you think they howled like monkeys when M Moore pointed out that W has some serious conflict of interests. You are talking about a country that believed attacking Iraq would in some way help in an effort to get the people who did 9-11.

[HuckleB]

72. Yes, and all of that is possible because education failed...

in the first place.

[Sub Atomic]

2. A bit disturbing: 'even as it figures out how to pay...'

So if the United States is having difficulty in finding $35 million for relief in Asia, what happens if we're attacked again?

Is the * administration just going to say "we're sorry, we can't help you. We're broke"?

[Lorien]

56. We're spending $40 million on *'s coronation

and what, a billion a month in Iraq? I think Cheney has made about $35 million personally from Halliburtan, maybe he could give up a little of that?

[despairing optimist]

4. * is spending as much on his inauguration as on tsunami victims

according to Amy Goodman on Democracy Now. And that amounts to about $40 million. By comparison, I think she said the Iraq war costs $9 million an hour.

Who else is starting to believe that the chief US export is death?

[Egalitariat]

8. Any analysis that ignores private giving is meaningless...

and this is one of them. It actually says it ignores private giving.

US citizens made almost $250 billion in charitable contributions last year. Surely, at least a few of those dollars went to international relief and development organizations.

That money should be counted in any analysis that rates the generosity of a country.

Whether the US Government drafts the check or the money comes directly from Joe Sixpack, it all comes from the same place - US taxpayers.

As a matter of fact, Amazon.com has already collected over $2.5 million in private donations that are specific to the devastation of the tsunamis.

[Tempest]

13. Japanese citizens contribute to international aid more by far

I read a report on private giving to international aid, and Americans are still lacking when compared to other countries.

I'll try to find the report tonight.

[SoCalDem]

15. Sorry... That analogy does not really help our international image

The fact that Betty Jones of Omaha donated $50 is NOT what the International Community is looking at.. THEY see the ONLY superpower sitting back and waiting.. They see our reticent,ignoramus-of-a-leader chopping wood at the pig-farm,turned summer camp for the hopelessly tongue-tied, figuring out how he can do yet another thing "on the cheap". Of course, while he wants to do it on the cheap, he ALSO wants his minions to get on TV and spin it as if he was the most generous person on earth..

The fly in the ointment here, is ....THERE ARE PICTURES...graphic pictures of the massive suffering.. There are OTHER news agencies (some of them equally vociferous as FOX)who are TELLING their people that "the US is less than helpful".

NOW.. imagine that you are a young person who has just lost most or ALL of your family, and the ONE country on earth that you thought would help, ISN'T...or is doing it grudgingly... This disaster and its aftermath will go a long way to strengthening the grip of the ne'er-do-wells on the young/poor/undereducated ....the ones who already do not trust us.,. We are giving them yet another reason to hate us..

[Psephos]

39. So, what's important is our image, and not the actual donation?

Something seems backasswards about that.

I care about doing the right thing way more than I care about doing the PR thing. In the long run, the two concerns are convergent, anyway. Take five minutes out of your DU posting time and "post" an email to your Congressperson to open up the purse strings. And then open up your own.

Lot of bitchers on here about this subject. I wonder how many have donated? My guess is, not all of them.

Step up to the plate people.

[SoCalDem]

40. It IS possible to do BOTH.. Our "leader"

should be thinking a few steps ahead..

He sat on his ASS waiting to be told what to do, and I think he was afraid to come forward with a generous package because he's the leader of the "Hate brown people party", and it would not do his "image" with them much good if he "gave their hard earned cash" to a bunch of poor dark people who might even be MUSLIMS.. He thought he could slide by once again on the cheap, and no one would notice..

Guess what??

We noticed!!!

[Skittles]

64. PLENTY OF US HAVE DONATED

there have been SEVERAL THREADS

[Psephos]

76. I did not doubt it for a moment

What I said was, my guess is that a few of the bitchers haven't.

But again, that's quite beside the point. To be explicit, I consider it ghoulish that anyone from either end of the political spectrum thinks this is an occasion to make political hay. Let's focus on doing what we can to help and forget about whether or not it's an occasion to polish the national image. This isn't about us; it's about them.

[Skittles]

79. too late, the g.d. damage has already been done

thats to our stupid incompetent piece of shit "president" who couldn't lead his way out a f***ing PAPER BAG.

