Jimmy Carter: "in rich countries like ours, we really don't give a damn" about aid to poor nations

Reuters (AlertNet) ^ | 4/15/2005 | Paul Simao

[Tern]

Carter: rich states "don't give a damn" about poor

ATLANTA, April 14 (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on Thursday harshly criticized his own country and other wealthy states for being stingy with foreign aid and said in rich countries "We really don't give a damn."

In a speech to a human rights conference in Atlanta, Carter said increasing financial assistance was critical to battling malaria, AIDS and other common diseases that disproportionately affect the poorest parts of the world.

"Unfortunately, in the rich countries like ours, we really don't give a damn," said Carter, who was president from 1977 to 1981 and who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

He especially criticized the United States for failing to follow other Western nations which are increasing spending.

Although America tops the foreign aid donor list in dollar terms, it falls behind the Netherlands, Canada and many other smaller, less affluent nations when contributions are measured on a per capita basis.

U.S. foreign aid is approximately 0.18 percent of gross national product, the lowest of any G-7 nation and far below a 0.7 percent United Nations target that 22 of the world's developed nations have agreed to meet by 2015.

A handful have met the goal, while others such as Germany and Great Britain insist they will achieve it.

"We have not budged so far," lamented Carter, who has spearheaded efforts through his non-profit Carter Center to eradicate diseases in the developing world, including Guinea worm and onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness.

(Writing by Paul Simao, Editing by David Storey)

[snowsislander]

You certainly can see just how proud President Carter is of being an American. ;-(

[tet68]

"Fortunately, in the rich countries like ours, we really don't give a damn," said Carter, who as president from 1977 to 1981 saw our country humiliated and who won a Nobel Disgrace Prize in 2002. "Really, as a former president,
I don't have to worry about bloody ***k-all, health care? taken care of. Security? Taken care of. Money? I just have to ask and foolish democrats will line my pockets.
Has anybody seen my depends?"

[stylin19a]

Poor countries can't spend percentages...they can spend dollars.

How many dollars is .18% of GNP ?

Somebody stuff a sock in Jimmy's mouth.

[Reactionary]

Ooo. Another stupid liberal flaunting his compassion for all the world to see.

Such maudlin sentimentality. Such rank stupidity. Liberals are so full of themselves.

[Alouette]

Rich states like Saudi Arabia.

[ran15]

You guys on this thread are all greedy capitalists for not wanting to subsidize Edi Amin or Colonel Gadafi's lifestyles.

[cockroach_magoo]

Yes, of course, we should stop using US taxpayer money to defend and provide stability to the world, and instead use that money for something more compassionate... like funding the abortions of starving foreigners!

And then, if private citizens really want to provide stability to the world, they can always contribute their own money to the many existing world stabilization charities.

[Fudd Fan]

only one word for him: idiot.

[caseinpoint]

Carter is just mad that he isn't getting all the government grants he wants for his own "non-profits".

[Alouette]

the worst president in the last century

I'd say the second worst. Clinton had two terms to mess things up.

[Grim]

Carter is, and always will be, a f-ing idiot,

You can say that again.

[Tax-chick]

Yes, totally heartless, that's us.

[dfwgator]

Carter and Clinton didn't do nearly half the damage LBJ did.

[Fudd Fan]

Well said, Tax-chick!

[Paradox]

Ya know, when I still lived at home, it was easy for me to give away a part of my income to charity. Daddy took care of me, after all.

Then I moved out and became responsible for my own security...things certainly changed. Its easy to give away money when you aren't SPENDING so much for the security of others..

[Right_in_Virginia]

"Unfortunately, in the rich countries like ours, we really don't give a damn," said Carter

What a jacka$$.

What he really means is no one gives a damn about HIM. Jimmy must be quite angry that he wasn't invited to attend the Pope's funeral---and BJ Clinton is sucking up all the attention at the UN.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The worst president of the US and now the worst former president of the US. He really is full of BS.

[river rat]

Someone please inform this stupid sonuvabitch with the big teeth --- that there is NO LIMIT to how much of HIS wealth, property or time he can devote to feeding the foreign hungry or enriching the foreign poor..

The problem with these marxist bastards - is they want to keep their money - but take mine, and give it away to folks I'm not even interested in helping...

At this point of my life ---- I'm plumb out of compassion towards folks that hate me, make all the wrong decisions and are constantly allied with my enemies.....

My charity and generosity begins at home.....and friends before enemies..

Semper Fi

[Tax-chick]

Thanks. I occasionally post a Deep Thought, in addition to baby pictures :-).

[KoRn]

Yo jimmah!

Wouldn't it be nice if the poor nations gave a damn about poor nations, more specifically themselves. Most of the nations he speaks of do things to keep themselves in the situation they are in. Either from the people allowing corrupt leaders to stay in power while depending on us for aid, to theocracies that dominate their people through twisted religion and telling their people it's OUR FAULT!

This matters not to jimmah and others like him. No matter what happens they find a way to see fault with US, ignoring the things we do for good, while ignoring some of them and the things they do wrong.