NationStates Jolt Archive

US Government just announced increase in aid to countries devastated by the SE Asian tsunami to $350,000,000

Here's the source if anybody questions: http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/12/31/us.aid/index.html

This is nice to hear; we increased our aid tenfold

good, at least we're doing more.

When the agencies say they got the check, I will belive it.

When the agencies say they got the check, I will belive it.

No, you should rephrase that. If you're someone who hates America, you won't believe it even if it does happen, and even if no strings are attached, you'll say there are. It doesn't matter how much good America does, you'll hate it anyway.

No, you should rephrase that. If you're someone who hates America, you won't believe it even if it does happen, and even if no strings are attached, you'll say there are. It doesn't matter how much good America does, you'll hate it anyway.
I hate it, but you're correct. We're just "the country you love to hate." :(

No, you should rephrase that. If you're someone who hates America, you won't believe it even if it does happen, and even if no strings are attached, you'll say there are. It doesn't matter how much good America does, you'll hate it anyway.
TBF isn't that type of person - so he's pretty cynical; I'd say I am too

Quite nice that it's spreading it's money back into asia.

US Government just announced increase in aid to countries devastated by the SE Asian tsunami to $350,000,000

About time! Yay!

TBF isn't that type of person - so he's pretty cynical; I'd say I am too

Thank you Superpower07! :)

When it comes to goverment I am always cynical. I was a part of it once.

Pledge of money is always nice but it can get tied up somewhere. For example I read that the 18 Billion for Iraq rebuilding is sitting in a bank account.

When I hear the agencies doing the work thank the US for the cash infusion then you will hear me say "way to go shrubby!" ;)

Thats great. Usually US gives the most.

Well, 90 percent of any foreign aid never reaches the people it's intended to help, no matter who's running the program. Hardly an American problem.

Kinda like Oil for Food, if you ask me. I wasn't surprised by the allegations there, and I won't be surprised if you find that everyone has lined their pockets.

And don't give me the Allawi BS at this point - Volcker has come out and said it was corrupt from the top to the bottom, and he's the UN's investigator.

Thats great. Usually US gives the most.

Again they should be giving the most as they have by far the most to give. They probably did it that way as countries like canada + the assies were giving 40 mill + 35 mill it made the USA look pretty much like misers...

Nothing like a guilt trip to get people moving, eh?

I should know, I'm Catholic :D

Well, 90 percent of any foreign aid never reaches the people it's intended to help, no matter who's running the program. Hardly an American problem.

Kinda like Oil for Food, if you ask me. I wasn't surprised by the allegations there, and I won't be surprised if you find that everyone has lined their pockets.

And don't give me the Allawi BS at this point - Volcker has come out and said it was corrupt from the top to the bottom, and he's the UN's investigator.

And there we go!

Who had 6:38 for when the UN was going to get bashed?

When the agencies say they got the check, I will belive it.

Sad thing is, most of these agencies will spend a vast majority of their donations on overhead and more fundraising. Depending on whom you believe, less than 20% of an average donation actually goes to help the folks in need, the rest is sucked up in overhead, paying the talking heads, fundraising, graft, bribes and other corruption.

I gave to the Red Cross for this only because I don't know anyone on the spot to give money to directly. Well, my dad is in Bangkok with the embassy, but even that is pretty far removed from the disaster area.

Sad thing is, most of these agencies will spend a vast majority of their donations on overhead and more fundraising. Depending on whom you believe, less than 20% of an average donation actually goes to help the folks in need, the rest is sucked up in overhead, paying the talking heads, fundraising, graft, bribes and other corruption.

I gave to the Red Cross for this only because I don't know anyone on the spot to give money to directly. Well, my dad is in Bangkok with the embassy, but even that is pretty far removed from the disaster area.

Oh I know. They are all pretty bad to some degree. Even the red cross remember the dual accounts for 9/11 relief?

Still it's better to be in their hands then some govermental type.....

Kinda like Oil for Food, if you ask me. I wasn't surprised by the allegations there, and I won't be surprised if you find that everyone has lined their pockets.


Oil for Food was an American invention, turned over to the UN. When the official list of involved corporations was released, all the American corporations (there were a few) were redacted.

