As Mastercard would say:
Cost of an unjust invasion: $145 billion and climbing
Cost of giving compassionate aid: ~ $1 or 2 billion
Regaining some faith and trust from the rest of the world: priceless
NY Times calls U.S. aid for tsunami “miserly” (Reuters)
“But the $35 million remains a miserly drop in the bucket, and is in keeping with the pitiful amount of the United States budget that we allocate for nonmilitary foreign aid.The Times chided Bush for waiting until Wednesday to express his sympathy to leaders of India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia for Sunday’s disaster that has left an estimated 120,000 people dead and millions homeless. The president announced the increase in U.S. aid to $35 million on Wednesday, saying it was “only the beginning.”
The Times added that it hoped Secretary of State Colin Powell was embarrassed to announce “the initial measly aid offer” of $15 million. “That’s less than half of what Republicans plan to spend on the Bush inaugural festivities,” in January.
20 Comments
Well said. I can’t believe they’re spending that much on the inauguration party. That’s obscene. The excess is extremely embarassing. I don’t know how to respond anymore. I’m afraid for the day we get our just desserts.
Ohh come on, quit comparing costs to inauguration and everything else to try and make Bush look bad. This is only the first week of the tragedy and we all know the U.S. is going to come out at the end giving the most help. I can’t believe people are using this tragedy to try and make Bush look bad. I bet next you’ll hear someone say “Bush’ environmental policy caused the earthquake to kill hundreds of thousands….” And that piece of crap NY Times article is so biased it makes me puke, anyone who says the media in this country isn’t biased doesn’t have a clue to what’s going on. If you Liberals are so “compassionate” quit trying to find reasons to make our President look bad and pull together and help these poor victims!!!!
P.S. “F” what the rest of the world thinks of us!!!! We are going to stay in Iraq so they can have democracy!!! Terrorists have got to be hating that Iraq is going to be holding elections next month, if not, then why are they trying to stop them? Bush is going to hold his word and in 5 years the world will be free of terrorists, that is our exit plan. What was Clinton’s exit plan in Bosnia? Oh wait, were still there and no one is bitching about his exit plan!!!!
I was going to respond after I read the first one, but I think I’ll just let the second one speak for itself.
All I can say is that I didn’t realize that the world will be *terrorist free* within 5 years! That’s great news! Maybe next we can make it murder free, rape free, lying free etc.; that would be great.
I do have to add one more thing: The U.S. contributes a smaller portion (by far) of its budget to non-military foreign aid than most other nations who are able to give.
See this report for more info and stats. This goes back quite a while, so I’m not “Bush-bashing” or anything, although it has gotten worse under his administration. Excerpt:
My first comment on any blog ever. Be kind.
Comparing dollars spent on disaster relief to dollars spent on a military operation isn’t fare. Every problem has its own solution and in a military conflict expensive high-tech gadgetry and sophisticated weaponry can give you an important edge but I don’t know if the same type of money is needed with this disaster. Assistance is clearly needed, but throwing money at it may not be the most appropriate.
And since were ridding the world first of terrorism and then murder, rape and lying can I get white rice with fish taco’s in phase three.
That’s a good point; I wasn’t saying that we should give an *equal* amount ($145B+) to the aid effort, just that we (the government I should say) seemed to make the decision to spend the larger amount pretty easily, but it seems like it’s pulling teeth to get far less than 1% of that amount for a cause that’s really worthy.
I see your point though, in that it does seem a little silly to compare the two, since our “beginning” $35 million only works out to .024% of the war spending, but that’s the kind of contrast I was hoping to point out; not to imply that there should be equality, just saying that it’s a drop in the bucket compared to our other spending.
And as for fish tacos and white rice - that’s just wrong; it’s practically terrorism in itself. But who knows, maybe after we’ve “liberated” both Japan and Mexico we’ll see some more interesting cross-cultural food experiments.
i agree with the facists on this one (mostly), it’s too early to complain about the amount of money spent on aid just yet. as a matter of fact, what’s the use in complaining of such things at all?
I am certainly hopeful that the amount will increase, and that the ratio mentioned above will be made a little more respectable. I just think that that kind of “opening figure”, considering the context of the need is a little insulting.
You’re probably right on the usefulness of complaining, though… But then again, what use is 90% of the stuff anyone posts on blogs? It’s more just a vehicle for conversation and, in this case, a little venting.
