Text 7129, 84 rader
Skriven 2005-01-07 14:06:00 av LEE LOFASO (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av JOHN MASSEY
Ärende: Proud Democrat
======================
Hello John,

>LL>The U.S. gives 0.1% of its GNP to foreign aid.  That is 21st out
>LL>of the top 21 industrialized countries in the world.  However,
>LL>because of the large amount of remittances sent by Mexicans
>LL>living in the U.S. back to Mexico, some folks claim that the U.S.
>LL>ranks 9th in the world, just behind France, in doling out foreign
>LL>aid.

>JM>That list is based only on money given by the US Government under
>JM>the heading of aid. If you include the total cost to the US for
>JM>using it's military as a relief agency, plus all the private and
>JM>cooperate, donations directed to this disaster, you would find
>JM>that the US comes a lot higher on the list.

>LL>Oh, my.  Let's just include everything in the entire FY budget!
>LL>That'll place us #1 for sure!  Imagine that, $2.3 trillion spent
>LL>on foreign aid!  Wow!


JM>America the stingy
JM>Larry Elder

JM>January 6, 2005

JM>"It is beyond me . . . why are we so stingy, really," said U.N.
JM>Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland, after the
JM>tsunami in southern Asia. " . . . Christmastime should remind many
JM>Western countries at least, [of] how rich we have become. . . . " And in
JM>a statement that might shock defeated presidential candidate John Kerry,
JM>Egeland said voters want their taxes increased. " . . . [I]n the United
JM>States, in the European Union, in Norway which is No. 1 in the world, we
JM>want to give more . . . as taxpayers. . . . [P]oliticians . . .
JM>belie[ve] that they are really burdening the taxpayers too much and the
JM>taxpayer wants to give less. That's not true. They want to give more."

The problem is, Bush is more interested in increasing Defense
spending, which comprises 19% of the budget, rather than increasing
the amount spent on foreign aid, which comprises only a miniscule
percentage of the budget.

JM>Actually, Americans do want to give more -- with the emphasis on "give."
JM>Indeed, so far, Americans pledged over $200 million in tsunami aid.
JM>Normally, Catholic Relief Services' Web site receives $40,000 per month.
JM>Since the tsunami, online contributions are $100,000 per hour. The
JM>American Red Cross has received pledges over $100 million, with more
JM>pouring in daily. Yet on more than one occasion, former President Jimmy
JM>Carter sounded the America-is-cheap theme. On PBS television a few years
JM>ago, Carter said, "It's all very disturbing to me as a former president
JM>that this nation with generous people in it has become by far the
JM>stingiest nation on earth."

Such private donations are helpful, but not for providing immediate
relief.  And what tsunami victims need right now is *immediate* relief.
That is why it is essential for governments to provide aid.

JM>Here we go again.

JM>Last year, American government provided 35 percent of worldwide relief
JM>aid. In private contributions, American individuals, estates,
JM>foundations and corporations gave over $240 billion to charitable causes
JM>in 2003, according to Giving USA Foundation. Privately, Americans give
JM>at least $34 billion overseas.

That is all well and good, but does not provide immediate relief to
those who need it.

[..]

JM>Former President Clinton, never missing an opportunity to take a swipe
JM>at a sitting president, said a few days after the tsunami, "It is really
JM>important that somebody take the lead in this." Well, Mr. Clinton,
JM>someone has -- America. Like always.

Clinton is absolutely correct.  It takes one to lead, the rest to
follow.  But Bush is more interested in attending parties for his
upcoming inauguration...

--Lee


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