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Tsunami Disaster Relief: How America Can Prove It's Not 'Stingy'(Left tries for US tax increase)
Pacific News Service ^ | Dec. 29, 2004 | Robert S. Rivkin

Posted on 12/29/2004 5:03:43 PM PST by FairOpinion

Here's a simple proposal that would capture the world's attention, and which a majority of Americans would almost certainly support. President Bush should announce that because of the colossal losses suffered by millions of people in Southeast Asia and East Africa, he will make an exception to his promise not to raise taxes. Bush should propose a Tsunami Disaster Relief Surtax for 2004 and 2005, with very simple components that everyone can understand.

Since Americans, like others, are now experiencing both deep compassion for the surviving family members of the Tsunami's victims and a sense of impotence at the sheer magnitude of the calamity, it is unlikely that there would be much opposition to such a proposal -- especially if it contains an invitation to the other developed nations to provide similar funds. I believe that Americans would overwhelmingly embrace the proposal.

So -- where is the imagination in our national leadership?

----

PNS contributor Robert S. Rivkin is a San Francisco lawyer who has trained foreign judges and prosecutors on human rights and rule of law issues for international development projects.


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: humanitarianrelief; relief; sumatraquake; taxes; tsunami
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To: FairOpinion
Since Americans, like others, are now experiencing both deep compassion for the surviving family members of the Tsunami's victims and a sense of impotence at the sheer magnitude of the calamity, it is unlikely that there would be much opposition to such a proposal --

At the present time, I believe, as individuals, we are able to give as much money as we wish. Aren't we?
21 posted on 12/29/2004 5:16:55 PM PST by evaporation-plus
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To: nhoward14; RedBloodedAmerican
Now that I do support; lets send all the money we would otherwise be wasting ("dues" to the United Nations) and give that to disaster relief!
22 posted on 12/29/2004 5:17:20 PM PST by Giant Conservative
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To: TomGuy

I won't donate any money to an organization unless they promise NOT to go through the UN. Wouldn't trust a stack of Monopoly money with Annan and his Gang of Thieves.


23 posted on 12/29/2004 5:17:22 PM PST by Txsleuth (Proud to be a Texan)
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To: FairOpinion

Mr. Rivkin, if you want government to have more of your money, all you need to do is write out a check for any amount of your money you want it to have, make the check payable to the "U.S. Treasury" and mail it to the IRS. Nobody will stop you, and the IRS will take it.


24 posted on 12/29/2004 5:17:50 PM PST by Dave Olson
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To: FairOpinion
Is there a law that prohibits people from donating money? Or do liberals just feel better taking other peoples money for their causes they support?
25 posted on 12/29/2004 5:18:23 PM PST by Blue Screen of Death (/i)
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To: winner3000

***...so that we, Democrats, can beat him politically to a pulp just like we did to his dad after George Mitchell bamboozled him into raising taxes (read my lips).***

Absolutely right, Winner. But I think W learned from his Dad's mistake. NO NEW TAXES.

Anyway, Pres. Bush announced this morning that he's formed a coalition with India, Japan and Australia to send money to the victims of the tsunami. SMART MOVE, PRES. That money will not go through the U.N. Maybe they'll learn to stop bad mouthing us and calling us cheap when they see that this preisdent is not Clinton.


26 posted on 12/29/2004 5:18:37 PM PST by kitkat (Merry CHRISTmas, everyone)
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To: FairOpinion
Thank you for your timely and right-on post. This will cut off a lot of unnecessary handwringing with the ignorant and with that ever-present band of do-gooders who accept no limit... to your wallet.

Some tings government must never be allowed to do: administer coerced charity, among others. It is now hidden and beyond the reach of the average American to understand.
Some people simply refuse to accept that charity is a profoundly personal virtue. Personal. When it ceases to be a personal choice it is no longer charity by any stretch of its definition.

In 1794, Congress appropriated $15,000 for relief of French refugees. Someone stood on the floor of the House to object, saying, "I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents."
James madison

27 posted on 12/29/2004 5:22:04 PM PST by Publius6961 (The most abundant things in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity.)
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To: FairOpinion

They better quit calling Americans "stingy" -- some people might just take it personal and close up their wallets.

Americans don't like to be "forced" to give.

We certainly don't need any more taxes. People will give according to how their hearts freely want to give. And the U.S. government will surely give its generous amount.

Some people (and nations) will use any event to criticize the U.S. I say we ignore them all.


