[norton]

I very nearly hit the abuse button on this overt call for donations to the Red Cross.

The red cross gets absolutely zilch, nada, zero, from my pockets!

Period.

Posting directly from their site is real close to advocating one and only one bucket for donations - and I don't trust them to do anything other than to pay their own salaries.

The Salvation Army, yes.

Your church or another church's established charities, yes.

Obama's web site or the Red Cross's web site; no!
The money will never be used for Haitian relief.

Period.

PS: Haiti will be the same open latrine after the eathquake as it was before the earthquake, but you might feel better about it.

[palmer]

I think you are confusing a few concepts here. There is no doubt some of the money texted to the Red Cross will end up paying for Haiti relief. But you are right that their salaries are high (top execs) and they have a keen sense of power and entitlement unlike the head of Salvation Army who I have read about. Giving to the Red Cross reinforces their power and secularism which is why I won't do it.

OTOH, you are probably right about Haiti, but that can't stop us from giving some immediate help. Over the long run the best help they can have is help throwing off the shackles of socialism.