NationStates Jolt Archive

Does it really matter how much Country A gives as compared to Country B? Does it matter what percentage of Country C's GDP is given as compared to Country D's? No. It doesn't take into account what that country has done in other ways, at other times, or in other places. A country that has given generously to Africa for HIV prevention won't be able to give as much to the Tsunami victims as had they withheld money from Africa. A country which spent a lot to help in Afghanistan may not yet be able to give as much to the Tsunami vicitims.

The money given is being done so in generosity. To say that a country should give more because other countries are is asinine. Differences in culture around the world will account for a natural difference in the type and quantity of generosity given.

Yes! Let reason be heard

Does it really matter how much Country A gives as compared to Country B? Does it matter what percentage of Country C's GDP is given as compared to Country D's? No. It doesn't take into account what that country has done in other ways, at other times, or in other places. A country that has given generously to Africa for HIV prevention won't be able to give as much to the Tsunami victims as had they withheld money from Africa. A country which spent a lot to help in Afghanistan may not yet be able to give as much to the Tsunami vicitims.

The money given is being done so in generosity. To say that a country should give more because other countries are is asinine. Differences in culture around the world will account for a natural difference in the type and quantity of generosity given.

No! We must all compare our foreign aid penises to determine whose is the largest!

No! We must all compare our foreign aid penises to determine whose is the largest!

Heh, well I guess if we got rid of all those threads this board would be dead until CNN changes stories.

What pisses me off is that the United States government can afford to spend 10 million PER DAY(possibly more) in Iraq, when all we can give is 400 million for people who need it. Should killing or saving be more important to us?

No! We must all compare our foreign aid penises to determine whose is the largest!
You know, though? Of all the ways countries penis' have been measured over the last few years, if they want to do it that way-that's fantastic.

What pisses me off is that the United States government can afford to spend 10 million PER DAY(possibly more) in Iraq, when all we can give is 400 million for people who need it. Should killing or saving be more important to us?

Obviously killing.

If we save them, they are only going to attack us at some point down the road. Killing is final.

Anyway, those comparisons do not include private charity, which is the only real charity, while governments are merely being "charitable" with somebody else's money. Besides, the US aid is very hard to appraise. E.g. how do you value the GPS (provided to the entire world for free)? Also, the US provides huge disaster aid to all Caribbean countries including Cuba simply by tracking hurricanes (and thus decreasing the size of disasters in the first place). Finally, US Navy keeps the shipping lanes open for everybody and the US generally helps almost everybody by keeping peace on Earth (at least as far as wars between countries go - I can't recall any country conquering another country since Iraq grabbed Kuwait in 1990 and was spectacularly driven out of there by the US).

What pisses me off is that the United States government can afford to spend 10 million PER DAY(possibly more) in Iraq, when all we can give is 400 million for people who need it. Should killing or saving be more important to us?

Killing people who mean harm to the Americans IS an important function (and one of the most important rationales for the existence) of the US government while saving foreigners in a faraway foreign country is not. I'm not sure the US government can actually afford to spend that much in Iraq, but that's beyond the point because the government just has an obligation to do everything within its power to ensure continued physical existence of the American people which just happens to be at stake right now in Iraq - we either win there or die. Humanitarian aid is nice but not vital to us. Before the government can give any money to anybody, it has first to take it from people who actually earn it. Just how much, do you believe, the government should (forcefully) take from each of your productive neighbors? If you feel so inclined you can donate your own money via a lot of different ways. I did. Did you?

Obviously killing.

If we save them, they are only going to attack us at some point down the road. Killing is final.

I don't usually credit politicians (of any type) with that much forethought. Maybe that Bush bloke's not as stupid as he seems. :)

...the government just has an obligation to do everything within its power to ensure continued physical existence of the American people which just happens to be at stake right now in Iraq - we either win there or die.

I don't quite see how that is the situation.

...the government just has an obligation to do everything within its power to ensure continued physical existence of the American people which just happens to be at stake right now in Iraq - we either win there or die.

How exactly will we "die" if we do not "win" in Iraq?

How exactly will we "die" if we do not "win" in Iraq?

I think it's a video game thing.

Lose a man, insert quarter, try again.

You know, like in Afghanistan. "The brutal terrorist is in another castle." That kind of thing.

Yeah I think its pretty pointless attacking various countries for not giving enough (especially a day later when no one outside the disaster knew the full extent of the damage). It doesn't really annoy me that the US only gave that amount, but it does annoy me that they could have provided clean drinking water for the entire 3rd world with a few weeks worth of Iraq money..

You know, like in Afghanistan. "The brutal terrorist is in another castle." That kind of thing.


Quality reference.

Does it really matter how much Country A gives as compared to Country B?Yes.