Of course, it would be great if it inspires meaningful thought or change, but I wouldn’t assume to think so highly of myself. I’d be happy if I could just contribute to a few more people discovering a blog like the “Riverbend” link above, that actually are important and do serve a useful function.
P.S. - Nathan, while Dan is out of town on vacation, you should take the opportunity to snag the #1 spot in my “top 5 commenters”, since I’ve added that section up there. Be the first to break 100 - talk about doing something useful!
Bush doesn’t need help looking bad, Hoby. I’ve since learned that the inauguration festivities are funded privately, but even if there were no epic disaster there’s something wrong with our leaders sparing no expense on party favors when so many working Americans can’t afford healthcare. BTW: did the Iraqi people ask us to bring them democracy?
I need to keep my blood pressure down so I may not be back here for a while. Final thoughts. What makes America great are the citizens living here. Why do we have to blame the Govt. for not giving enough? I am willing to bet that most people in the U.S. bitching about us only giving $35M so far haven’t donated a dime themselves. If people are so concerned that our “Govt.” isn’t giving enough, then donate $ yourself, it is expected of us as citizens to do so. It is the same in regards to the reference as healthcare, people bitch about not having it, well have you heard of getting a job?!!?? I am self employed and had to pay out the nose for health insurance, did I go to the Govt. and cry like a socialist? No, I worked harder so I could afford the premiums. And about a free Iraq(I don’t know where we’ll be in 5 years, but I’m sure the terrorist threat will be much less) ask the Marines that come back from the battlefield, I believe their story much more than a reporter from the NY Times about the progress. I have seen two reports this week with two different Marines about the Iraqi citizens and the progress and all were hopeful. But, oh wait, the Marine may have been a right-wing goon disguised in uniform to trick the American people in believing so, I better not believe a Marine (where everywhere I look I’m told “support our troops”) who risked his life so you and I can have these discussions in English and free from a Dictatorship, that’s right, he may have been paid to say positive things about the progress in Iraq, I am going to believe our nightly news team who loves to tell us more about the Abu Grahib scandal and make us look “eevil!!!”. Last but not least, the friggin’ French. I posted a blurb on Dan’s blog about them giving only $135K so far to Tsunami aid, well those numbers were from last Tuesday,to no surprise, last night I saw a statement by a French spokesman saying “We want the world to know that France is leading the world in the amount donated to Asia, we have donated $57M so far”. Can you believe the nerve of these a$$holes? I didn’t know this aid effort from the world has turned into a poker match. Allright, let’s see who ups their ante. In closing, I just have to say that I hope all of us as citizens of the free world can donate as much as we can to the victims in Asia and please research the charitable organization you donate to so the money will get to where it needs to go.
Jared, did my last post come through? It was pretty long.
Hoby, your comment came through, but it must have contained some spam keywords (probably the poker analogy), since it was in moderation so I had to approve it before it showed up.
Instead of looking to either the media or the soldiers for an opinion on how it’s going over there, why don’t we ask the Iraqi people themselves? Isn’t it their opinion that matters? Oh, wait, they *don’t* think it’s going well - maybe they need some more “liberation” (or torture), until they “realize” that they “appreciate” what we’re doing for them.
Well, I don’t want anyone’s blood pressure to rise, including my own, but debate is healthy and it’s the nuts and bolts of democracy so it’s important to nurture it. I totally agree that we should take individual responsibility when there is need. It shouldn’t necessarily be expected of government. But much of my family’s hard-earned cash is being spent by my government anyway for efforts that offend me and I have no say in it. It used to be that Republicans were for protecting individual freedoms and an individual’s money. If spending habits are actually a reflection of party politics then it looks like we have a liberal administration right now. Both my husband and I work hard and pay a ludicrous price for health insurance. I don’t ever want government making my healthcare decisions but I also don’t want my government in bed with the healthcare industry. It desperately needs regulation just as the FDA needs a major kick in the ass. The republican party isn’t what it used to be, neither are the democrats. Jesus warned us against quarreling so I’ll stop here, but I think it’s important not to generalize. Just because someone doesn’t like what the Bush administration is doing doesn’t necessarily mean what you might think it does.
Here’s and interesting and relevant thread on MetaFilter.
I wonder if there are any stat comparisons on the generosity of different nation’s citizens. I would be much more proud to win that race than any government aid race in these cynical times.
