Liberalism and America bashing...
Conervatives love to scream about how much liberals hate America. Sometimes it does sound like SOME liberals have a tendency to scream at America too much and not enough at other nations. I think the reason for this is that Liberals love this country so much that sometimes we wish it would do more. For example, the trendy new fad outrage in conservative circles is to scream about how the American government leads among all nations in charitable giving, and the liberals just don't get that. I agree that America gives a lot and often doesn't get enough in return. But for conervatives to say our government gives enough is just plain wrong. Per capita, we are TWENTY SIXTH in the world among what we have given in Tsunami aid. I get tired of hearing from the O'Reilly's of the world about how our Government is number one in giving and the left wing media can't handle that and they and the liberals hate America and if it weren't for our giving, the whole world would collapse. Give me a break. I hate to tell you this Billy boy, but most of America is now owned by foreign entities and it's only getting worse with each day. The world can (and in many cases is starting to) get by without us. Back to my original point though, here's a breakdown of what countries have given so far to the Tsunami relief effort, and then a breakdown of what we've given per person:
Top 10 Donor Countries
The Christian Science Monitor of January 6 reported the top 10 donor countries in Asian Tsunami aid as
Australia with $764 million;
Germany, $680 million;
Japan, $500 million;
U.S., $350 million; (Sure seems like a lot at first glance don't it)
Norway, $182 million;
Britain, $96 million;
Italy, $95 million;
Sweden, $80 million;
Spain, $68 million;
France, $66 million.
As for the government outlays on a per capita basis, the top 10 are:
Norway, $39.35 per person;
Australia, $38.37;
Qatar, 29.75;
Denmark, $14.04;
Taiwan, 9.52;
Sweden, $8.90;
Germany, $8.25;
Kuwait, $4.43;
Japan, $3.93;
Ireland, $3.43.
The U.S. ranks 26th per capita with $1.19. (uh... what? You've got to be kidding me.)
Now, I'm not saying we need to be first, but I think we should at least be in the top ten as rich as our society is. One caveat though, these lists do not represent giving that you and I make from our own families checkbook. These numbers are what the government gives only. I don't think this should be a contest about who's giving more either. It just gets back to my original point that my government can and should do better. (God bless my people, the Norwegians, for being so big hearted!)
PS - I believe a loofah costs around a 1.19, so it shouldn't be too hard for someone like O'Reilly too see that it isn't a lot of money. (Sorry, that was such a cheap shot)
Top 10 Donor Countries
The Christian Science Monitor of January 6 reported the top 10 donor countries in Asian Tsunami aid as
Australia with $764 million;
Germany, $680 million;
Japan, $500 million;
U.S., $350 million; (Sure seems like a lot at first glance don't it)
Norway, $182 million;
Britain, $96 million;
Italy, $95 million;
Sweden, $80 million;
Spain, $68 million;
France, $66 million.
As for the government outlays on a per capita basis, the top 10 are:
Norway, $39.35 per person;
Australia, $38.37;
Qatar, 29.75;
Denmark, $14.04;
Taiwan, 9.52;
Sweden, $8.90;
Germany, $8.25;
Kuwait, $4.43;
Japan, $3.93;
Ireland, $3.43.
The U.S. ranks 26th per capita with $1.19. (uh... what? You've got to be kidding me.)
Now, I'm not saying we need to be first, but I think we should at least be in the top ten as rich as our society is. One caveat though, these lists do not represent giving that you and I make from our own families checkbook. These numbers are what the government gives only. I don't think this should be a contest about who's giving more either. It just gets back to my original point that my government can and should do better. (God bless my people, the Norwegians, for being so big hearted!)
PS - I believe a loofah costs around a 1.19, so it shouldn't be too hard for someone like O'Reilly too see that it isn't a lot of money. (Sorry, that was such a cheap shot)
posted by Big Scott | 6:55 AM
4 Comments:
I'm sick of this who outdid who thing regarding Tsunami disaster relief, but
here we go...
O'Reilly is my boy and I shall defend. The world probably would fall apart without us. Sometimes I wish we would just prove a point and completely pull out of everywhere and do nothing for anyone. Show the world what we actually do for them by not doing anything for anyone for just 3 months. It would be interesting. Unfortunately we can't do this for obvious reasons. Partly because we form a symbiosis with the rest of the world, and in actuality we need them too. Anyway, on to my main points:
You're missing a few things:
Number one, although you did mention it, you can't underscore enough the amount of private doantions from you and I and stars and companies (O'Reilly donates tons of money by the way - not just for the disaster relief, but year-round to all sorts of charities). They are HUGE.
Number 2, you're forgetting the amount of man power and donations that the UN has provided...and who funds the UN? I'll give you a hint, the initials are U.S.A.
Number 3, besides straight up money the US has donated, how about the millions of dollars in choppers, planes, equipment, trucks, ships, boats, aircraft carriers, man power, military presence, etc.
Number 4, besides just sending money and man power and equipment, they also live safely under the very protection that we provide day after day, year after year, decade after decade. This is not cheap for us.
So in conclusion, the amount of "relief" we provide them is infinite.
Responses to Bird's comments:
As to your comment on how it would be the end of the world if we became total isolationists, I think you're wrong. That's ok though. That really wasn't my point of the post.
1) We agree on number one. So don't argue with me on it. My assesment was strictly on immediate aid packages, not on how Bill O'Reilly is saving the world.
2) The UN donations are basically tied to population. Being we have the largest population out of all donor countries, we should be donating the most. This kind of proves my point. Like I've said, we don't always have to be first in donations, but twenty sixth is too low. By the way, Japan is a very, very, very close second in the amount it gives. We're at about 22% of the total UN budget pledges (which, by the way, we often have a difficult time paying on time), while Japan is at 18%. This "Number 2, you're forgetting the amount of man power and donations that the UN has provided...and who funds the UN? I'll give you a hint, the initials are U.S.A." doesn't quite fly.
3) You make strong points, but I (as a liberal) do reserve the right to call on my Government to step up and lead on this more than what they're doing. You yourself called it the worst disaster "since Noah's Ark". If this is indeed the worst disaster of our time, shouldn't we be supplying more money to it than say, what the Govt spends on the NEA in a year? Or a bottle of Coke at the local SA?
4) God, you sound just like Nathan Jessup in "A Few Good Men". I'm not exactly sure what freedom we're providing Sri Lanka, (last time I looked they didn't need much protection from anything but a massive tidal wave), but I'll take your word for it.
I understand your comments, my point is just that the Govt. could be doing more. That's all.
considering how much we brag about how wonderful, good and generous this nation is we would make it into the top 10. Then again exaggeration and empty promise making is the American way...
I think you guys missed my point. My point was that we (the USA as a whole) will spend so much more money on this relief effort than any other country by far. Direct dollars plus equipment. Not to mention, the American red cross and clean-up efforts will be there far LONGER than any other country will.
Why do you have to compare us to Japan or Australia? Who cares what they send? Why can't you just say, "Wow! $350,000,000 of an initial pledge is a shitload of money! Good for you America." Oh, and by the way every other country, don't worry about the war on terror, we'll take care of it for you. Just sit back and watch your schools get taken over by Al Qaeda psychos while we fight them for you.
Post a Comment
<< Home