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

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[daleo]

49. How about providing a source for that?

And, also provide a source that shows other country's private citizens don't give aid. Also, prove that private donations magically are more effective than government aid.

[Judi Lynn]

52. Looks like we're a legend on "our" own minds, doesn't it?

If citizens have made it to adulthood without a suspicion the things they heard and thought as children are insufficient, they'll probably become Republicans.

How they ever end up wandering around at D.U., handing out criticism is comical. I love it when they say "we Democrats."

Wouldn't you think it's worth considering that we "private citizens" are being required to finance the murder of tons of heartbroken, terrified people? Why would it be appropriate to insinuate we "private citizens" don't also need our representatives to have other interests in the world beyond carnage and delusions of importance?

I say, let's nip the true "negativity" in the bud, and stop running down DU'ers who have very deep sensibilities and concerns about this monstrous event.

[PaulaFarrell]

61. do you have a link for that 250 billion?

it sounds an enourmous amount, almost 1,000 dollars per person

[mbossman2]

70. attributions for the $240b charity figure

http://www.aafrc.org/press_releases/trustreleases/americansgive.html

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibd/20041229/bs_ibd_ibd/20041228issues01

[PaulaFarrell]

74. how much of that is giving to churches?

I don't really consider that charity, unless the church gives the money to good causes. I grew up Catholic and you were pretty much expected to give money to support the church, so I don't really count that. Do you have a source which excludes oney to support churches? Also, ex-president's wives donating their old clothes to charity?

[fujiyama]

81. Good for the people

Our greedy administration is still cheap as hell.

This is about what our government is doing. Where are our taxes going? I'm glad the people are giving money, but those we are represented by are still cheap, greedy, corrupt bastards.

And I think it's fair for the world to look down on this great American genorisity. No one believes anything this country says.
Once again it's time for Americans to give themselves a big fuckin "pat on the back".

I'm sick of this myth of the great "AMerican generosity".

What arrogance and bullshit. The fact is, our government has done little if anything to help out. Why feel bad about it? Why feel anything about it?

[kuozzman]

9. This is pathetic!

The argument that we don't have to give anything to anybody would be valid if we didn't waste billions on nothing. It's a fact that our government wastes billions on useless crap/pork, the idea that we can't afford this is absurd! Take a look at some of the crap in the 2003 Omnibus bill:
Combined total for Hawaii and Alaska over 1 Billion(Worst two of the 50 states)
$16,000 for the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in New York
$90,000 for Wool research
$90,000 for olive fruit fly research in France
$250,000 for the “Call Me Mister” program at Clemson University
$50,000 to combat "feral hogs" in Missouri
$202,500 for the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds for construction of the National Peanut Festival Agriculture Arena in Donthan, Alabama
$250,000 for research on the interaction of grapefruit juice and drugs
$270,000 for Potato Storage research at Madison, WI
$270,000 Asian Longhorned Beetle Including Emerald Ash Borer in DE
$360,000 Sugarcane Variety Research in DE
$280,000 for asparagus technology and production in Washington
$319,000.00 for Chandelier Restoration and Crystal Globe Replacement in the Capitol
$500,000 for the gasification of switchgrass in Iowa
$538,286 Shrimp aquaculture
$600,000 for Tri-state joint peanut research in Alabama
$700,000 for the Midwest poultry consortium in Iowa
$400,000 Love, Inc.
$1,500,000 Arctic Winter Games buses and bus facilities, AK
$200,000 City of North Pole
$950,000 North Pole Roads Lighting
$1,000,000 USA Center for the Study of Rural Vehicular Trauma
$1,000,000 Arctic Winter games Transportation Improvements
$1 million for a DNA bear sampling study in Montana
$1,000,000 Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket Suppression
$1,000,000 for the National Agricultural-Based Industrial Lubricants Center
$1,000,000 USA Center for the Study of Rural Vehicular Trauma IN ALASKA!?
$1,000,000 South Carolina Oyster Recovery
$1.2 billion Amtrak requested(They’ve received over 25 BILLION over the last two decades)
$1,600,000 for enhanced oil spill prevention activities in the waters of Washington State. "the Committee expects the Captain of the Port to use his professional judgment in allocating these funds to measures that he believes will best protect these waters. Such measures could include a cost sharing arrangement with the State of Washington for the hiring of a rescue tug at Neah Bay. However, these funds could be allocated to alternative measures if, in the view of the Captain of the Port, such alternative measures will provide a superior level of protection."
$1,750,000 Chronic Wasting Disease!!
$1,900,000 Wind demonstration project in Texas
$1,500,000 Asian Longhorned Beetle Activities
$2,000,000 South Carolina Seafood Alliance - Sec. 208
$2.2 million grant for North Pole, Alaska, home of only 1,570 residents
$2,430,000 Center for Grape Genetics
$2,500,000 Lighting systems for Rhode Island Airport Corporatio
$3M for the National Fatherhood Initiative.
$4,000,000 for the International Fertilizer Development Center
$5M for Carter Center's Guinea Worm Eradication Program
$6,000,000 for a Police Athletic League
$9,400,000 South Carolina Judicial Department to continue purchasing equipment
$10 million from the "Promote and Develop Fishery Products and Research Pertaining to American Fisheries"
$10,000,000 of the Coast Guard's Acquisition, Construction, and Improvements budget for a new line item entitled "Security Surveillance and Protection."
$35,000,000 is for direct assistance to the state of Alaska, for any person, business, or town that has experienced an economic hardship even remotely related to fishing. This money is in addition to the $20,000,000 they are also getting for developing an Alaskan seafood marketing program.

