Bush Asks for $15 Billion to Fight AIDS in Africa (It's unprecedented and will save lives)

reuters ^ | 1/28/2003 | Maggie Fox

[TLBSHOW]

They will have no problem with this one. Comes to tax cuts oh no they will say. Rats are rats are rats!

[AppyPappy]

I agree with you! Believe that Senator Bill Frist, M.D., who has gone to Africa and has seen how devastating this disease is to so many people that have gotten AIDs in Africa through no fault of their own. This epidemic could go around the world and strike more than the gay community.

If the Dems ask for $30B, will you say they are twice as generous as Bush?

[wimpycat]

Yeah, I saw him...he had a HUGE smile on his face when Bush was talking about this AIDS initiative. So it is Uganda that has cut their AIDS rate; I knew it was one of those countries. I believe they have OUTLAWED pre-marital sex and they've cut their new AIDS rate by something like 30%.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I know, which I corrected in a subsequent post...

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Money well spent.

Yeah...you and I worked well and hard for it.

This we can agree.

I don't think so

I hope education is included too.

It won't be, another typical government solution addressing the symtoms instead of the root of the problem. Naturally more African women will be spreading their legs for multiple partners (some with AIDS o'course) and popping out 10-12 babies that will need to be sheltered, clothed and fed and need AIDS meds...all this while the mommy and daddies cant shelter, clothe and feed or get AIDS meds themselves (which means you and I will contribute to MORE money for their kids in the future!). I'm so glad we can count on our compassionate government to share our wealth with the world.

Another liberal talking point pulled from under their feet!

I call it APPEASEMENT...you can call it anything you want to I guess.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Although it's culturally accepted in Africa to have multiple partners, it is still aquired from having sex.

That's my point. Why are WE paying for this insanity? What about the hungry poor throughout the world. Are we now going to be required to pay for that too?

Why are we being taxed, charged, or made to pay for these things?

[biblewonk]

Yes I did notice him. He seemed very excited as the twit from U2 must also be. It must be some sin in myself that is not excited about this.

[Kevin Curry]

And the Democrats respond . . .

The point is they respond by saying, "Me too, but much, much more." To the average voter the bottom-line numbers are forgettable. What is remembered is that Bush wholly gutted the Democrats' argument and denied them even a fraction of the force inherent in the issue. I believe it's great politics even if I don't fully agree with the policy when viewed in isolation from the politics and the larger picture.

[AppyPappy]

And how does he plan to pay for this?

[weikel]

You're a selfish child.

Oh I am, I am. I don't see how rewarding people for screwing up and getting aids will discourage the behaviour which leads to it. This is worse than welfare it not only rewards people for doing nothing it rewards screwing up. I don't see how this money is actually going to the people either. The scenario will play out something like this.

US to local African thug: Heres your AIDs money check
Thug: Okay... Cha-Ching to Switzerland you go
People: Where are those AIDs drugs?
Thug: Its Americas fault they lied because they're evil.
People: Lets ask those Saudi mosques they've been telling us America is evil for a long time.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

And the Democrats respond by saying that $15B is an insult and proves Bush doesn't care. They ask for $35B.

This came so unexpectedly, in a major speech, that no matter how much money goes to it, Bush will get the credit. Mind you, if I read Bush's body language and tone of voice correctly, this was second, only to taking out Saddam, in his personal priorities. If the Dems ask for more, he'll let Congress argue it out and signoff on however much they put into the budget, $15B or $35B.

[PolishProud]

I'm tired of the U.S. trying to be all things to all people...and still no one likes us. Where's France? where's Germany? If they want to be players on the world stage, let them put up some money for HIV control. Unfortunately most of the bucks sent to Africa end up in the pockets of bureaucrats and despots.

[Lunatic Fringe]

The announcement, made in his annual State of the Union Address, took AIDS campaigners by surprise, but they quickly both welcomed the plan and expressed skepticism about it.

Yet, they applauded Clinton when he did nothing, because he "really cared."

[A. Pole]

More money being pissed away.

It is a part of stimulus package - to help pharmacological industry

[Kevin Curry]

How does an administration plan to pay for anything? Congress must still approve the expenditure. If a Republican Congress kills it or grants only a fraction of what he proposed, Bush has lost nothing politically.

[AppyPappy]

Great. We buy some BMW's and RPG's for a bunch of thugs with our hard-earned money. These are the same "leaders" who routinely starve thousands to death but we can trust them with this money for AIDS because it's supposedly a good campaign issue.

[mikenola]

Where is the constituional authority to spend money on a problem like this? This is stretching the "general welfare" clause pretty far if you ask me. I also wonder if the victims were white, you'd see an initiative like this.

The AIDS epidemic is a natural consequence of overpopulation, as theorized by Thomas Malthus.

I'm not unsympathetic, but the best thing for us to do is let this epidemic run its course, and get the population back to a level the geography can support. Otherwise the chronic poverty in Africa will only persist.

Flame away....

[AppyPappy]

Except that the base will have to pay for this if it passes.

[Kevin Curry]

These are the same "leaders" who routinely starve thousands to death but we can trust them with this money for AIDS

That part bothers me more than any other factor.

[weikel]

Hey Mugabe need a new pair of shoes( whos say being cynical makes you unhappy).