What about the kids with no political affiliation. What, we just let them starve and rot. To not help is Un-American. It's not what we're about.
We ALL want to help. That is not the issue. The issue is the FORMAT of the aid.
1] Our government should have appealed to Americans to give privately to charity and said no tax dollars will be given through the government. Americans would have raised far more than $350 million (we gave $250 billion to private charities last year, so $350 million is a drop in the bucket). Use the military for logistics, use the military for immediate food, water and medical needs and transport, but send NO government cash; only send money from private giving.
2] Had we done this, the world would have seen the money coming from the American people, not the government. The response by TV shows, radio shows, corporations etc to raise money would have been staggering if the challenge was put to the people to respond.
We had a chance to change the world's mind about Americans and we blew it. No matter how much money will be raised privately, the fact the government sent aid will wash out all private giving in the news shows at foreign nations.
3] We gave millions to Iran following the Bam, earthquake. What goodwill did we get in return? They are building nukes in defiance of the nuclear watchdog agency, and are sending insurgents into Iraq to kill Americans. We can give trillions of dollars in disaster relief, and they will still hate us and behead us.
4] I just read this at another website:
And Mud Huts Are Still 10 Feet From Shore:
And Mud Huts Are Still 10 Feet From Shore
1998 Flood in the Muslim nation of Bangladesh . . . The United States sends American taxpayer money as forced charity. People died as mud huts were 10 feet from shore.
2002 Flood in the most populous Muslim nation of Indonesia . . . The United States sends American taxpayer money as forced charity. People died as mud huts were 10 feet from shore.
2004 Flood from the tsunami in a number of Muslim nations . . . The United States sends American taxpayer money as forced charity. People died as mud huts were 10 feet from shore.
Are strings ever attached to American taxpayer money given out as charity? Why couldn't we demand two floods ago, six years ago and thousands of lives ago, that--as a condition for receiving the charity--that mud huts not be built 10 feet from shore?
Robert Sentry
I agree. Legitimate question. Why do we not demand changes be made in return for our charity?
5] As others have written, the F-22 production is being cut back because America can't afford it.
How can the American government afford charity, but we can't afford to defend our nation?
6] Oil for Food..........It is clear that most charity money ends up in the wrong hands. It makes millionaires out of corrupt officials. Some goes to terrorist organizations.
7] As one of those commentaries said, Floridians were given low-interest loans at 3.18% following the hurricanes. Why do we give foreigners cash and treat American disaster victims second rate???
You see, there are legitimate questions that should be asked. Had the government not sent taxpayer money but appealed to us to send the cash while having our military take care of logistics, I would have given as would have many others.
As it stands, I will not give a penny for this reason and for reasons listed above. Charity should be private; it should never come from taxpayer money.