The reason we are seeing so much about it now is to cover up the fact that the war in Iraq was directly related to this - an effort to involve more American corporations in the looting of Iraq. Now we point the fingers at the other corrupt governments, to take the heat off ourselves.

No one I've ever met hates America. Even Pallistinians and Iraqis differentiate between the kind and generous American People, and the Corrupt American Government that is hated by so much of the world.

And there we go!

Who had 6:38 for when the UN was going to get bashed?

Oh, I could bash nearly every NGO on the planet for abuse of funds.

Shall I start? The UN is hardly the only one...

Its great, I knew the US would come through, this is a good example that there really is good in the world. And this goes out to everyone, not just the US, its great to see how well the world came come together when countries are in trouble/need :) .

No one I've ever met hates America. Even Pallistinians and Iraqis differentiate between the kind and generous American People, and the Corrupt American Government that is hated by so much of the world.

I can vouch for the Palistinian views. The ones I met were rather friendly. Didn't like the goverment but didn't act mean to me. Well there were a couple that probably wanted to kick my butt but that could be said for many people! :D

Again they should be giving the most as they have by far the most to give. They probably did it that way as countries like canada + the assies were giving 40 mill + 35 mill it made the USA look pretty much like misers...

Really?
We have more to Give? And here I thought we were running a Budget Deficit of 400 Billion.

Sorry, had to do it.

I hope that we run a deficit of 440 Billion, if the additional 40 Billion would just help those people.....

And TBF is right,
Anytime ANY Government is involved it means a Beuracracy has got its fingers on the money, and that means its going to take forever and most of the money isnt going to get where it was supposed to go in the first place. :(

I can vouch for the Palistinian views. The ones I met were rather friendly. Didn't like the goverment but didn't act mean too me. Well there were a couple that probably wanted to kick my butt but that could be said for many people! :D
I've considered it from time to time. :D

Oh, I could bash nearly every NGO on the planet for abuse of funds.

Shall I start? The UN is hardly the only one...
Take a look at this one and let me know what you think. It's the one I donate to when I have money left over after the bills.

http://www.americaresfoundation.net/default.aspx

Not too shabby. Just mulitply that by ten and the World Bank estimate is almost knocked out. Of course a lot of the aid is direct rather than just money.

I've considered it from time to time. :D

I knew you had a thing for me! :fluffle: :p

Private Donations (that is usually never counted) would always be the most effective.

Take a look at this one and let me know what you think. It's the one I donate to when I have money left over after the bills.

http://www.americaresfoundation.net/default.aspx

I'll look into it. The only charity I currently give money to is a local one that takes care of local orphans.

It's because I can see their books (accounting).

I won't give to an organization that doesn't have completely open, detailed accounting, that I have full access to.

I knew you had a thing for me! :fluffle: :p
ROFLMAO! You WISH! Definitely be the best you ever had, that's for sure! ROFLMAO!!!! :D

Nothing like a guilt trip to get people moving, eh?

I should know, I'm Catholic :D

Hahahah, well played.

We are also deploying two carrier task forces to aid in disaster relief.

Go Navy!

Ha Ha!!!

245 Millions dollars is a drop in the bucket. So is 250 million. The U.S. has donated the more money then all the of the countries combined and the world bank. Eat that.

It is so funny to think back to yesterday when everyone was posting that President Bush was cheap and letting people die in asia because he did not think they "mattered". They said he only chose to give that $35 million. Well now they can just stick their Bush Bashing feet in their anti-American mouthes.

Ha Ha!!!

245 Millions dollars is a drop in the bucket. So is 250 million. The U.S. has donated the more money then all the of the countries combined and the world bank. Eat that.

Great. Of course its because they are the only country in the world that can theoretically pay that much due to the much greater size of its economy (which is why everyone was a bit disappointed with the US's initial donation).

More money is needed though and I hope our governments find it somewhere.

It is so funny to think back to yesterday when everyone was posting that President Bush was cheap and letting people die in asia because he did not think they "mattered". They said he only chose to give that $35 million. Well now they can just stick their Bush Bashing feet in their anti-American mouthes.