$50,000,000 out of an eventual $130,000,000 was authorized to build and indoor rain forest will be built in Coralville, Iowa!!??

[mslux]

20. $400,000 Love, Inc.

"Mobilizing the Church to transform lives and communities In the Name of Christ"

[SidDithers]

31. Take out Amtrak, and this is still peanuts...

compared to the $200 Bn spent on Iraq. And that meter is still ticking.

Sid

[American Tragedy]

58. Love, Inc.????

[yardwork]

16. More than two hundred billion we've spent to kill Iraqis

but we can't spare a couple million to help our fellow humans?

Shows the world where American priorities are.

[brentspeak]

25. Nothing left after Bush has given all our money away

Halliburton execs and Washington lobbyists have nothing to complain about, though...

[gratuitous]

17. Gee, didn't Jesus say something about this?

You'd think a good country full of good Christians would want their government to reflect the Scripture. Yeah, here it is, Mark 12:41-44.

[hughee99]

21. This is not really a big deal to me...

What helps the victims more, the man with 1 million who gives $10,000 or the man with $10,000 who give $1000? The $1000 donation is a bigger sacrifice, but the $10,000 helps more. As far as our humanitarian giving from the government goes, I would like to see the numbers when you include private donations for all countries, since in the end, all the money comes from the taxpayers anyway. If it still turns out that we are lagging behind other countries, then I will feel bad about it.

[Egalitariat]

37. Wow. That's the most reasoned post I've read in any

of the 20 or so threads on this subject.

Thank you!

[fujiyama]

82. .

[incapsulated]

43. Which would help a victim more?

The dollar you give him or the $20 you kept in your back pocket?

The more you have, the more you are expected to give. We have given less than we could, while others have given more than they should, only to be listed by the defensive and wealthy US as "less generous" because of the total dollar amount.

The shoe is on the other foot, now. Now they are pleading poverty because of the money spent on their insane wars and desire for social security scams. Now we can't even keep up appearances with the Europeans or Canadians, in cold cash.

[msgadget]

48. Well said. n/t

[sandnsea]

51. We have more people

You can't compare a country with 1/4 of our population on a country by country basis. Besides, it's not a competition. We all know our government ought to have more than $35 million to give during the most catastrophic event in possibly hundreds of years. Beyond that, it's really the attitude that is jarring. Bush is still riding bikes and wacking brush I guess. Told Jebby to git on over there and make an appearance. It's absolutely humiliating.

[Bridget Burke]

54. You "would like to see the numbers"?

Since you need those numbers to prove your point, I'd suggest you start Googling!

[Judi Lynn]

59. Great advice! Google isn't "privatized," after all. Open to all.

"'Tis better to light a search than to curse the darkness!"

How often has it happened that someone claims because he/she hasn't seen evidence to the contrary, his/her claim must be true?

[PaulaFarrell]

62. don't know about total aid

but individuals in UK gave £25 million in 24 hours after appaels for tsunami victims went out on Wednesday night. That's from a population of about 50 million. For the Us to equal that, it would require around 500 million dollars in private donations. And then the UK government felt guilty and raised their donation to 50 million pounds, so in total 75 million pounds. That's what I call class.

