How many here feel that they would rather the money going to Haiti went to the US?

[Locut0s]

This is a sentiment that I have seen repeated again and again all over the place and one that I really can't fathom. I just don't see how any compassionate person could not look at what's going on in Haiti and not feel that we should be there helping out. Of course we are but I've seen the sentiment voiced numerous times that we should be spending this money at home instead. I agree that there are a lot of problems to be solved "back home" but the problems we face in the west pale in comparison to those the 3rd world faces. Just seems cold to me.

See here where I made a post asking this other forum how they feel about the poor in the 3rd world vs "Here". Note of course this doesn't correlate exactly but just see some of the replies (luckily most are good):

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2043904

[Captain Hilts]

1. Me either. Haitians are neighbors. nt

[FiveGoodMen]

2. Wow, people are saying THAT? Ugh!

The money being poured into Afghanistan should be going to the US.

[Wapsie B]

3. Just reallocate funds from that to Haiti and to pay for real HCR.

[timeforpeace]

25. We should be able to do without HCR if it means helping Haiti.

[Locut0s]

10. People are saying worse than that. I've seen a lot of people say F*&K haiti....

They feel it's a worthless cause, that since they have a corrupt government and a lot of aid has gone to them in the past (which is true) that they don't deserve any more. I've seen people pull out the old condescending "teach a man to fish" vs give a man fish argument. My blood boils at reading this stuff.

[nini]

4. those are the same people who blamed the Katrina victims

they do not give a damn about anyone suffering - that's just an excuse to justify their sick twisted view of the world.

[Mz Pip]

5. Cut the overblown defense budget

and we can do both.

fat chance.

[G_j]

6. --

[deminks]

7. Stop the wars of choice and use that money elsewhere.

We could do a lot of things.

[enlightenment]

9. I agree.

Both on the sentiment and the chances of it happening. :(

[Obamanaut]

24. This would save a bundle. Close all the hundreds of military sites

in all the foreign countries, bring home all the troops and their families (if they have them there.) That immediately saves all the money being spent on leasing the base property.

What equipment cannot be brought home inexpensively, sell to the host nation at a reduced price.

Spread about, all over the US, the troops and their families into the formerly downsized or closed bases. Immediate influx of money into the local economies.

Reduce the number of active duty personnel via normal attrition as their enlistments expire. Reduce recruiting efforts such that only a small percentage of dischargees are replaced until the goal of the 'new size' military is attained.

No longer have the US act as 'police force to the world.' Maintain the active force in sufficient quantity for defense only.

[stray cat]

8. No

[flamingdem]

11. The usa owes Haiti, they screwed w their elected pres, sweat shopped them away from agriculture nt

[Locut0s]

12. The US has screwed with countless 3rd world countries because it was in the USs best interest...

Sure they may have sometimes temporarily improved living standards here or there but the reasons for doing so were usually 3/4 selfish. And often times they made things 10x worse.

[Roadkill]

14. haiti

Is there any possible end to it except bringing them all over here?

[RaleighNCDUer]

18. Not to pick, but is WASN'T in the USs best interest.

The best interest of the US is to have prosperous, successful neighbors with low levels of poverty, crime and unrest.

It was in the best interest of a few international corporations.

[EFerrari]

22. Bingo. And the term "US" is intentionally slippery.

Calling those interests the US is exactly like calling corpoations persons, no?

[doc03]

13. I have already heard some stupid f----g Republicans say

what did they do for us on 9/11. One Rethug I know said this morning that Obama will bring them all over here to collect welfare and food stamps, I'm not kidding..

[undeterred]

15. I would rather see the money that is going to ramp up Afghanistan

being spent on human needs in the US.

[Locut0s]

16. See here where I made a post asking this other forum how they feel about...

the poor in the 3rd world vs "Here". Note of course this doesn't correlate exactly but just see some of the replies (luckily most are good):

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2043904

[Bluebear]

17. "Went to the US" - for what? More bombs? Bailing out AIG? Send it to Haiti.

[Locut0s]

19. For "our poor". Forgetting that we don't even have poor in the sense that the 3rd world does. nt

[Edweird]

20. As a Canadian, you surely do not.

However, I can attest from personal experience that there are parts of the US that are very close to being 'Haiti'.

That being said, I have no issue with humanitarian efforts.

I DO have a problem with trillions going to wealthy scumbags while we are being told there is no money for job creation. Or health care. Or housing/homelessness. So, I wish the bailout money went to us.

[JI7]

21. i have seen that to

it's annoying

[Lisa0825]

23. They need it more than us at this time.

There are long term needs, of which we have many, and then there are critical needs, and that is Haiti.