Why? They got what they wanted. They won. They should be celebrating (and likely are feeling good about themselves).

Guilt gets you moving! (points to his first post in the thread)

Great. Of course its because they are the only country in the world that can theoretically pay that much due to the much greater size of its economy (which is why everyone was a bit disappointed with the US's initial donation).

More money is needed though and I hope our governments find it somewhere.

How do you figure that? The USA is the only country that can give that much? That is laughable. Japan can't? China can't? Italy can't? Germany can't? France can't? They all could pretty easily. They have GDP's in the TRILLIONS of dollars.They just won't, at least this tme. And by the way, France gave more than that in aid last year. So don't tell me they can't. How did you come up with that? I Guess it just sounded right to you so you posted it as truth. Try not to do that.

Why? They got what they wanted. They won. They should be celebrating (and likely are feeling good about themselves).

Guilt gets you moving! (points to his first post in the thread)

They "won"? How sick is that. You look upon the giving of aid as some sort of victory? Only a real twisted political type would view this as some sort of contest. I am almost out of outrage now.

Every country should give us much as it can regardless of others.
I really don't see that happening in Europe.

And there we go!

Who had 6:38 for when the UN was going to get bashed?

Right on. I'm sick of the UN getting bashed very moment on this message board. Let's pick on someone who's always treated like a saint around here, like Bush or the US? :rolleyes:

Right on. I'm sick of the UN getting bashed very moment on this message board. Let's pick on someone who's always treated like a saint around here, like Bush or the US? :rolleyes:

first off that is off topic. Second, I hope that was sarcasm.

And thats PRESIDENT Bush to you. Show some respect.

Right on. I'm sick of the UN getting bashed very moment on this message board. Let's pick on someone who's always treated like a saint around here, like Bush or the US? :rolleyes:

Why shouldn't we bash the UN?

and that is President Bush as someone said!

As for Bashing, hasn't there been enough UN, Bush, America, and europe bashing?

Oh and Britain is also sending ships to help from their navy too!

Guys, if you couldn't tell from the absurdity of his statement that it was sarcasm the :rolleyes: should've tipped you off :(

Great. Of course its because they are the only country in the world that can theoretically pay that much due to the much greater size of its economy (which is why everyone was a bit disappointed with the US's initial donation).

More money is needed though and I hope our governments find it somewhere.

The funny part is that we're the great economy that we are due to our free market ideals that seem to drive many anti-americans crazy

And thats PRESIDENT Bush to you. Show some respect.
i may live in the US but he is not MY president.

i may live in the US but he is not MY president.

Actually if you live in the US and a US Citizen, it makes President Bush your president even though you may not have voted for him.

Sure he is. You are a US citizen, which means you agree to abide my our laws and accept our democratically elected officials.

Sure he is. You are a US citizen, which means you agree to abide my our laws and accept our democratically elected officials.

Just like my family had to put up with Bill Clinton whom they did not vote for, he was still their president and by relation, my president.

Sad thing is, most of these agencies will spend a vast majority of their donations on overhead and more fundraising. Depending on whom you believe, less than 20% of an average donation actually goes to help the folks in need, the rest is sucked up in overhead, paying the talking heads, fundraising, graft, bribes and other corruption.

I gave to the Red Cross for this only because I don't know anyone on the spot to give money to directly. Well, my dad is in Bangkok with the embassy, but even that is pretty far removed from the disaster area.
Some are better than others--Doctors without Borders only uses something like 15% of the money they get in donations on overhead and advertising. 85% actually gets used on the work they do, and they do damn fine work.

To Eutrusca--I started a thread like this because I didn't see another one on it. My bad.

I'd like to point all of your attention to my signiture.

After you go to that link, you can resume posting.

How do you figure that? The USA is the only country that can give that much? That is laughable. Japan can't? China can't? Italy can't? Germany can't? France can't? They all could pretty easily. They have GDP's in the TRILLIONS of dollars.They just won't, at least this tme. And by the way, France gave more than that in aid last year. So don't tell me they can't. How did you come up with that? I Guess it just sounded right to you so you posted it as truth. Try not to do that.