[donheld]

22. "In as much as you've done it

unto the least of these my brothers, you've done it unto me"

[Not Me]

34. To put things in perspective...

the Feds dropped $11 Billion in Florida in the aftermath of this summer's hurrincanes.

As of yesterday, the total WORLD contribution pledge to the tsunami-hit countries totalled $100 Million. Less than 1 percent of the money that went into rebuilding Florida has been committed to these Asian countries in FAR worse shape.

Unless something BIG happens, they are fucked.

[better2know]

35. Earliest Aid is most important - only gov has supplies-planes-ships

to stop diseases from spreading.

that's why it's so important that our gov did nothing for days.

That un guy saved tens of thousands, or more lives, with his "stingy" remarks.

It's the disease, sleeping outside, contaminated food and especially water that will kill, probably a hundred thousand more already weakened and traumatized by the events.

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[daleo]

50. Actually, we don't all know that.

You saying it, doesn't make it so.

[Bridget Burke]

55. We all know?

Yeah, right.

[Judi Lynn]

60. Maybe the "lifesaving" Bush has done in Fallujah

wouldn't be a good example. Not much to gloat about there.

GRAPHIC FALLUJAH PHOTOS:

http://fallujapictures.blogspot.com/

[JoFerret]

36. Remember the parable of the widow's mite

These Nicene Christians know nothing except the baby Jesus and the passion of the cross.

[Annus Horribilis]

38. And How Much Money

Are we spending to "liberate" the Iraqis???? As Sen. Leahy said today, the Bush Admin. spends $35 million every single day before breakfast in Iraq.

[Darranar]

44. 147 billion to run a war, 15 million to help people after...

a catastrophe....

Again, Bush's "moral values" show themselves.

[Judi Lynn]

53. Bush is a real god-send for "our" war profiteers.

They could NEVER have had it so good in a million years. I hope someday someone explains to them the unbearable price the world has paid to make them wealthier.

Welcome to D.U.! :hi: :hi: :hi:


(I think this 'toon was done long ago.
Prices need to be adjusted upwardly,no doubt!)

[Annus Horribilis]

57. Thanks for the Welcome

And for the toon!

[Chico Man]

68. Who will draw a political cartoon of Bush surfing a tsunami into Iraq?

Someone needs to do it.

[HuskiesHowls]

69. Here's a Democrat who isn't afraid to make his views known

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy says the United States should use unspent Iraq reconstruction money to help provide disaster relief to the parts of south Asia hit by the weekend tsunami that killed at least 76,000 people.

The money has been appropriated by Congress and is unspent.

"We could start taking the money out tomorrow if we needed to," Leahy said Wednesday.

"I believe that the United States, with capabilities far exceeding those of other nations, has an obligation to play the lead role in responding to this humanitarian emergency," Leahy said Wednesday in a letter to President Bush.
<snip>

"We speak of morality and morals in government. The morality in this is this: We're the wealthiest nation history has ever known. We have more blessings than any other nation," Leahy said.

"We say we'll sit back and then in a month or two have a donors conference in Geneva. The need is now," Leahy said. "If the president has to cut short his vacation so be it. If you are really looking for something where you can have Democrats and Republicans work together than do it on this. I can guarantee they will have a coalition of Democrats and Republicans."
<snip>

"Finally, I would urge you to promptly make high profile appearances to let the world know that the United States Government is deeply engaged on this issue," Leahy said. "You and other top Administration officials need to act decisively to improve the international perception of the U.S. response to this immense tragedy."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2004/12/29/leahy_wants_us_to_spend_more_for_tsunami_relief/

[Psephos]

77. I like the way he thinks n/t

[Biased Liberal Media]

78. Finally...someone speaks out. It's about damn time

Leahy hit the nail on the head with what he said. (Well said too!!!)

[Judi Lynn]

83. Yes, thanks for the observations from Senator Leahy.

There's no one in the Republican Party his equal. NO ONE.

He's got _Bush's number, doesn't he? Hope Leahy will be able to lead more Democrats to start making a stand, and in a hurry.

[Seabiscuit]

84. Behind close doors, these a-holes behave like the martians in "Mars

Attacks" - laughing and slapping each other on the back each time they pull off another deception.