Posted on 12/31/2006 4:19:33 AM PST by shrinkermd
Edited on 12/31/2006 5:46:08 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
President Bush's legacy is sure to be defined by his wielding of U.S. military power in Afghanistan and Iraq, but there is another, much softer and less-noticed effort by his administration in foreign affairs: a dramatic increase in U.S. aid to Africa.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him."
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Not being an economist, I base inflation on my personal buying power. Yeah I notice prices gradually going up, but that's always been the case. It is not too outrageous, it is gradual.
It seems M3 has been replaced by "monetary base", and I don't know the difference between the two. My investment newsletter tells me that monetary base year over year change is +3.1%, and adjusted for inflation is +1.8%. I think that's not too bad. To me, the proof of runaway inflation is when things get way too expensive for me, way too fast. And, I think it's that way for most consumers. People squawked when gas prices went way up, of course, but that caused them to economize in other areas, so that forced gas prices back down and evened things out. The sellers also squawked because the buyers were slaved to the gas prices rather than clothes, shoes, food and other toys. It all evened out, and that's the way it's supposed to work in a free market. I'll whine about inflation when it gets out of control for me, as will the rest of the ignant masses like me.
"He did the right thing but with no hope of any kind of payback. Now there is someone with character!"
Yeah, too bad he didn't do it with his own money, rather than ours. Where's our payback? More tax money wasted? It's like throwing money down a rathole. Same as money spent by us taxpayers, through our State Dept. and the Bush Admin, on the Pali's in the territories. A graft and corruption hellhole.
"I don't agree with sending more money to Africa. But what else would equate with "caring" if not that? Is he supposed to send them Christmas cards or fly over there and read them stories?"
You can send advisors to aid them in the basics of running a gov't that's not corrupt, teaching them the rule of law, sending engineers and architects and computer jocks to help them with infrastructure needs and technology, so that they can help themselves rather than us taxpayers paying for their needs. That's what you can do.
Bush has set the conservative/libertarian movement back 30 years.
Post of the week.
"a dramatic increase in U.S. aid to Africa".
Bush is a sorry excuse for a President.
Here's praying we can nominate and elect a conservative in '08.
The money spent on foreign aid is a pittance compared to what we're spending in Iraq. I'm as big a supporter of that war as you'll find, but I also feel we can help poor people of other nations. Of course, we should endeavor make sure that the money isn't wasted. The Bush administration uses certain guidelines to ensure to the greatest extent possible that these funds are used efficiently. I would be more concerned with the wasteful pork that our congresspeople appropriate for themselves.---Mark
Unfortunately, we have knuckle headed conservatives who feel helping others is foolish, as well as knuckle headed liberals who refuse to acknowledge many of the things GWB has done. There will always be someone who objects to how govt money is spent. Do you think liberals approve of our current defense spending levels? Tax revenue actually includes funds from left-wingers,you know.
I suppose that withdrawing from the ABM treaty and keeping the U.N. at arms length to some degree doesn't qualify as defending our rights? As well as using military force to defeat our enemies? Also, protecting gun rights? Letting tax payers keep more of their own money? Battling for private Social Security accounts? Signing the bill with that places restrictions on eminent domain?
"Post of the week."
Seconded.
So you're saying that because lost out to unqualified people in your past, some poor soul in Africa should suffer? Giving to others doesn't make one less conservative.
First, insert the word "you" between because and lost that will make the sentence correct. Second, I don't give a damn about the people in Africa. Let the African Americans take care of them.
And how much of your OWN money have YOU ponied up for such "noble" causes? As I remarked to another poster who took a similar attitude to yours - am willing to bet you haven't given a damn cent! After all, you NEED your hard earned cash and those of us complaining about Bush's taxpayer generosity are evil and bad christians. Right?
First, that was a proofreading error. Second, you are a hard hearted person. I would never say that throwing money at a problem is the only solution. But we can still be conservative and give some assistance. This aid is actually little money compared to other expenditures by our govt. I guess that those who speak of "mean-spirited consevatives" may have a point after all.
conservatives--(correction)
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