GDP Expendatures (top 50)

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/eco_bud_exp

GDP Revenues (top 50)

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/eco_bud_rev

The data here just supports my argument and deflates yours. Sorry. :)

I will admit, though, it does take time to free up the cash.

I will also submit this. The Commitment to Foreign Aid Expendatures (Top 50)

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/eco_com_to_for_aid

USA only give 3%. Shameful.

They "won"? How sick is that. You look upon the giving of aid as some sort of victory? Only a real twisted political type would view this as some sort of contest. I am almost out of outrage now.

I can tell you are the type who likes being angry so outrage away. :D

You seem to be confusing the people who are criticizing the US for not giving much, for the people that used to laugh at you when you were in school. No bully tactics here my friend. No reason to get defensive.

All we ever wanted was the US to give more. The US did. We are happy. We got what we wanted. Why the Hell would we feel bad about that? (even though we all admit there is still more work to be done and money to be raised).

That's all I meant by 'won'. All we wanted was more aid to be given. There was no 'contest'. $35 million was a paltry sum and it was poor form for the US to give so little since it is so rich. Personally, I would like all countries to dig deep for this one. As I would bet we all do.

Right on. I'm sick of the UN getting bashed very moment on this message board. Let's pick on someone who's always treated like a saint around here, like Bush or the US? :rolleyes:

I almost fell out of my chair when I read this post. The US always gets bashed my dear. Every 38 seconds on these boards. So please dont say the US gets treated like a saint on this forum....

The funny part is that we're the great economy that we are due to our free market ideals that seem to drive many anti-americans crazy

It surprises the Hell out of all of us that you have shitty regulation of your industries.

I think there are people here who could put up a better arguement against the WTO and globalization than I ever could so if they feel like it they can. I'm staying out of this one. Goes beyond my knowledge.

I will say that the Free Market is going a bit nuts. Lou Dobbs on CNN makes a point of it. About outsourcing becoming a problem and how few products Americans use are actually made in America. Then there's the ballooning trade deficit. Ironic that we are pressuring the US to give money it really doesn't have.

And thats PRESIDENT Bush to you. Show some respect.

I'm just curious...when Clinton was president did you ever say "That's PRESIDENT Clinton to you. Show some respect." when someone simply referred to that pres by his last name?

If you did that'd be GREAT! I mean, you wouldn't want to be called a hypocrite would you? No, of course not.

EDIT:

I think it was Corneliu who said he would treat PRES Clinton with that kind of respect although he would not vote for him. I simply want to warn him not to give ANY politician carte blanche like that. All politicians (or anyone with power for that matter) should always be scrutinized no matter what party AND if they are the member of your party then more the reason to scrutinize so they don't go wildly off your party's core values like PRES Bush did to traditional conservative values.

I almost fell out of my chair when I read this post. The US always gets bashed my dear. Every 38 seconds on these boards. So please dont say the US gets treated like a saint on this forum....

It was sarcasm (though you probably know that by now).

That said, please notice that foreign countries and the UN get bashed on the forum all the time for doing nothing more than preventing the US from doing anything it wants.

It was sarcasm (though you probably know that by now).

That said, please notice that foreign countries and the UN get bashed on the forum all the time for doing nothing more than preventing the US from doing anything it wants.

and yet we do it anyway! :rolleyes:

Bush has said over and over again that we will send aid as needed and that the US can be expected to contribute BILLIONS over the next few months and years. When everyone was screaming that the US had only commited 35,000,000 so far France had only promised 136,000 and the UN hadn't said anything but it was the US the vultures went after. The US also organized a coalition of nations to contribute and manage the disaster relief to better utilize the funds. To think that the US is sending more in a game of one-up is ludicrous. If you know anything about money management you know that you don't throw money at a problem and hope it goes away. You do what you have to to get along until you can analyze the problem, come up with a solution, and then you implement the solution. The aid from the US will come in stages and not all of it will be money. We already have a bunch of our C-130s delivering aid and we have part of our Navy ships over there purifying water to drink and helping with the handling of the bodies. I haven't heard for sure, but I would imagine we also have some security types in there to help with the looting and crime.

