Yet again, the US gives more money than anyone else, yet we are the greedy nation....idiots.

America: 350,000,000
Britain: 95,000,000
Sweden: 75,500,000
Spain: 68,000,000
France: 57,000,000

Link: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041231/D87AQ4FO0.html

Maybe other countries can't afford to give as much as the USA?  ???

Maybe other countries can't afford to give as much as the USA?  ???


Proportion is something some people just don't get. 

Yet again, the US gives more money than anyone else, yet we are the greedy nation....idiots.

America: 350,000,000
Britain: 95,000,000
Sweden: 75,500,000
Spain: 68,000,000
France: 57,000,000

Link: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041231/D87AQ4FO0.html


Only after being shamed by a $35 million aid package, which several US companies had already beat before the gov't realized how bad they looked.

http://www.photius.com/rankings/gdp_2003_0.html

the UK has a GDP 1/10th of the US.  We did not by any means contribute 10 times as much as they have still. That's ok though, I'm sure the Bush administration will crow about how much more it contributed no matter what the sum.

Check out #3 Sweeden on that GDP list to get a clue.

^I agree Chucky, it's more of a ones up on the other countries than previously proclaiming the amount.

Tanya

I thought the idea of giving money was to aid the people who have been affected by the tsunami disasters not to crow about how much has been given. That is merely making a political statement not a humanitarian one.

I thought the idea of giving money was to aid the people who have been affected by the tsunami disasters not to crow about how much has been given. That is merely making a political statement not a humanitarian one.



Everything this administration does is personal/political.  Everything they do is first couched on "what is in it for us"(the us being their own personal stake).  It is how they live there lives and how they run this country.
The response of the Bush administration was delayed and shallow.  They had to be told by the american
people, as well as the world, that they had shamed us.  I am surprised that they actually seem to be listening.

Everything this administration does is personal/political.  Everything they do is first couched on "what is in it for us"(the us being their own personal stake).  It is how they live there lives and how they run this country.
The response of the Bush administration was delayed and shallow.  They had to be told by the american
people, as well as the world, that they had shamed us.  I am surprised that they actually seem to be listening.


Politically, I'm very naive and idealistic, Danoota - I give it a good go though.  ;D

I thought the idea of giving money was to aid the people who have been affected by the tsunami disasters not to crow about how much has been given. That is merely making a political statement not a humanitarian one.



It is political for the politicians...  for us it is emotional (humanitarian).

This is merely a single example of our feigned charity. No matter how much we give in terms of amount... we are still the cheapest by far when it comes to percentage of GDP. Of all the G8 nations, Japan gives the largest percentage of their GDP, and the US gives the lowest percentage. Now there is something I'm NOT surprised by.

Only after being shamed by a $35 million aid package, which several US companies had already beat before the gov't realized how bad they looked.




Same thing with France, most countries started off small, then donated more as they saw footage of the attack.  When it started, the US gave 15 million, and now we are up at 350 million.  France started off with 100,000 Euros, which is around 136,000 US dollars, now they are at 57 million.

This is merely a single example of our feigned charity. No matter how much we give in terms of amount... we are still the cheapest by far when it comes to percentage of GDP. Of all the G8 nations, Japan gives the largest percentage of their GDP, and the US gives the lowest percentage. Now there is something I'm NOT surprised by.


And liberals wonder why a lot of people think you hate America.  Nothing we ever do is good enough.  Now for a second forget how much the governments are giving, and look at the people.  I just heard on CNN Headline news that the citizens of America have donated more money, than the citizens of all other nations combined.  Other countries want the government to do everything for them, here in America we do it ourselves.

Now I am going to make some enemies here...but I refuse to open my wallet for these people.  Now I do care about the innocent children, but the adults of that country?  Remember the Jakarta bombings anyone?  Don't get me wrong, I think it's a terrible tragedy, but all the aid we send now will somehow turn into another reason to hate the US later.  Get a good look at this picture I'm about to post, see that one guy's T-Shirt?  See who is on it?  This is just recently, and it is not doctored.  Take a look at who you are giving money to:

http://boortz.com/images/bin_laden_shirt.jpg

"Anyone see the t-shirt a man is wearing as he watches a strecher being carried by?  This is probably a tsunami victim who will be screaming for more aid from America as the tragedy unfolds." -Neal Boortz

Just something I thought I'd throw in:

Aid to Africa to fight AIDs:

America: 15,000,000,000 (15 billion)
Canada: 225,000,000 (225 million)

And liberals wonder why a lot of people think you hate America.  Nothing we ever do is good enough.  Now for a second forget how much the governments are giving, and look at the people.  I just heard on CNN Headline news that the citizens of America have donated more money, than the citizens of all other nations combined.  Other countries want the government to do everything for them, here in America we do it ourselves.

