Posted on 11/29/2006 6:15:46 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
The New York Times and Washington Post editorialize about America's "stinginess." Former President Jimmy Carter says when it comes to helping others, "The rich states don't give a damn." Standing outside the White House, the singer Bono told the press that America doesn't do enough to help the needy:
"It's the crumbs off our tables that we offer these countries."
It seems obvious to Bono and President Carter that America offers "crumbs" because the governments of most other wealthy countries distribute a larger percentage of their nations' wealth in foreign aid. Yes, the U.S. government gave out $20 billion last year, much more than other countries give, but that's only because we are so stupendously wealthy. If you calculate foreign aid as a percentage of our wealth, the United States gives much less than others.
Actress Angelina Jolie calls that "really disgusting" in my new TV special, titled "Cheap in America." "ABC News" will broadcast it tonight (Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 10 p.m. -- sorry -- I know some of you are reading this column after that). Jolie goes on to say, "I think most American people, you know, really do think we give more. And I know that they would if they could understand how little they give and how much more we can afford to give, absolutely, without even noticing."
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
IMO we give too much now . Most of it is stolen long before it reaches anyone in need.
Charitable Giving Rises 6 Percent to More than $260 Billion in 2005
Disaster relief tops all records and totals 3 percent of all giving
http://www.aafrc.org/press_releases/trustreleases/0606_PR.pdf
This miserable kind of article usually shows up earlier whenever a Republican Administration takes power. But I guess it was delayed because President Bush has been a bigger social spender than even Clinton with his prescription paying, billions to Africa for AIDS, doubling of the budget for the Department of Education, etc. I guess that the guilt-ridden leftists want to prepare us for expected increases in our taxes.
Its the guilt before Christmas crap again....
And Bono..your worth a few hundred million..sell you jets and feed a family or two..
Harry Chapin..now there was a true rock star...he walked the walk
Notice how these rich philanthropists still manage to live pretty high on the hog even when you take in their charitable contributions?
Most americans, when they give to charity, can feel the hurt of that in their lives. They actually go without and sacrifice when they give to charities.
These rich people can give and give and give and they STILL GET TO TRAVEL AND LOUNGE AROUND POOLS AND SHOP ON RODEO DRIVE AND DRIVE THE BEST CARS AVAILABLE AND LAVISH THEMSELVES WITH MASSAGES AND SPA VISITS.
bump
Keep looking. It has to be there--and clearly defined. Because it is done daily to all we dolts everywhere.
Too bad he didn't drive something a little sturdier than a VW.
first of all, most of the "generous" countries in the world are freeloading off the US military. Factor in what we pay to protect their butts so they can give their money to foreign aid and we come off as the most generous people ever.
The government shouldn't be "giving" away a cent....leave that to private charities.
How about they cut down this defecit we have instead?
Gates and Buffett are succeeding in sheltering their wealth from capital gains taxes - something they both require exist for the rest of us. It's funny how it's a good idea to avoid paying the government "its share" of some $60 billion dollars when its Gates' own money he's talking about.
Indeed, what used to be called "foreign aid" when I was a kid growing up, has morphed into something else.I am not sure what, but the gradual disappearance of that term itself must mean something else is going on.It would be VERY instructive and instructively horrifying for someone to do some real research and assess just HOW MUCH has been "given" by the USA to every other country---add it all up, say, over the last 50 years, and then take a realistic look at those countries and the condition they are in, and deduce just what in fact all those hundreds of billions if not hundreds of trillions went for. WHAT, pray tell, was built?
"You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong."
-- Abraham Lincoln
"You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves."
--Abraham Lincoln
"When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."
--Benjamin Franklin
In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
-- Voltaire (1764)
I think Stossel will expose how much money celebrities and big liberal business execs have given.
What was once genuine, caring charity has become extortion.
Might be useful to show how much more that 'aid' of the foreign governments are linked to buying goods from the country that gave it. (That effectively is a form of corporate welfare and less of charity).
Is it more common in the US to have less strings attached to the moneys use???
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.