Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Missing signature mars launch of war on hunger (Bush Admin refuses to back global tax)
Sydney Morning Herald ^ | September 22, 2004 | Irwin Arieff in New York

Posted on 09/21/2004 11:06:36 AM PDT by dead

More than 100 countries have endorsed a campaign to raise an additional $US50 billion ($71 billion) a year in development aid to combat global hunger, but the United States has poured cold water on the project.

"The greatest scandal is not that hunger exists but that it persists, even when we have the means to eliminate it. It is time to take action," read a declaration signed by 110 nations and adopted at the close of a summit on hunger on Monday.

It urged governments to consider a report for the conference, setting out a series of options for raising the extra money.

Kofi Annan shakes on the deal with presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, centre, and Jacques Chirac.

These included a global tax on financial transactions, a tax on the sale of heavy arms, an international borrowing facility and a credit cards scheme that would direct a small percentage of transaction charges to the cause.

President Jacques Chirac of France said the report set out technically realistic and economically rational solutions.

However, the leader of the US delegation, the Agriculture Secretary, Ann Veneman, dismissed it. "Economic growth is the long-term solution to hunger and poverty," she told the meeting.

"The report should give more attention to practical steps to sustained growth. There is too much emphasis on schemes such as global taxes to raise external resources. Global taxes are inherently undemocratic. Implementation is impossible."

The US President, George Bush, did not attend the summit although he is due to address the General Assembly today.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, who organised the summit, said after the meeting that Washington had made it clear earlier that it would not participate.

Mr Chirac predicted the US position could change after the November 2 presidential elections. "Let's see when things settle down what their position will be," he said. "However strong the Americans may be, you cannot in the long run emerge victorious by opposing an idea that is backed by 100 countries and which will probably be approved by 150, creating a new political situation."

More than a billion people around the world live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $US1 a day. They include 300 million in sub-Saharan Africa.

At a summit four years ago, United Nations members pledged to halve the number of people in deep poverty by 2015.

"Right now, however, we are falling short," said the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan.

Reuters


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: globaltax; un
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-92 next last
To: dead
Get US Out of the UN Now!

41 posted on 09/21/2004 11:20:59 AM PDT by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dead

And in what currency will this "tax" be assesed?

Euros? France would be happy with that. It would mean every citizen out have to buy euros to pay the global tax.

The UN is seeking a source of money. They have lost money from the oil for food program now they seek to "help the poor".

They should call this what it really is: "Tax america into submission to the UN plan."


42 posted on 09/21/2004 11:22:01 AM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! NOV 2, 2004 is VETERANS DAY! VOTE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kenth
Personally, I would attack the "leaders" of any "starving" country which imposed import duties or taxes of any kind on food or humanitarian supplies being brought into their country for free distribution.
Ditto, any suggestion that the existing corrupt government have anything to do with distribution, or get within 10 miles of any supplies. Their populace can tear them limb from limb first.
43 posted on 09/21/2004 11:22:25 AM PDT by Publius6961 (I don't do diplomacy either)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: dead

Kofi Babba and the 100 thieves.


44 posted on 09/21/2004 11:22:39 AM PDT by RGSpincich
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dead
Paging Kofi's Son...Paging Kofi's Son...Paging Kofi's Son...

Please pick up the White Absence of Color Courtesy Phone. Money making opportunity for him...

You know Kofi could give back all of the money the UN stole from the Oil for Food program and this would more than cover what this tax would bring in.

45 posted on 09/21/2004 11:22:48 AM PDT by Syncro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: concerned about politics

Actually a direct yes or no answer from Kerry on this tax would be useful information.


46 posted on 09/21/2004 11:24:00 AM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! NOV 2, 2004 is VETERANS DAY! VOTE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: longtermmemmory
The UN is seeking a source of money. They have lost money from the oil for food program now they seek to "help the poor".

Kofi's son stole millions from the OfF program.

The UN wastes money worse than any governmental agency and the Elites steal the rest.

47 posted on 09/21/2004 11:24:59 AM PDT by Syncro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: dead

That picture on the poster looks creepy, in an Orwellian way.

That's the kind of graphic the lefties and euro-socialists would plaster everywhere to calm down the children as they herd us into the camps.

It will probably be on their armbands.


48 posted on 09/21/2004 11:25:17 AM PDT by Skooz (Prove I'm NOT Queen of the Space Unicorns.........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dead
However strong the Americans may be, you cannot in the long run emerge victorious by opposing an idea that is backed by 100 countries

If 100 million people say a stupid thing, it still is a stupid thing. Seems to fit here....

