Posted on 09/07/2005 5:13:35 AM PDT by George Oh Well
Americans are opening their pocketbooks so fast and so wide in the wake of Hurricane Katrina that donations have already dwarfed the first week's efforts to help victims of last year's Asian tsunami and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
By Tuesday evening, U.S. charities had raised more than $500 million in cash and pledges — more than twice the $239 million donated in the 10 days after Sept. 11, and more than three times the $163 million raised in the nine days after the tsunami that hit countries along the Indian Ocean last Dec. 26.
cont: Americans are opening their pocketbooks so fast and so wide in the wake of Hurricane Katrina that donations have already dwarfed the first week's efforts to help victims of last year's Asian tsunami and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
By Tuesday evening, U.S. charities had raised more than $500 million in cash and pledges — more than twice the $239 million donated in the 10 days after Sept. 11, and more than three times the $163 million raised in the nine days after the tsunami that hit countries along the Indian Ocean last Dec. 26.
cont: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-me-philanthropy7sep07,0,1836630.story
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Kofi Annan is probably sitting around with a pain in his stomach wondering how he can siphon off some of that aid money for himself.
Is there an echo in here?
The $163m coming just after Christmas, when most people are tapped out or in debt, was impressive.
That another $500m has been barely 7mo later, and after weeks of rising gas prices, is incredible.
He's jealous of all the Louisiana politicians that are going to get rich off of this.
Most of the aid money is probably going to be scammed by the victims.
I've heard car sales go up in areas wherever FEMA goes.
"Is there an echo in here?"
Sorry about that.
On to other matters: Is it time for Jesse Jackass to pull his foot out of his mouth? Who wants to bet 95% of that generosity is coming from white people who live in red states?
You know there are people, politicians and people across the world, that are in fury their hands weren't on that money previously.
Americans are a generousous people. Our taxes are used to aid people, and then on top of that whatever is left we donate. Especially when our own are in need.
We live in a red county of a blue state. Do our contributions to the Salvation Army and the Astrodome count?
Everyone needs a car, especially the next time the levee breaks.
Well, lots of people do lose their cars in a thing like this.
Kuwait pledged $500 million, too...in oil and cash.
Not bad given that most donating are racist whities.....
My reference to FEMA money being spent on personal vehicles was because the money was supposed to go to the reconstruction of their homes.
I was at a hospital right after a hurricane had hit Manu'a, which is part of American Samoa. There was an older woman ahead of me, and she tipped the nurse $20. When the nurse refused, the old lady said in Samoan, "Take it. It is a gift from FEMA. I have more where that came from." That's how it roughly translates anyhow. She obliged by showing the nurse the large number of $20-bills she had in her purse.
I've been through enough hurricane after maths to have seen lots of stuff like that.
Too bad we don't care about black people in this country.
Our church and some others have been asked to serve meals at the Astrodome the first week of October. That's cool. But then came the kicker. Here's the pitch:
"Food Service Volunteers at the Astrodome
The Hon. William “Bill” White, Mayor of Houston, Judge Robert Eckels of the County Court, and FEMA have asked the Houston Episcopal community to take responsibility from September 28 through October 4, 2005 for feeding the 25,000 storm victims who will take up residence at the Astrodome. (Other faith communities will take responsibility for other weeks.) We are asked to pay for the cost of the food and to furnish volunteers to serve the food during this time. The United Way of Greater Houston will administer all the Social Services for the victims of the storm who come to Houston.
The cost of each meal is $1.79 or $134,250 per day and $939,750.00 for the week to feed 25,000 people. These funds will provide a hot breakfast, a box lunch and a hot dinner each day for each person for a week."
The Government coercively collects our money to distribute to every PC cause imaginable, and we've all ponied up over and above that amount to help. I think I resent being asked to cough up the amount of the food much less serve it, more than a month out from the disaster.
We take care of those in need in Texas. But we resent free riders, Big Time. That's the way of our people.
When I made my on-line contribution to the Salvation Army, I clicked the box that said, "donation intended for whites only." Didn't you?
Heh heh. Hurricane: "after maths", I have a purse full of 20s.
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