15 million, 35 million...how much should the US contribute?

[linazelle]

This AM saw despicable Colon (sic) Powell state they would donate 15 mil. to the Tsunami disaster. I was shocked at the small amount. When asked if additional donations were forthcoming he said he did not know. Heard this evening BushCo added $25 mil for a total of $35 mil.

BushCo is pinching pennies in some sort of bidding war and once again sending the message loud and clear that they don't give a shit about others. Is this some sort of payback for not helping in the war? A slap at Kofi Anan at a time when it's definitely not appropriate? Or is it an attempt to stifle outgoing Colin Powell's legacy?

Whatever it is, every chance that stupid bastard in the White House gets to reach out to the world he fucks it up.

[candle_bright]

1. We should make a list

of what each country is contributing. Only $35 million?

[Egalitariat]

6. I agree. It would be great to make a list of all of the foreign aid

donated by all of the world's countries and see how this cheap ass administration stacks up against the world.

I can't stand the stinginess. If we'd roll back the tax cuts, we could probably lead the world when it comes to foreign aid.

[linazelle]

10. Evening news said some countries are giving $75 mil...and calling us cheap

I am sure that BushCo will anty up more--but with attitude and politics. Probably with the following disclaimer attached...Attention World: America's money now has strings attached! You must commit your surviving citizens to fight in our illegal wars.

[candle_bright]

12. $75 million is better than $35 mil

I am glad to hear other countries are giving this kind of aid. We really should make a list!

[Cobalt Violet]

24. And convert to Christianity. n/t

[Clarkie1]

2. Just a small fraction of what we have spent in Iraq would do wonders

[linazelle]

11. Exactly...we a paying Halliburton (or is in Kellogg Brown and Root)

illegal funds while they are being investigated which could be spent to help out the victims instead.

[tridim]

3. It would be nice to have that $200+ billion to use

for disasters like this instead of illegal wars.

[Inland]

4. Should have been enough to impress the world

The only cheaper way to get back in the graces of the world is talk, and nobody is buying THAT anymore, are they?

Instead, it looks like we are being dragged into giving. Nothing like attitude with the charity to make everyone resentful rather than grateful.

[politicaholic]

5. 35 million? Welp, there goes Social Security.

One more million and there goes funding for the arts.

Oh well.

[nascarblue]

16. Social security? Huh??

Social security is in the trillions of dollars my friend. They could make everyone a billionaire in Sri Lanka with that money.

[politicaholic]

21. The low price tag was the joke...nevermind...

[crispini]

7. Christ, we spend more than that in Iraq DAILY.

500 mil at LEAST.

[koopie57]

8. When I heard the 15 million

amount I was just sick. This POS has no problem spending 40 million on a damn party for himself, but 45,000 people die and the rest left homeless and he comes up with $15 million. No matter how much we contribute now, I don't know how we will live that down.

[peacetalksforall]

9. Give 15 million for each country involved, then pro-rate it by need

according to damage suffered and degree of medical emergency - and IGNORE the fact that some of the countries are Muslim.

This morning on C-Span, a spokesperson for Sri Lanka was a guest and a caller suggested that Moslem countries should help out Moslem countries. The spokesperson calmly replied that most people in Sri Lanka are Buddhists and Christians.

[maveric]

13. If the inaugural event cost 40 million then we should match it.

But of course we all know where the priorities lie.

[linazelle]

15. If the inauguration is $40 we should at least double that amount. n/t

[nascarblue]

14. 15 million is insulting

55,000 people and the US is only putting up 15 mil? That is absolutely ridiculous. Bush is making trillions off Iraq. The least he could do is put up about 500 million at least. After all, wasn't it the State Dept that "lost" 3 trillion of our taxes two years ago?

[Egalitariat]

18. Do you have links to justify your "trillions" comments? I'd like to read

more about that.

Thanks in advance.