Right on. I'm sick of the UN getting bashed very moment on this message board. Let's pick on someone who's always treated like a saint around here, like Bush or the US? :rolleyes:
The UN sucks! Mwahahahahaha! :D

Corn and Eutru, go to the link provided in my sig, or kindly shut your hypocritical mouths.

i may live in the US but he is not MY president.
Well then, who IS? Hmmm? :D

Bush has said over and over again that we will send aid as needed and that the US can be expected to contribute BILLIONS over the next few months and years.

Yep. Although we wanted to see a nice figure before we started rejoicing.

BTW..."months and years" is a bit too 'long' if you know what I mean. Action needed to be taken swiftly to prevent dehydration, starvation, plague, etc. which would end up killing many more.

So pardon us if we were very noisy on the amount of aid pledged. More was needed and fast and we all looked for the richest nation on earth for that money (seemed logical). Follow-up aid can be in smaller amounts or 'as needed' as you said but A LOT was needed right away or there would have been a horrible number of dead people killed by the immediate after effects of the tsunami.


When everyone was screaming that the US had only commited 35,000,000 so far France had only promised 136,000 and the UN hadn't said anything but it was the US the vultures went after.

1) Fuck France. They need to contribute more too. All of the rich western nations have to.
2) The UN was coordinating aid groups the moment the tsunami hit.
3) The 'vultures' hit because 35 million was small for what the US was known to give and the situation was too dire to screw around with such small amounts.


The US also organized a coalition of nations to contribute and manage the disaster relief to better utilize the funds. To think that the US is sending more in a game of one-up is ludicrous.

I didn't say it was a contest. It was a paltry sum and the US has the ability to provide more. To think that poorer nations were sending more is a bad reflection on the US.


If you know anything about money management you know that you don't throw money at a problem and hope it goes away. You do what you have to to get along until you can analyze the problem, come up with a solution, and then you implement the solution. The aid from the US will come in stages and not all of it will be money. We already have a bunch of our C-130s delivering aid and we have part of our Navy ships over there purifying water to drink and helping with the handling of the bodies. I haven't heard for sure, but I would imagine we also have some security types in there to help with the looting and crime.

That's why so many organizations (including the UN) were working together to coordinate relief, but those first few days are critical and $35 milion wasn't going to cut it. Now we know a substantial amount of aid is on the way and we find relief in that.

Well, 90 percent of any foreign aid never reaches the people it's intended to help, no matter who's running the program. Hardly an American problem.

Kinda like Oil for Food, if you ask me. I wasn't surprised by the allegations there, and I won't be surprised if you find that everyone has lined their pockets.

And don't give me the Allawi BS at this point - Volcker has come out and said it was corrupt from the top to the bottom, and he's the UN's investigator.

Can you provide proof / references for your "facts"?

Corn and Eutru, go to the link provided in my sig, or kindly shut your hypocritical mouths.
I don't see any sig on any of your posts, my man. Sorry. :)

I don't see any sig on any of your posts, my man. Sorry. :)

Go veiw his public profile, in the Sig block it says YEAH THAT WHAT I THOUGHT, or something like that which in turn takes a thread he started about, Have you donated and have you complained about the stingyness of other countries.

i may live in the US but he is not MY president.

Who then is your president? Martin Sheen? If you are a legal resident of the US, George Bush is the president of the nation in which you reside, thus, your president.

Go veiw his public profile, in the Sig block it says YEAH THAT WHAT I THOUGHT, or something like that which in turn takes a thread he started about, Have you donated and have you complained about the stingyness of other countries.
Ok. I saw that thread. Thanks.

And thats PRESIDENT Bush to you. Show some respect.

Well shrubby has to earn my respect.

I didn't like poppy Bush or Reagan but I still said the President when talking about them....

and that is President Bush as someone said!


I thought it was President Cheney? ;)

As to the UN. Sure it as anything could be bashed but it gets rather old when it is brought up every other second.

"The Shrub did/didn't do this"
"Well you know the UN and the food program shows...."

Ah well....

Well shrubby has to earn my respect.

I didn't like poppy Bush or Reagan but I still said the President when talking about them....

I didn't like William Lying Clinton but I still respected his position. You don't have to respect the person in office but you have to respect the office that that person is in.