I love when people say the media is biased because they don’t agree with what comes out of it. It’s really funny because both lib. and cons. say the media is biased.
I personally hate having to watch the news, or read articles with having to cross check what I just hear/read, but now-a-days we just have to. Look at my blog, I heard 200,000 was the “death toll”, but it clearly is not the case.
I love google news.
I was the first to break 100, YES!
Nate, that was a great one. I love this quote:
I would also agree that the generosity of the individual people is important as well. I donated personally, because that’s really all I can do directly, by myself. At the risk of losing my “socialist” designation, I don’t think that the government should bear the complete burden for providing for this need.
However, given the structure of our government, and the fact that it is supposed to represent us (the people), I feel perfectly fine expressing my opinion to them that they should step up and give more (of the money we’ve given them) to causes that I think are worthy (like this relief effort) as opposed to those that I think are wrong (like the invasion). Of course, everyone will have a differing view on the value and importance of these things, and, as Michel mentioned above, that’s a part of the way the country works (or at least it’s supposed to).
Health care is a great example of this; it works best when there is an adequate base-level of help available to everyone, while still allowing room for private specialization and extra services, with a corresponding increase in personal cost. You can’t allow it to go completely private (although some conservatives will disagree), because private corporations will inevitably strive to be profitable, which means maximizing their money taken in while minimizing the products and services given out. Most HMOs we have right now in the US are a shining example of this kind of model.
I couldn’t stay away, my new years resolution is to keep my blood pressure down, I have about 12 hours
Before we start to tear down corporations being greedy, don’t forget where a majority of our paychecks come from. HMO’s do need some fixin. Trying to get a claim paid or going to out of network doctor can be a nightmare. I agree something will be done to ease us insurance carriers to get the care we need. But, let’s look at uninsured people sucking the system dry (plug your ears if sensitive) such as illegal aliens. Now I for one can not blame an illegal alien coming over the border to give birth or get free health care, if I were in their shoes I’d do the same. I’d actually be asking myself “How come America is giving more to us people sneaking over illegally than their own citizens.” But one reason that health care costs are skyrocketing is paying for care to illegal aliens/uninsured. I personally know a CEO of a private hospital in Los Angeles, he said that in one month alone his ER room loses $4million dollars due to uninsured patients. $4million Bucks just in the ER!!!!! This hospital has about 435 beds, so it isn’t too small, but this is just one hospital. So you have to see that these costs have to come from somewhere and I believe it leaks right back to us responsible enough to by our own health insurance. And as I mentioned before, my beef with Bush is what the hell are you doing about illegal immigration? (now here is where Jared writes “how many of the terrorists were illegal?”) You’re right Jared, none were. But now they know they will be checked for citizenship a little more (except when boarding a plane because the airline company will fear of getting fined for discrimination) and to avoid that, hey, why not sneak in through Mexico. Jared, let me hear your defense of Jimmy Carter’s ex-attorney general defending Saddam. Dan mentioned that the media isn’t biased, well you don’t hear too much on the news that he was Carter’s attorney general. Imagine the headlines if Ashcroft defended Osama in a few years!!!!
I’m glad you’re trying to keep your BP down; I’ll try not to go crazy and get you too riled up.
I hear a lot of talk about how undocumented immigrants are “sucking the system dry”, but I don’t see much data to back it up. Sure, it probably does happen, but it’s not the huge issue it is often made out to be, although guys like David Duke would have you believe otherwise. Notice that your friend said “uninsured patients”, not illegal aliens - lots of US citizens are uninsured because they can’t afford it in our system.
It’s kind of like the terrorists coming over the border story, and the Iraq WMD scare - it isn’t actually true, but that doesn’t stop people from constantly referring to it. I know that the health care situation is slightly different than these examples, since it does exist (on a smaller scale than some make it sound), whereas these others were just complete fabrications.
As for defending Saddam, I’ve never said he was a good guy, or that I approved of anything he’s ever done. Does that somehow mean that he shouldn’t have legal counsel? I do really look forward to this trial though, since he probably has a lot to say about his former close associations and sponsorship by/with Bush Sr., Rumsfeld, etc. When we ask him about gassing people, etc. the subject of who gave him those weapons might come up. For these reasons, I’m betting the trial will not be public.
OK, this post has gone off on about a million different directions…