America needs change, not charity (Guardian)

[meganmonkey]

(hope it isn't a dupe - didn't see it but can't do a search)

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Withholding aid from the United States is the only way to remove its domestic and foreign policy blinkers, writes Nick Cater

Tuesday September 6, 2005


Why is the world rushing to help America cope with Hurricane Katrina?
From the UK to Cuba, Russia to Japan and more than 50 other countries, including beleaguered Afghanistan, offers of money, food, medicine, relief staff and more worth hundreds of millions of dollars have poured into Washington, which at first seemed rightfully leery of accepting poorer nations' charity.

The US should not need help: Katrina happened in a corner of the richest country on earth with one of the world's largest standing armies. The $40bn (£21.7bn) budget of the Department of Homeland Security includes more than $5bn for the Federal Emergency Management Authority (Fema). Thousands of charities, churches and community groups are already hard at work.

---snip---

If America learned anything from being the recipient of others' charity, it would be worth every penny. But on aid, disasters, climate, poverty, race, religion and more, its failure to listen does great damage to its own vulnerable people and those around the world gripped by poverty, hunger or disease.

After 9/11, the world sent millions of dollars to benefit mainly better-off Americans. Our charity was not necessary then; it is not necessary now.

more...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/katrina/story/0,16441,1563847,00.html

[terip64]

1. I totally agree

I am not giving anything right now (if you don't count the 22 Impeach Bush bumper stickers that I bought and I will hopefully need more!) We will have plenty of time, especially as the holidays approach, but right now we HAVE to focus on CHANGE!!!!

[belle]

2. Ahaha! Spoken like a true Republican...I'm sure Bush will agree.

Black humor, considering who's going to suffer for it, but still: the irony is just precious. "Don't reward them with handouts! Make them work!" fab.

[meganmonkey]

7. Did you actually read the article?

I don't think that is a fair characterization of the author's intent at all.

[katty]

3. amen - we Never Learn and then bash other countries constantly

[Boo Boo]

4. Yep. Agree. The rest of the World should not be enabling Bush.

Any money they give is going to be supporting Bush's corrupt policies, and, as this person points out, is not really needed. Part of the reason the Fed response was so piss poor is that cronyism has disabled organizations like FEMA (and DHS, one would presume). Part of the reason that Bush is trying to take control away from the Gov. of LA is so that the Bushies can direct the flow of recovery dollars to deserving members of Club Bush. It's standard operating procedure.

You look at that guy running FEMA; he's the poster child for political patronage. In any reasonable hiring process his resume would have hit the circular file without the man ever being called in for an interview. People died so that some unqualified chump---a member of The Club---could have a cush job and, in turn, take care of his buds.

Nobody should be bailing these assholes out. We can take care of our own.

[teryang]

5. This administration chose war, nuclear weapons, NMD and tax

..cuts for the rich. I won't enable them either.

[struggle4progress]

6. kick