U.S. Should Not Help Tsunami Victims

Ayn Rand Institute ^ | Dec. 30, 2004 | David Holcberg

[MrLee]

I was being facetious.

[commonguymd]

Only what was allocated by congress to my knowledge.

[Grey Ghost II]

I was being facetious.

OK. My bad.

[BradyLS]

Ah, our tax money is.So Rush is wrong when he goes on about the government misspending 'our' money???

[Jaded]

And the problem is the corrupt authorities of the region. The UN feeds that problem with their own corruption which is one reason they are so chipped off over the Aid Coalition.

How many more will die because of those same governments and blame Bush instead no matter how much the American government and her citizens give?

[Howlin]

He has a discretionary fund.

[Double Tap]

Good post and it is correct.

[Carolinamom]

I can think of no better use for our tax money than to help these needy victims, can you? Or do you begrudge this kind of help?

[commonguymd]

Correct - allocated by congress. The congress will have to approve anything above and beyond that. Republic form of Government again - you (us Americans) vote for the representatives that make these decisions. don't like to have the government allocate the funds to the president's discretion - vote them out.

My belief is that what we are doing is a good thing, and I hope we do more.

[commonguymd]

Where have I "begrudged" anything? Read my posts if you are so inclined to see how I feel.

[hershey]

Brave words, but not the world we live in at present. At least GW is doing an end run around that crook Kofi. Or attempting to despite Powell this afternoon. Kofi couldn't cozy up fast enough.

[commonguymd]

Brave words, but not the world we live in at present. At least GW is doing an end run around that crook Kofi. Or attempting to despite Powell this afternoon. Kofi couldn't cozy up fast enough

It is delightfully delicious.

[1LongTimeLurker]

You are confusing two concepts. According to Christ, we are all required to be charitable. That, however has nothing to do with the government unjustly taking a disproportionate amount of our wages, such that it's difficult to care for our families, so it can in turn give that money away.

Government aid can be a tool to achieve policy goals, for example, we're giving away millions in Iraq to build a stable country. It is also in our interest to assist aid the victims of the Tsunami disaster for a variety of reasons including both economic and security.

[1LongTimeLurker]

I would venture to suspect if one properly explained that it is "our" tax dollars being given away a great number of Americans would take issue with it and like I and others on this thread feel that we, as individuals, should have and take the responsibility to make that decision for ourselves and not have "the government" arbitrarily make it for us. Especially given the shape "our national financial house" is in at the present.

Speaking as one american, the dollar or so of my tax money that the U.S. is using to aid the victims of this tragedy is money well spent. I will send along several hundred of my own additional funds.

[DrDavid]

I think if we warned them well in advance and the warnings would simply have been heeded, we were being extraordinarily generous where it counts and saving everybody millions, or even billions, of dollars in relief.

It was pointed out on another thread that the MSM had the information. The MSM could have broadcast it on the TV which would have been picked up in the hotels. Now, they are blaming President Bush when they had the opportunity to warn people.

[Bullish]

Much of the money the govt. gives away to help themselves feel good about themselves comes from SS taxes. The same taxes that should be put away to pay for SS.

Our govt. tells us that SS will be unable to meet its obligations in the near future, but is it taking steps to put the money into a safe place? No, it is spending it and giving it away like there's no tomorrow.

Our govt. has obviously gotten too big and too unaccountable to the citizens, (we the people) who fund it.

[mandingo republican]

LEAVE IT TO GODLESS Ayn Rand WHACK JOBS TO SAY SOMETHING CRAZY AS THIS.

[ShadowDancer]

I agree. Look at what the citizens here have donated to the Red Cross alone. Not to mention what is going to the Salvation Army and the scores of other charitable organizations. We are a good people. We will help. I don't need some two-bit suit with the morals of Ghengis Khan insisting on where my charitable insticts should best be laid.

[Trust but Verify]

This area is 'prone to this activity'?

I must have gotten the wrong information. I heard this is unprecedented.

[Centurion2000]

Jesus Christ would not aprove of giving money to people to build houses again in an area that is.... lets face it...prone to this activity

To play Devil's Advocate for a moment, there has not been a tsunami in these places in well over living memory.