I agree.  I think it is great what the people of America have done to help out.

Now I am going to make some enemies here...but I refuse to open my wallet for these people.  Now I do care about the innocent children, but the adults of that country?  Remember the Jakarta bombings anyone?  Don't get me wrong, I think it's a terrible tragedy, but all the aid we send now will somehow turn into another reason to hate the US later.  Get a good look at this picture I'm about to post, see that one guy's T-Shirt?  See who is on it?  This is just recently, and it is not doctored.  Take a look at who you are giving money to:

I don't know anything about the Jakarta bombings so could you explain this for me? I understand your train of thought about charity and why you should be cautious of sending money overseas. So . . . Why do you care enough to post a thread based on America's contribution to a crisis you haven't contributed to?

Just something I thought I'd throw in:

Aid to Africa to fight AIDs:

America: 15,000,000,000 (15 billion)
Canada: 225,000,000 (225 million)

Any particular reason why you added this, GWBush?

It is political for the politicians...  for us it is emotional (humanitarian).


Yes.  :)

This is merely a single example of our feigned charity. No matter how much we give in terms of amount... we are still the cheapest by far when it comes to percentage of GDP. Of all the G8 nations, Japan gives the largest percentage of their GDP, and the US gives the lowest percentage. Now there is something I'm NOT surprised by.


I understand, McDonald. Two things I don't understand though. What does GDP mean and what is a G8 nation?

Just something I thought I'd throw in:

Aid to Africa to fight AIDs:

America: 15,000,000,000 (15 billion)
Canada: 225,000,000 (225 million)


Well, has it ever occured to you that the US has the third largest population in the world while Canada isn't even in the top 30, meaning that there aren't as many donations?

Well, has it ever occured to you that the US has the third largest population in the world while Canada isn't even in the top 30, meaning that there aren't as many donations?


Don't worry Mercat. I'm getting the feeling he is winding us up.  ;)

I understand, McDonald. Two things I don't understand though. What does GDP mean and what is a G8 nation?


The socialists prefer to use percentage of GDP numbers over real totals because they're all about redistribution of wealth. 

Don't worry about the GDP garbage.

The socialists prefer to use percentage of GDP numbers over real totals because they're all about redistribution of wealth. 

Don't worry about the GDP garbage.


Oh ok thanks.  :)

Well, has it ever occured to you that the US has the third largest population in the world while Canada isn't even in the top 30, meaning that there aren't as many donations?


Those figures come from how much the governments of those nations are giving.  Canada can afford more than 225 million, yet Canada and the UN are almost demanding that America add another one billion to our already 15 billion total.  So they want us to pay 16 billion....and it still wouldn't be good enough, while France, which donates near nothing to fight AIDs, is rarely targeted.

Those figures come from how much the governments of those nations are giving.  Canada can afford more than 225 million, yet Canada and the UN are almost demanding that America add another one billion to our already 15 billion total.  So they want us to pay 16 billion....and it still wouldn't be good enough, while France, which donates near nothing to fight AIDs, is rarely targeted.


But, as mentioned previously, you have admitted you have not given money to charity with no intention of doing so. So why should you be bothered?  ???

And liberals wonder why a lot of people think you hate America.  Nothing we ever do is good enough.  Now for a second forget how much the governments are giving, and look at the people.  I just heard on CNN Headline news that the citizens of America have donated more money, than the citizens of all other nations combined.  Other countries want the government to do everything for them, here in America we do it ourselves.

Now I am going to make some enemies here...but I refuse to open my wallet for these people.  Now I do care about the innocent children, but the adults of that country?  Remember the Jakarta bombings anyone?  Don't get me wrong, I think it's a terrible tragedy, but all the aid we send now will somehow turn into another reason to hate the US later.  Get a good look at this picture I'm about to post, see that one guy's T-Shirt?  See who is on it?  This is just recently, and it is not doctored.  Take a look at who you are giving money to:


GWB, you live in a world of hatred.  You are living proof that Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and all those other big-winded pundits in the pocked of the Republican party do indeed spread hate.  You started this thread only to call other countries names and beat a jingoistic drum.  I hope you never travel abroad because if the people of other nations don't hate Americans now, they sure are gonna when they meet you.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW SAVAGE YOU SOUND WHEN YOU MAKE STATEMENTS LIKE THE ONE ABOVE?
I would address the points you made, but they are too rotten to dignify. They are just plain mean.  The right-wing chic of kneejerk emotional rhetoric of resentment and retribution is the elixir of American nazification.  The plan is to alienate Americans from the rest of the world, to alienate Americans from one another, and that's exactly what right-wing media juggernaut is doing.  Divided we fall and, baby, we are falling.
As far as I'm concerned, nobody hates the United States of America more than the right-wing.  They are hellbent on making this country a snakepit.  The shame is that liberals still deign to engage these fascists in their wretched propaganda.  Liberals STILL dignify the garbage that comes out of the Rupert Murdoch hate machine with the words "news" and "issues."  It is time sensible people--liberal, conservative, or whatever--dump the idea that the partisan Republican press has anything to offer.

