Posted on 12/28/2004 4:11:38 PM PST by Howlin
Earlier today, responding to these remarks by the UN's Jan Egeland
But U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland suggested that the United States and other Western nations were being "stingy" with relief funds, saying there would be more available if taxes were raised.
"It is beyond me why are we so stingy, really," the Norwegian-born U.N. official told reporters. "Christmastime should remind many Western countries at least, [of] how rich we have become."
"There are several donors who are less generous than before in a growing world economy," he said, adding that politicians in the United States and Europe "believe that they are really burdening the taxpayers too much, and the taxpayers want to give less. It's not true. They want to give more."
I sent this email to Jan Egeland
You seem to be under the impression that the ONLY way that individuals can donate money to charities and disasters is if the government TAKES the money from them in the form of taxes and gives it to YOU.
Leaving aside the fact that the UN is the last place I want MY government to give money (see Oil for Food scandal), we don't need to be taxed into giving. The United States is a generous country and we WILL give a lot of money to this cause; we're just not going to give it to YOU to spend as you see fit.
The people who really need and deserve the money will get it, without you having the opportunity to cut your slice off of it.
Howlin @ FR
Raleigh, NC
P.S. Forget about a UN and/or world tax; it's not going to happen.
I know exactly how you feel!
And if I could, I'd return the A+ I got in the 5th grade when I wrote and performed in a radio show about the United Nations!
Looking back on it now, I feel like a propagandist!
That would be Norway, the 4th largest oil producing nation in the world, where *some* people barely want to work because the government takes care of them. What a self-righteous coward. He should name the stingy countries.
Not to worry. You were right on target and were as polite as you could be, given the UN's miserable record of distributing aid, such as the corrupt Oil for Food program. Thanks for your work! Keep their feet to the fire!
That should just about do it!
Running around naked is good for them. As for medicines, gin soaked raisins should clear things up in a full moon. A good flushing of the coasts is a good thing. It gets rid of the beggars and rif-raf. - The Tereeeza Heinz Kerry tsunami aid strategery.
You were kinder to him than my email. Forbes was correct...we should deport the UN!
Great job !
Russia sent tents! TENTS! I hear nobody carping about that.
Howlin, we love ya! I think you have done something exceptional here.
Way to go!!!
Don't be a lurker anymore!
See what the whole world is doing to us? One week they hate us because of our money and the next week the condemn us because we don't give them that "hated" money.
Come out and fight with us!
I saw the interview and he isn't misquoted.
The UN Flunky for Sticking It to America said what he meant and meant exactly what he said.
Go get 'em, Howlin.
I saw her too. She just reeked anti-American.
I agree. The little twit stepped in it this time.
Actaully,adequate night time shelter is essential as a malaria preventative. Better to send material that is hard to corrupt than cash than can "vanish".
I wonder what "commissions" Kofi, JE, others will extract from the relief assistance food/money chain?
There is no reason to think this tsunami effort will be any different, than oil for food.
What is the status of the Paul Volcker investigation, of the "Oil for Food" UN humanitarian assistance ripoff scandal?
What exactly is the tax rate in Norway ......and how much of their GNP do they donate to the UN?
You should have told him how you really feel....Great job with both emails and thanks for sharing with the rest of us.
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.