NationStates Jolt Archive

I just saw this and remembered how America has criticised as being stingy after the Asian Tsunami. It seems Americans are indeed generous, they just don't trust their government to give that aid. Whereas in Europe I believe it is the opposite. For instance, after the tsunami G. Bush, Clinton and G.H.W. Bush called on the American people to donate generously to the relief. By this point Americans had nearly equaled their governments pledged aid.

http://business.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1756780,00.html

Not sure what I'm trying to say her. But I thought it interesting, this culture clash between western states.

Please also take into account the millions of dollars of aid money that are sitting in bank accounts, aiding no one. There has been very poor delivery of aid to those who most need it. No one group is to blame for this...but as a donor myself, I am frustrated that funds which are sorely needed, are not reaching the people I intended them for. Public or private funds...it doesn't seem to matter in terms of which funds are actually the most effective...

An old issue, but I still want to post...I agree that it doesn't matter who's the most generous, especially when the aid doesn't reach its target. Actually I think that we should stop giving aid to some countries because it causes more problems than it solves. But that's another (and very long) story.

Anyway. Americans often defend their somewhat stingy reputation by saying that Americans as private citizens donate more than anyone else (per capita). Well, that's just bullshit. Norwegians hold the top position on that list too.


American private giving during the tsunami crisis was significant, indeed; one month after the tsunami, it was over $400 million, outpacing the U.S. government pledge of $350 million. But just as with government donations, the private giving of Americans was smaller in proportional terms than that of most Western European and Scandinavian countries. That fact didn't slow down NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams (1/7/05), who said that Americans were "proving all over again why they are known worldwide for their generosity." Williams made no comment about the generosity of, say, the British or Germans, each of whom sent far more money, per capita, in both private and government donations.
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Foreign_Policy/Most_Generous_Misers.html

American private giving during the tsunami crisis was significant, indeed; one month after the tsunami, it was over $400 million, outpacing the U.S. government pledge of $350 million.That can't be right.. We were at, I think, 130 million euro's and have 1/20th of the population..

That can't be right.. We were at, I think, 130 million euro's and have 1/20th of the population..

Yeah, your country's donations were extremely high by comparison.