When you take into account that Bush's innaguration will cost $45million, the fact that we spend 100m on the war on terror daily- 30 something million donated to the cause is peanuts and it is miserly. I know that individually, Americans are extremely generous and will more than double this amount-thank goodness.

dgtempe

As I pointed out just looking at $$$ figure is misleading. How much would you put on the planes and ships heading that way? Or the Airlift. Or the P-3C's already performing search and rescue operations. Or the chopers lifting supplies, etc etc These alone run into the 100's of millions, yet are not even considered

Originally posted by FredT
These alone run into the 100's of millions, yet are not even considered

I sure wish I could give you a bunch of applause! Facts and
figures are presented. Our American culture of private donations
is explained and examples are given .... and yet the boo's and
hisses continue. I'm thinking some folks just want to be
angry with America ... no matter what.

I've got to go dust off my college psychology books and take a
look at this behavior pattern. It's really mind numbing.

I am getting sick of hearing people say that the contributions of the US are pitiful. Personally, I think we ought to withdraw foriegn aid to a few countries that were not in the tsunami's path. Lets see just how generous our contributions really are. Just more people hateing on America. I am no Bush fan, and would use quite abit to show my thoughts about him. However, those American citizens that use this as an oportunity to Bash Bush are doing a disservice to our great nation. People, fget ovet it. Where would the rest of the poor countries be with out the economic help that America provides for them. This is just an example af ignorance embraced

Originally posted by dgtempe
When you take into account that Bush's innaguration will cost $45million, the fact that we spend 100m on the war on terror daily- 30 something million donated to the cause is peanuts and it is miserly. I know that individually, Americans are extremely generous and will more than double this amount-thank goodness.

Colin Powell made a statement yesterday regarding the initial amounts sent and explained why this was done. Guess the media wanted to run with the Bush bashing rather then the facts again.

What Powell stated was he was on his way to assess the situation first hand with a team of experts to help determine what and how much is really needed before just sending out what amounted to a blank check.

He did not say those exact words, they are mine, however it was rather clear from what he said and how he said it, that they wanted to see the damage first hand.

What he said made sense to me. I also noticed very few of the networks actually carried that story. My guess is they prefered the Bush bashing then giving out the real facts.

Originally posted by Valhall
Concerning how much is being spent on the inauguration. Though I absolutely agree its disgusting...it has already been pointed out that all funds contributed to this night of excessive consumption are private donations and not U.S. tax funds...so that is an entirely different issue.

I didn't know that. I probably should have figured that, but I didn't
know that! Private donations? Corporate and private? Interesting.
I think it's still a bit much, but if it's private and not our tax $$, then
I guess politicians can spend all they want and I don't have any
say in it. (I'd still like to see it toned down ... considering what's
going on around the world)

One point in regards to the Florida hurricanes, the Loma Prieta Quake, the Irvine quake, the U.S. more or less deals with its own crisis, its own disasters.

Pledging money at the disaster does nothing except engage in a pissing contest with other countries. A far better measue is looking at actual responce. By far the U.S. has committed 12 major naval vessels (One the Ben Franklin has a 600 bed hospital + 200,000 gal desalination plant0 4 C-130's, multitudes of other planes and chopters.

This is real aid and will and IS helping right now.

Originally posted by Tamahu
It's the adherence to this Western "psychology" that creates such ignorance here in America. Western thinking is devilish and backwards, and totally out of tune with the Laws of Maat, Islam, Buddha and Christ.

Okay ... I'm interested. Please explain more.
(I was a psychology major)

Edited to add - How is donating tens of millions of dollars officially,
and hundreds of millions (a billion is expected) unofficially to be
considered 'out of tune' and 'devilish and backwards'?



[edit on 12/31/2004 by FlyersFan]

I am confused here now, I though the NY times make Mr. Bush man of the year.

By the way, compared to the 1 billion that other countries all together had pledge, I think the tsunami victims are very well taking care off.

And for Mr. Bush well, you can tell we are hurting for money here in our country when he is even cutting our defense budget because the Afghanistan and Iraqi conflicts are becoming to expensive.

And remember the generosity of the American people has not boundaries, with all the pledge from private companies and citizens we will be on the top of the list anyway.

Perhaps Mr. Bush is counting on that same generosity so he does not has to used more of our tax payer money on the disaster, after all he has three countries to support, US, Iraq, and Afghanistan.


[edit on 31-12-2004 by marg6043]

Originally posted by marg6043
And remember the generosity of the American people has not boundaries, with all the pledge from private companies and citizens we will be on the top of the list anyway.

There ya' go! Thanks Marg! Ya' got it!

Really, it's not a contest to see who is 'on top of the list',
but, come on folks, just admit that Americans are generous
and giving and quit the irrational anti-america-no-matter-what
hatred. It's really strange. And it flys in the face of the facts.

Heck, even CNN was estimating that private donations
out of America will probably be around one billion $$.

If CNN can understand that ... (and MSNBC and FOX said it too)
.... It can't be that hard to understand.

Originally posted by FlyersFan

I didn't know that. I probably should have figured that, but I didn't
know that! Private donations? Corporate and private? Interesting.
I think it's still a bit much, but if it's private and not our tax $$, then
I guess politicians can spend all they want and I don't have any
say in it. (I'd still like to see it toned down ... considering what's
going on around the world)

Well, I still think it's shameful. But it has been, from day one - that would be 1776 or whenever that first inaugural ball took place. Though I understand the ball is connected with a tradition, that tradition itself is shameful as far as I'm concerned. The old "let them eat cake" mentality.

As long as one single american child goes to bed hungry, because their daddy is unemployed and can't buy food, or pay the utilities or even put a roof over their heads there should be no "grand celebration" of a presidential inauguration - out of respect for the ones we simply haven't been able to provide for. And when you consider that we will NEVER be able to provide for every one under our watch (and we won't - that's a fantasy) there should never have been, and should never be this type of celebration.

Every single president since day one has been guilty of allowing this to happen so no one president is more guilty. But it sure would be nice to get a president that had the honor and integrity to say...it aint happening with me!



[edit on 12-31-2004 by Valhall]

Originally posted by Valhall
RANT,

With all due respect...your point didn't get across here.

Understood. But I wasn't trying to necessarily make the point several others have over the past few days or is being critisized here. I purposefully did not jump on this situation with an opinion either way until I could begin to grasp the full scope of the global tragedy and (frankly) until I couldn't stand the two political sides arguing it any more.

I neither smirked nor guffawed when others called the US miserly or bashed Bush. I also understood when people defended Bush's reaction and the US to a point.

Now the whole thing is just fodder. I could excuse the initial Bush bashing as some emotional reaction to the tragedy up to a point, but not the backlash-backlash. I'm sick of hearing people that are sick of hearing people upset about this. Get me?

Now this is some "political" issue for some to call all lefties opportunists or bash the UN or complain about taxes or hate on liberal media or get even more xenophobic or make points about foreign aid or whatever.

If "lefties" were wrong to bash opportunistically, then "righties" need to walk the talk.

It's a mind numbing tragedy I can't help but consider globally.

Though it seems some people are deluded into believing that a socialized globe would be utopia...I don't personally believe that.

Input does not compute? Though I'd say I'd much prefer the delusion of socialized utopia to nationalistic struggle and greed.

If only we all were so "deluded" to want peace, harmony and compassion.