But, as mentioned previously, you have admitted you have not given money to charity with no intention of doing so. So why should you be bothered?  ???


AIDs in Africa is a different story.  I just stated that to make a point, we are always targeted as the greedy nation, I'm sick of it.

AIDs in Africa is a different story.  I just stated that to make a point, we are always targeted as the greedy nation, I'm sick of it.

We are a greedy nation.  We worship at the altar of greed!  Greed is the essence of crony capitalism and crony capitalism is in the American driver's seat.  We think it is a sin to dole out food to needy families, but it is part of Baby Jesus's plan to subsidize tax cuts for the wealthiest with higher payroll taxes for the working class.  Heck, America stinks of greed, you can smell it all over the globe.  If you are sick of America being targeted as greedy, join the progressive movement and help us redeem ourselves!
::)
http://www.willirayecollection.com/catalog/pics/ww1327-T.jpg

I understand, McDonald. Two things I don't understand though. What does GDP mean and what is a G8 nation?


GDP=Gross Domestic Product

G8= "Great Eight" is used to refer collectively to the top eight nations in terms of economic power. This is sometimes expanded to "G-10" which refers collectively to the top ten nations.

Japan gives the largest

Guess so.  I just heard on Fox News that Japan is now at 500,000,000 (500 million) and that are currently the biggest GOVERNMENT-givers (America still beating everyone combined when it comes to donations from private citizens,) when it comes to the relief efforts.  So Japan is currently #1, America #2, and Britain at #3.  But this isn't a contest I suppose.

Guess so.  I just heard on Fox News that Japan is now at 500,000,000 (500 million) and that are currently the biggest GOVERNMENT-givers (America still beating everyone combined when it comes to donations from private citizens,) when it comes to the relief efforts.  So Japan is currently #1, America #2, and Britain at #3.  But this isn't a contest I suppose.


This is only a single example. The Japanese government consistently gives the largest percentage of their GDP to charity.

GDP=Gross Domestic Product

G8= "Great Eight" is used to refer collectively to the top eight nations in terms of economic power. This is sometimes expanded to "G-10" which refers collectively to the top ten nations.


Ah thanks, McDonald.  :)

AIDs in Africa is a different story.  I just stated that to make a point, we are always targeted as the greedy nation, I'm sick of it.


I understand the way you feel about a nation as successful as yours being known as a greedy nation. I appreciate the way you would feel about a country that is having to toe-the-line with other countries - a lot of them incredibly smaller than yours. I honestly understand.

One viewpoint of yours is that USA is always being called a greedy country despite how much it has contributed to the world only to state in a post afterwards about the downfalls of giving to charity. Why did you juxtapose these two viewpoints in one thread?

Aids in Africa is a different story? How is this? I thought charity was charity GWBush.

GW, you just generalized an entire country/region based on someone wearing a t-shirt. So America should be seen as a hypocrite by foreigners when the country promotes civil rights, democracy, and freedom despite the historic way it treats it's own citizens, right? If so, we shouldn't have been deserving of care and concern by foreign nations when 9/11 occurred despite this fact.

You give from your humane heart, not because of some other issues.

Tanya

Two things I don't understand though. What does GDP mean and what is a G8 nation?


If you're wondering about the G8, look at this:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/g8/

GW, you just generalized an entire country/region based on someone wearing a t-shirt. So America should be seen as a hypocrite by foreigners when the country promotes civil rights, democracy, and freedom despite the historic way it treats it's own citizens, right? If so, we shouldn't have been deserving of care and concern by foreign nations when 9/11 occurred despite this fact.

You give from your humane heart, not because of some other issues.

Tanya

Humane? Heart?  What are you, a liberal?
;)

You give from your humane heart, not because of some other issues.


Yep. That's the crux of it.  :)

I had to laugh at Max's post.

If you're wondering about the G8, look at this:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/g8/


Ah great. Thanks for that, Satish - the gentleman's club of the world.  ;D

Humane? Heart?  What are you, a liberal?
;)


If giving a damn about others makes me a liberal, I will wear that title proudly! Isn't America the land of liberty anyway?

Tanya

If giving a darn about others makes me a liberal, I will wear that title proudly! Isn't America the land of liberty anyway?

Tanya

Yeah, I always call myself a "liberal," not a "progressive."  It's time we take the word back!

Yeah, I always call myself a "liberal," not a "progressive."  It's time we take the word back!