This will certainly turn into a "food for oil" debacle.

49 posted on 09/21/2004 11:26:09 AM PDT by zlala
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dead
Mr Chirac predicted the US position could change after the November 2 presidential elections. "Let's see when things settle down what their position will be," he said. "However strong the Americans may be, you cannot in the long run emerge victorious by opposing an idea that is backed by 100 countries and which will probably be approved by 150, creating a new political situation."

Chirac predicts Kerry will be President and vulnerable to any demand.

Chirac, you wanna place a bet an whether we can indefinitely oppose you? LOL!! So long as we elect leaders like G.W. you won't get a dime. Take your hats and appeal to your own citizens for the cash.

50 posted on 09/21/2004 11:26:46 AM PDT by Soul Seeker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #51 Removed by Moderator

To: longtermmemmory
Very correct. I hope it comes up in the debates.

I can't even imagine the rage from 85% of this country if they find out Kerry supports this outrageous bit of wealth redistribution for the corrupt nations of the world and the UN bagmen that would manage it.

And I'd love to further dispirit the other 15% of the country if Kerry rejects it.

Of course, he'll probably do both.

52 posted on 09/21/2004 11:27:25 AM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: dead

We already provide handouts to most every country in the world much in the way of financial aid. We give food to so many because we are compassionate. Paid with the tax dollars of our hard working citizens. We give many of them military aid so they can protect themselves and/or wage war. We also provide military protection if they are attacked, and just by our present in this world, many enjoy deterrents from tyranny and terrorists. When disasters do occur, hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, etc., we give them millions in aid, expecting nothing in return. We send our men and women overseas to fight and die so they can live free from tyranny and what do we get in return? Many more of our sons and daughters are put into harms ways with no appreciation nor support from them. Billions are being spent each year through our government to help these countries, many more billions are given through private charities that do the same, but it is never enough. They always look to us as some rich uncle, expecting, no rather demanding we give to them the fruits our labor, our ingenuity, our success, even demanding we give them the lives of our sons and daughters so that they may live in peace and prosperity. This is in addition to everything else we have given them. They stand there always with their hand out, crying unto us to give more, give more. And when we give more, it is never enough. And then they stab us in the back in the UN, in our fight against tyranny, in our pursuit of peace in this world. We must put some common sense back into what we are doing. Our friends have become our enemies.


53 posted on 09/21/2004 11:28:11 AM PDT by rawhide
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: longtermmemmory
Actually a direct yes or no answer from Kerry on this tax would be useful information.

Yes. Get him on record.
I'd like to e-mail this question to people holding the presidential debates. I'll have to find out who to contact. Any ideas?

54 posted on 09/21/2004 11:29:12 AM PDT by concerned about politics ( Liberals are still stuck at the bottom of Maslow's Hierarchy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Floyd R Turbo
Willie Horton said that? That was the liberal poster boy.

You must mean Willie Sutton.

55 posted on 09/21/2004 11:29:18 AM PDT by Publius6961 (I don't do diplomacy either)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: dead

The mark of the beast is invalid due to the lack of one signature? Thank God!


56 posted on 09/21/2004 11:29:55 AM PDT by F.J. Mitchell (If God had intended Kerry to be our President, we would all have sh*t for brains too!!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dead

Another reason to vote for Bush.

They ain't our friends, they ain't our kin, we don' owe 'em money, and I wouldn't want 'em for neighbors. We have no moral obligations to feed them. They have moral obligations to TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES!


57 posted on 09/21/2004 11:31:25 AM PDT by Little Ray (John Ffing sKerry: Just a gigolo!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: zlala

How many backed Kyoto?


58 posted on 09/21/2004 11:31:29 AM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! NOV 2, 2004 is VETERANS DAY! VOTE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: longtermmemmory
Actually a direct yes or no answer from Kerry on this tax would be useful information.

LOL! Oh stop it! You're killin' me!

59 posted on 09/21/2004 11:32:40 AM PDT by gridlock (BARTENDER: Why the long face? HORSE: Ha ha, old joke. BARTENDER: I was talking to Kerry!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: dead

Actually this is a tax on self defence.

IOW the poor will have to rely on the government for protection since the tax will make self defense weapons unafordable.


60 posted on 09/21/2004 11:32:49 AM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! NOV 2, 2004 is VETERANS DAY! VOTE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-92 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson