Clinton to dedicate life to redistributing world's wealth

The Age (Australia) ^ | 02/27/2002 | Barbara Adam

[Pokey78]

Former US president Bill Clinton today vowed to dedicate the rest of his life to helping redistribute the world's wealth.

At his fourth Australian speaking engagement, Mr Clinton said prosperous nations including Australia and the United States held the key to the world's future.

He said it would cost America $US2.5 billion ($A4.87 billion) to meet UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's request for an extra $US10 billion ($A19.47 billion) to fight AIDS and other infections diseases.

"For us, you know what that is?" he asked the $1,100-a-head charity dinner in Melbourne for the Microsurgery Foundation.

"Two-and-a-half months of the Afghan war, and about one tenth of one per cent of the federal budget.

"That's it.

"There are 40 million AIDS cases a day and if we don't do something about it, there will be 100 million AIDS cases a day."

Mr Clinton said Australians needed to identify with people of poorer nations.

"If we can, then our children will have the most peaceful and prosperous and the most interesting and fun time in all of human history," he said.

"I'm going to do what I can for the rest of my life to make that happen, and I hope you will too.

The 42nd president of the United States said Australians should not be afraid of change, or of people who were different.

Such fears had resulted in the assassinations of Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Israeli President Yitzak Rabin and the September 11 terrorist attacks.

"We are struggling to find a balance in our two countries to not just tolerate people who are different, but actually venerate those differences, respect them, celebrate them, in the context of our common humanity," he said.

In a direct reference to the Howard government's woes, Mr Clinton also warned Australia needed to pull its weight in addressing global warming or the refugee crisis would get worse.

"If the world warms in the next 50 years as it has done in the last 10, ...agricultural production will be disrupted across the globe," he said.

"You'll have literally millions upon millions of food refugees, leading to more violence, more disruption and more boatloads of refugees that you will have to face."

[Consort]

Is he returning money? Or, is he going to give away our money?

[Right_Wing_Mole_In_Seattle]

Very observant!

[Godel]

He wants to redistribute the worlds wealth. America is one of the richest countries. In other words, Clinton wants America to be poorer and less powerful. Now, how in the world could this country have elected as its leader for 8 years someone who hates it so much and is dedicating his life fighting against the best interests of his own country.

Clinton is a truly evil man.

[Steve_Seattle]

"we are struggling in our two countries to not only tolerate differences but to venerate them."

Goddammit Clinton, you genetically defective moron, differences ARE tolerated in the USA and Australia. They are NOT tolerated in Saudia Arabia, Zimbabwe, China, Iraq, Iran, Cuba, the Sudan, and virtually all Moslem countries. Go to THOSE places and give your speech.

[kezekiel]

He said it would cost America $US2.5 billion...
"...For us, you know what that is?"

Arrogant jerk-off. Maybe for you that's nothing, but that's our hard-earned money you're talking about.

Go away. You're painful to watch.

[Michael Barnes]

I was scratching my head too..Where the hell did that number come from? Last I heard, the CDC said there were 40K new cases LAST YEAR. Not in a day.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

EBP, whoa boy! Listen, I can't WAIT till Savage gets a hold of Bill's latest quote! Send it to him, ok? BTW, I sent him that AE Houseman poem he was looking for. Send it to paulreveresociety@yahoo.com

[nightdriver]

"The 42nd president of the United States said Australians should not be afraid of change, or of people who were different.

Tell X42 to go tell it to the islamic jihad groups. Talk about people who are afraid of change or people who are different from them!

[timydnuc]

I ask myself, "How the hell did he become President?"

Two words............Ross Perot!!!!

[jrewingjr]

I bet that he and his cohorts already have in place a plan that would circumvent this somehow. Whatever it takes. Slick has never been one to worry about rules that stand in his way. He is a piece of sh**.

[Vinnie]

That's the thing that really pi$$es me off.
These wealthy liberals, Oprah, Martin Sheen, BS, et al, that want ME to pay my meager funds toward supporting a lazy jobless guy.

Why don't they take up a collection among themselves and be done with it.
NOOOOOOO, they NEED their funds.

What a bunch of hypocrites!!

[MeekOneGOP]

Pitiful. Poor bill.
Building a legacy. . .

[vannrox]

What an A Hole!

[MeekOneGOP]

More legacy. . .

[Maceman]

Can you say Ross Perot?

Can you say Bob "I'll be Ronald Reagan if you want me to be" Dole?

[Smedley]

"There are 40 million AIDS cases a day and if we don't do something about it, there will be 100 million AIDS cases a day."

Huh? At 40 mil cases per day and a world population of about 6 billion, the entire world will contract AIDS in about 150 days.

[MeekOneGOP]

More legacy. . .

[Creightongrad]

That's exactly it. How much of his money (Swiss bank accounts too) does he contribute? Don't ever forget the tobacco litigation scam. His brother-in-law pulled in big bucks on that. And he was no PI lawyer. Kickbacks to Billy? You decide.

[goodnesswins]

I thought this was from the ONION at first.....OH, please, God, forgive me for my thoughts about this human.....