What pisses me off is that the United States government can afford to spend 10 million PER DAY(possibly more) in Iraq, when all we can give is 400 million for people who need it. Should killing or saving be more important to us?

What pisses me off is that US geological agencies new about the earthquake, warned the South Asians it happened, and warned them about the tsunami, and they (the Asians) did absolutely jack all to evacuate or at least warn the people. We gave them 3 hours advanced notice, that was enough to do something. Las I heard, I think it was 32 Americans were missing over there. So I personally hold the government of all nations hit responsible for the death of 32 Americans.

And out of curiosity...why should we give them anything at all? Where was the aide when Florida was hit with four huricanes? Or the twin towers? Or when Texas was hit with massive tornadoes? There was none. Screw them, they dont want to help us, we shouldn't help them. If I'm not mistaken, there is a large amount of Muslims in that area. Well where the hell is bin Laden and Zarkawi? Why havn't they donated money?

Honsetly, its about time the US just said screw the rest of the world, from now on, were going it on our own.

Or the twin towers?

Honsetly, its about time the US just said screw the rest of the world, from now on, were going it on our own.My country spends billions in Afghanistan fighting al Qaeda and trying to find Ossama ben laden. I don't give a shit about Ossama ben laden or about fighting terrorists acting against the US. Should I say fuck you?

Honsetly, its about time the US just said screw the rest of the world, from now on, were going it on our own.

A brilliant idea, since we know that it's so easy to survive without relying on foriegn nations whatsoever.

Yes.

Did you read the rest of the post?

Did you read the rest of the post?
Yes

Yes

Well that's good then.

...the death of 32 Americans.
Mmm, 32 against 150000? Don't you feel -deep inside- that sort of levels the balance?

Does it really matter how much Country A gives as compared to Country B? Does it matter what percentage of Country C's GDP is given as compared to Country D's? No. It doesn't take into account what that country has done in other ways, at other times, or in other places. A country that has given generously to Africa for HIV prevention won't be able to give as much to the Tsunami victims as had they withheld money from Africa. A country which spent a lot to help in Afghanistan may not yet be able to give as much to the Tsunami vicitims.

The money given is being done so in generosity. To say that a country should give more because other countries are is asinine. Differences in culture around the world will account for a natural difference in the type and quantity of generosity given.

Its the old story of the multi millionare who giver £100,000 to charity and the poor homeless man who gives £5 which he would have had to live on that week. The multi millionare may have given more but in the end the homeless man was more generous as it was more of a personal sacrfice to him.

What pisses me off is that US geological agencies new about the earthquake, warned the South Asians it happened, and warned them about the tsunami, and they (the Asians) did absolutely jack all to evacuate or at least warn the people. We gave them 3 hours advanced notice, that was enough to do something. Las I heard, I think it was 32 Americans were missing over there. So I personally hold the government of all nations hit responsible for the death of 32 Americans.

And out of curiosity...why should we give them anything at all? Where was the aide when Florida was hit with four huricanes? Or the twin towers? Or when Texas was hit with massive tornadoes? There was none. Screw them, they dont want to help us, we shouldn't help them. If I'm not mistaken, there is a large amount of Muslims in that area. Well where the hell is bin Laden and Zarkawi? Why havn't they donated money?

Honsetly, its about time the US just said screw the rest of the world, from now on, were going it on our own.

You clearly have no understanding of what happened on September the 11th. Aid piled in to the US to deal with the victims. Granted not in such high numbers, but then such high numbers were not dead/severely injered as is now. Also many of these countries barely have enough to help their own economies afloat. I think that the US economy suvived 11/9 reasonably well. Ok there was a recession in air travel but besides that, nothing particulally serios. Yassa Arrafat himself gave blood to go to America for September 11th victims.

Killing people who mean harm to the Americans IS an important function (and one of the most important rationales for the existence) of the US government while saving foreigners in a faraway foreign country is not. I'm not sure the US government can actually afford to spend that much in Iraq, but that's beyond the point because the government just has an obligation to do everything within its power to ensure continued physical existence of the American people which just happens to be at stake right now in Iraq - we either win there or die. Humanitarian aid is nice but not vital to us. Before the government can give any money to anybody, it has first to take it from people who actually earn it. Just how much, do you believe, the government should (forcefully) take from each of your productive neighbors? If you feel so inclined you can donate your own money via a lot of different ways. I did. Did you?
Yeah, except consider this: if we weren't in Iraq forcing governments on them that clearly aren't helping the state of the crippled nation, they would not represent a threat to us. If we had no troops there that were in danger of being attacked without any form of adequate protection, then it would not represent a threat to us. I agree that one of the most important functions of a government is protection, but in this particular case, protection from what? Ourselves perhaps?

And yes I did donate.