28 posted on 12/29/2004 5:22:57 PM PST by Cedar
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To: FairOpinion

No, Mr. Lefty Lawyer, the right thing to do, if do you must, is to reduce taxes so that American citizens have more discretionary income to contribute to charities and to generate yet more income. Contributions do not require government assistance. This morning, for example, my wife and I decided to make a contribution to a charity we like in Asia and it took us less than two minutes to do so.


29 posted on 12/29/2004 5:23:10 PM PST by charleywhiskey
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To: Nakatu X

I actually can name a temorary tax that was temporary.

In my city, they raised the city sales tax .25 in order to build The Ballpark in Arlington, where the Texas Rangers play. A couple of years ago, when the ballpark was paid for, they rolled back the tax hike. I was astonished and pleased.

In a week, the tax is going back up .25, because we are going to build the new stadium for the Dallas Cowboys. I am sure if the promise hadn't been kept regarding the ballpark, the voters would not have voted to fund part of the stadium.

However, that is local----would never, ever count on a "temporary" national tax.


30 posted on 12/29/2004 5:24:45 PM PST by Txsleuth (Proud to be a Texan)
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To: Txsleuth

"Wouldn't trust a stack of Monopoly money with Annan and his Gang of Thieves."

That's why, very wisely, Bush set up a separate coalition, having nothing to do with the UN, for the relief effort.

Bush forms coalition to coordinate [earthquake] relief efforts; promises long-term help
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1310493/posts


31 posted on 12/29/2004 5:26:11 PM PST by FairOpinion
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To: Txsleuth

Wow... figures that a true temporary tax would be from TEXAS. :-)


32 posted on 12/29/2004 5:28:57 PM PST by Nataku X (There are no converts in Islam... only hostages.)
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To: charleywhiskey
No.

And NO aid to ANY Muslim areas.

33 posted on 12/29/2004 5:31:42 PM PST by Mogger (Independence, better fuel eonomy and performance with American made synthetic oil.)
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To: FairOpinion
So -- where is the imagination in our national leadership?

Our national leadership has a hell of a lot more respect for its citizens than this pretentious yahoo.

Our national leadership doesn't have to imagine the fact that we are the most generous and giving people on the face of the earth and we'll give voluntarily of our own money to the aid agencies of our choosing.

This character can have a heaping helping of ST*U.

(I am totally ticked about the tack the left and media have taken almost immediately here, so I beg indulgence for my strong language)

34 posted on 12/29/2004 5:33:50 PM PST by cyncooper
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To: FairOpinion

A Barf Alert would have been appropriate.


35 posted on 12/29/2004 5:35:05 PM PST by shubi (Peace through superior firepower.)
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To: Txsleuth
I won't donate any money to an organization unless they promise NOT to go through the UN. Wouldn't trust a stack of Monopoly money with Annan and his Gang of Thieves.

You can say that again.

36 posted on 12/29/2004 5:35:42 PM PST by cyncooper
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To: FairOpinion

Keep one thing in mind: the democrats can't win unless W loses. Therefore, they will do everything in their power to bring him down anyway they can.

Yeah, I know he can't run again, but his party can. So if they destroy W, they weaken the party and have a chance to win.

Iraq, dead American heroes, tsunamis, it doesn't matter to them. The game is: get Bush!


37 posted on 12/29/2004 5:40:54 PM PST by lancer (If you are not with us, you are against us!)
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To: lancer

You are right and the Dems are so stupid that they don't realize (or the don't care, which is worse), that while they are yelling how Bush is being SO insensitive to the victims of the the disaster, THEY are the ones that are using the deaths of 100,000 people (a lot of which are children) to once again bash Bush and try to make themselves look righteous. SICK, SICK, SICK, I say!!!!


38 posted on 12/29/2004 5:48:47 PM PST by Txsleuth (Proud to be a Texan)
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To: SE Mom
This is why you have to love liberals- no problem exists that cannot be solved by more taxes.

And no situation too horrific for the liberals to abuse it for their political desires. A funeral turned political rally comes to mind as a recent example prior to this abuse.

39 posted on 12/29/2004 5:51:26 PM PST by highlander_UW (Islam - The Religion of Peace, and we'll kill you to prove it)
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To: FairOpinion

This is what passes as "moral" on the left.


40 posted on 12/29/2004 5:54:12 PM PST by Brett66 (W1 W1 W1 W1 W1 W1 W1 W1)
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