[nascarblue]

17. Anyone have a list of how much others are giving?

[Taxloss]

19. How about donating personally?

The Bush govt stinks, you know that; do your own good.

[linazelle]

20. This thread is about how the US is perceived...I know that

I can donate personally but that is not the issue here. Did you donate personally?

[Taxloss]

22. Yes, of course I donated personally.

I think individual action is far more important in situations like this; the US govt $15m is pitiful, but the sad fact is that govts are slow moving beasts when it comes to disasters like this and individuals and corporations are far quicker.

Donate. It doesn't matter how much. People will judge the US only by the generosity of its citizens; remember, most of the world already hates Bush.

[linazelle]

23. Good for you n/t

[illflem]

26. Since due to dollar devaluation

our $35M is really only worth $23M think it's time to cough up some more.

[laruemtt]

25. $87 billion, for starters. n/t

[Bush was AWOL]

27. Who is giving more than the US? Link please

I doubt anyone is.

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rooboy]

52. Australia is giving 27 Million so far, and we think THAT is stingy.

considering we're only about 1/20 the size of the American economy, you guys are a fucking joke.

[Bush was AWOL]

54. How much did you give us after the Hurricanes in Florida?

0

[Bush was AWOL]

50. France gives a mere 175K????

What a joke they are. A lot of things to bitch at this admin. about, but not the lack of generosity when it comes to foreign aid. Check it out, nobody gives even close to the amount of money we do when it comes to foreign aid.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

63. They were the first on the scene with medical personnel

and as a % of their GDP, hey gave far more than the US.

[AllyCat]

28. The 40M they are spending on the ostentatious coronation

It's not a matter of who is spending as much as us. It's a matter of us being one of the richest nations on Earth, professing moral values and leadership of the free world. We should be leading by example, not waiting to see what the balance is after everyone else has thrown their hat into the ring.

[linazelle]

29. Very good point well stated...It's about goodwill and magnanimity...n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

48. Can't donors pay for the inaugural festivities?

I agree that there should be SOME inaugural celebration but why should our money fund bullshit like this? I'm sure there would be wealthy GOP donors more than happy to pay for this crap.

[AllyCat]

62. Gee there's an idea

Oh wait, that might cut into their personal profits. Better to make their employees pay for it through their taxes.

[TomClash]

30. I start the bidding at $100m

If Halliburton and GE could make a lot of money on The Great Tsunami, it would be $87B.

[KSAtheist]

32. Hmmm.

As far as I can tell, no one's giving more than us. There's more coming, of course.

Perhaps you believe that any problem, any disaster can be solved through the immediate influx of massive amounts of cash--say, a billion here or there.

[linazelle]

38. You would be wrong, since others are giving more and furthermore...

it's not about "massive amounts of cash" it's about making a gesture and putting the cash behind it to show we actually care. But then I suspect you are in the wrong place and wouldn't understand such things.

[KSAtheist]

42. Name the others that are giving more.

As I said in another post, the US has given more aid so far then the other G-7 countries combined.

I will repeat the information:

France: Approx $135,889
Germany: Approx $2,719,799
Canada: Approx: $814,300
Japan: Approx $30 mil.
Britain: Approx $714,136 and a bunch of sheets
Italy: A couple of planes.

So far, the other six wealthiest nations have given $34,384,124 in aid. The EU will give about $45 million when all is said and done.

[linazelle]

43. You are missing the point--this is an unprecedented disaster we need to

step up to the plate and stop the hedging and political game playing.

[KSAtheist]

44. I'm a bit murky on what you mean...

We've got the money on the way; numerous naval vessels and airplanes stocked with aid are on their way.

Please elaborate.

[linazelle]

46. We need to contribute a significant amount of money w/out hedging

politically to match the significance of this unprecedented disaster.