Definitely!

Tanya

If giving a darn about others makes me a liberal, I will wear that title proudly! Isn't America the land of liberty anyway?


That was one of the main things that confused me initially as an outsider.

That was one of the main things that confused me initially as an outsider.

Well, you got your liberals and you got your liberty and you got your libertarians, and you got the root word, liber, meaning "book."  Whereas liberals like books, libertarians like automatic weapons and "Trespassers Will Be Shot" signs. 
:D

(Actually, liberal and liberty come from the Latin liberalis and libertas, refering to freedom, nothing to do with Latin librarus, liber=book.)

Well, you got your liberals and you got your liberty and you got your libertarians, and you got the root word, liber, meaning "book."  Whereas liberals like books, libertarians like automatic weapons and "Trespassers Will Be Shot" signs. 
:D

(Actually, liberal and liberty come from the Latin liberalis and libertas, refering to freedom, nothing to do with Latin librarus, liber=book.)


Now that's confused me, Maxwell.  ;D

What I couldn't understand is if the liberals were so into freedom and USA is a country recognised for it's liberty. Why are so many people voting republican?

Now that's confused me, Maxwell.  ;D

What I couldn't understand is if the liberals were so into freedom and USA is a country recognised for it's liberty. Why are so many people voting republican?


If you know the answer let me know!

Tanya

Now that's confused me, Maxwell.  ;D

What I couldn't understand is if the liberals were so into freedom and USA is a country recognised for it's liberty. Why are so many people voting republican?

The Republican party sells itself as the party of freedom from government.  This is a lie.  The Republican party REALLY represents freedom of corporations and millionaires to exploit workers and the ecology in any way they want with impunity.

The Republican party also sells itself as the party of freedom from confiscatory taxation.  This is a lie.  The Republican party REALLY represents cutting taxes on capital and wealth and shifting the burden of taxation to labor. 

The problem is, there are just not enough rich @ssh@les out there to form a viable electoral constituency.  Thus, the Republican party has engaged on a four-decade propaganda campaign on the basis of "getting government off our backs," "family values versus liberal vice," and "patriots versus America haters."  The success of this propaganda campaign is greater than its founders could have imagined in 1964.  I thought it reached its zenith in 2000 and 2002, but the 2004 election shows me that the hoodwinking and hornswoggling is still working its magic in ever greater numbers.
::) :o

The quote I have on my signature is by a young journalist named Thomas Frank.  He wrote a book called What's the Matter with Kansas which explains the blue collar Republican phenomenon better than any other book I've read.  I cannot recommend it highly enough.  I believe it is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the pop-cultural political dynamics currently reigning here in the States.

Max

The quote I have on my signature is by a young journalist named Thomas Frank.  He wrote a book called What's the Matter with Kansas which explains the blue collar Republican phenomenon better than any other book I've read.  I cannot recommend it highly enough.  I believe it is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the pop-cultural political dynamics currently reigning here in the States.

Max


I have seen that book in my college library. I'll get around to reading it.

I see, Max. It seems that the republican party are exploiting a basic liberty within the USA (freedom of corporate financial interference).

Probably like the Conservatives in Britain to some extent (and I certainly don't like  :().

I see, Max. It seems that the republican party are exploiting a basic liberty within the USA (freedom of corporate financial interference).

Probably like the Conservatives in Britain to some extent (and I certainly don't like  :().


You have to take anything people say on this board with a grain of salt.  People make highly iinflammatoryconspiracy theories w/o a shred of proof.  There is no giant republican conspiracy to pounce on the working man, and there is no giant democratic conspiracy to take away peoples wealth.  With a few exceptions, parties on both sides are funded by the same corporations.  A corporation is way too smart to be @ssed out of government contracts if the wrong guy wins.

You have to take anything people say on this board with a grain of salt.  People make highly iinflammatoryconspiracy theories w/o a shred of proof.  There is no giant republican conspiracy to pounce on the working man, and there is no giant democratic conspiracy to take away peoples wealth.  With a few exceptions, parties on both sides are funded by the same corporations.  A corporation is way too smart to be @ssed out of government contracts if the wrong guy wins.

The giant corporate conspiracy between the major political parties and the big money interests is definitely out there.  It's not even well hid!

You have to take anything people say on this board with a grain of salt.  People make highly iinflammatoryconspiracy theories w/o a shred of proof.  There is no giant republican conspiracy to pounce on the working man, and there is no giant democratic conspiracy to take away peoples wealth.  With a few exceptions, parties on both sides are funded by the same corporations.  A corporation is way too smart to be @ssed out of government contracts if the wrong guy wins.


Your last comment certainly makes sense to me, Screwball.

If you don't mind me asking, and it is out of interest, are you a republican, liberal, don't vote or other?