The stingy giant - Jan Egeland should backpedal

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | December 30, 2004 | Debra J. Saunders

[Cato1]

UN's Jan Egeland quickly backpedaled from his assertion Monday that wealthy nations -- which pay his salary and fund his work -- are "stingy" when it comes to aiding the relief effort following Asia's deadly tsunami. No lie.

As President Bush noted Wednesday, the United States contributed 40 percent of aid relief for the world's emergencies in 2004.

To be fair, Egeland didn't single out the United States as "stingy." What he said was: "(I)t is remarkable that we have no country up to the 1 percent line of foreign assistance in general and we have, I think, three Scandinavians that have exceeded and Holland, the 0.7 line of gross national income for assistance."

The United Nations, you see, has decreed that developed countries should give 1 percent of their gross national income to foreign humanitarian aid. To make his point, Egeland explained that Americans and Europeans want to pay higher taxes: "Politicians do not understand their own populations because all the populations in the United States, in the European Union, in Norway, which is No. 1 (in foreign aid) in the world, want to give more as voters, as taxpayers. People say we should give what we give now or more. Politicians and pundits believe that they are really burdening the taxpayers too much, and the taxpayers want to give less. It's not true. They want to give more."

As for Americans wanting to pay higher taxes to provide more foreign aid, I think it is Egeland who doesn't understand voters. I won't speak for Europeans, but most Americans I know would rather keep the tax rate where it is, and write personal checks to the humanitarian organization of their choice.

[Cato1]

Debra really put the nail on the head... now the counterintuitive thing here is that low taxes make for less stingy and more generous people...

[Keith in Iowa]

He can't backpedal - it would be like taking back a fart.

[snarks_when_bored]

Hmmm...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1312415/posts?page=40#40

[snarks_when_bored]

Hmmmm, again, ...

Hmmm

[msnimje]

Just because Americans are too smart to donate all their aid and charity money to the UN does not mean we are stingy. He is using a faulty and egocentric yardstick.

[Howlin]

And he's still at it; in his presser today, he said something along the lines of "Swedes have given $10 a person and their government has matched their donations. America has given a lot, too."

[Ruth A.]

The United Nations, you see, has decreed that developed countries should give 1 percent of their gross national income to foreign humanitarian aid.

This is more than showing some cheek. Do away with the U.N., then the IRS.

[thegreatbeast]

Jan Egeland is a genius. He used a little child psychology on President Bush and now he (#43) can't stop "redeeming" the reputation of the US.
My wish is that 1/3 of this attention were given TO THE WAR AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO FIGHT IT!

[SoDak]

I was thinking that Jan did just that. And it's working.

[Coldwater Creek]

President Bush handled th disaster aid just right. This UN idiot had nothing to do with the added funds.

We were not going to give large sums immediately until we knew what the need was.

[thegreatbeast]

Sure.

[ThirstyMan]

"like taking back a fart"

Good one. It was a fart that many UN elite types thoroughly enjoyed. Nevermind it isn't true.
Neither is this: "They want to give more."

Anyway, here’s a report from the scene:
"The US military has arrived and is clearly establishing its presence everywhere in Banda Aceh. They completely have taken over the military hospital, which was a mess until yesterday but is now completely up and running. They brought big stocks of medicines, materials for the operation room, teams of doctors, water and food. Most of the patients who were lying in the hospital untreated for a week have undergone medical treatment by the US teams by this afternoon. US military have unloaded lots of heavy vehicles and organize the logistics with Indonesian military near the airport. A big camp is being set up at a major square in the town. Huge generators are ready to provide electricity. US helicopters fly to places which haven't been reached for the whole week and drop food. The impression it makes on the people is also highly positive; finally something happens in the city of Banda Aceh and finally it seems some people are in control and are doing something. No talking but action. European countries are until now invisible on the ground. IOM staff (note: this is a USAID-funded organization) is very busy briefing the incoming Americans and Australians about the situation. The US, Australia, Singapore and the Indonesian military have started a 'Coalition Co-ordination Centre' in Medan to organize all the incoming and outgoing military flights with aid. A sub-centre is established in Banda Aceh."

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

"Jan Egeland is a genius."

He's cunning, you bet. It's the old Squeaky Wheel routine. The only way to fix it is to let other wheels see a squeaky wheel replaced now and then. Otherwise, the beggars become muggers.

[blanknoone]

Jan Egeland should be fired. He is a diplomat who committed a major diplomatic gaffe. Furthermore, we should force him to change his name to a man's name. (in case anyone doesn't get it, the third sentence is a joke)

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

"Furthermore, we should force him to change his name to a man's name."

I dunno. It's great when your name reflects you. Girly men. FReegards =]

[Mad Mammoth]

I suggest that the United States auction off the U.N. building to the highest third world bidder, with all funds going to tsunami relief. Evict the U.N. staff from U.S. soil, and the resulting money saved from unpaid parking tickets can also be sent to the victims of the tsunami.