[PaulaFarrell]

59. Japan has given nearly twice as much

according to OCHA

http://ocha.unog.ch/fts/reports/pdf/OCHA_10_14794.pdf

[Cobalt Violet]

33. I'm going to ask the 4 pro-Bush Sri-Lankrans I work with what they think.

And how much of the $15-$35 million they think will go to help their country men and women as opposed to the Thia tourist business? I can't wait to ask them that on Thursday.

[proudbluestater]

34. The country spent 60 Million to Hound Bill Clinton

They should give AT LEAST that much to HELP people.

I googled a bit and can't find a lot of info, but so far
Japan 30 million
Pakistan 10 million
Nepal 1 million
Australia 35 million
Tasmania 150,000
US 15 million plus 20 million which is a "line of credit."

I did notice Russia helping, but no money was earmarked so far.

[neebob]

35. Speaking of fucking up the world

Earlier today, someone posted a link to some blog that said $15 million is about what the Badministration spends on two hours in Iraq, at a cost of $177 million a day. This blew me away, so I did the math and found it's about right. It works out to $7.375 million an hour.

[JVS]

36. 15+25=40, not 35

[bpilgrim]

37. it's actually a LOAN for $20 million

that adds up to $35, in a wallstreet kinda way :puke:

peace

[quaoar]

40. Wouldn't surprise me if Bush demands collateral for the loan

And a pledge to cancel all their family planning programs.

[linazelle]

39. Maybe my math was wrong, the news said 35 million with the added cash..n/t

[OneBlueSky]

41. with the wealth of this country? . . . the minimum we should be . . .

contributing is a billion . . . about one half of one percent of what we're spending on the Iraq war/occupation . . . wealthy CEOs should be contributing their bonuses, and corporations some of their earnings . . . anything less is miserly and not befitting the greatest nation on the planet . . . or does that no longer describe us? . . .

[satori]

45. 5 billion perhaps 30 billion $$$

I think in the USA we gave 15 billion for 9/11.This disaster is much more then that so 5 billion to start is fair because the dollar is worth more in most of those countries.

[JCMach1]

47. 35million is an insult given the magnitude of the quake and the waves...

Several of the Sheikhs here in the emirates have already promised more than this OUT OF THEIR PERSONAL POCKETS (not the Government).

[qs04]

49. US gives least aid overall in terms of GDP

Link
Secretary of State Colin Powell said assistance for this week's earthquake and tsunamis alone will eventually exceed $1 billion. ...

The United States uses the most common measure of the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a group of 30 rich nations that counts development aid.

By that measure, the United States spent almost $15.8 billion for "official development assistance" to developing countries in 2003. Next closest was Japan, at $8.9 billion. ...

Measured another way, as a percentage of gross national product, the OECD's figures on development aid show that as of April, none of the world's richest countries donated even 1 percent of its gross national product. Norway was highest, at 0.92 percent; the United States was last, at 0.14 percent. (Emphasis added)

/edited to remove space in URL

[Piperay]

51. 11 billion given to Florida after

hurricanes but then those people had votes that chimp wanted. x(

[Bush was AWOL]

53. How much did other countries give Florida or the US

after those disasters?



So many other issues to attack Bush on....

[banana republican]

55. XIANS TITHE WE SHOULD SPEND 10% OF GDP ON POVERTY,

[AliciaKeyedUp]

57. There are many poor people in the U.S.

And there are obviously limits to how much money we have, especially because of Iraqinsanity.

[Bridget Burke]

60. Besides, as a good Christian--you already tithe...

Surely?

[AliciaKeyedUp]

61. I give, I don't tithe

I give as I can. If my boss paid me more, I'd give more. Mostly, I try to take my children and volunteer. That's our way of giving.

[Dangerman]

56. $35 mil?

That's chump change compared to the $500 billion Bush spent to KILL 100,000 innocent Iraqis and counting!

Are the administration nuts or something?

[Flammable Materials]

58. 10% of whatever Americans spend in Thailand annually ...

... on the Thai sex trade.

So let's say ... $250 million.