It was quite remarkable seeing Sec'y Clinton on TV this morning asking for money to be donated .....

[Stinky The Clown]

...... via texting a message to a certain number. Apparently this was the Red Cross' number.

Into my head jumped the snark: "Aid by Telethon" with an image of a crying, disheveled Jerry Lewis.

I'm sure we have done such fundraising in every disaster and I'm sure fundraising is ongoing. But today, compounded by the country's overall financial desperation, this struck me.

Not in a good way.

[ShortnFiery]

1. Hey, here's an idea: Why don't the large Bankster CEOs donate their bonuses? eom

[Callalily]

2. I seond that idea!

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Those bonuses would not only fund the rescue, there would be enough left over to rebuild ......

........ the entire country.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. If you think it's normal, why did it 'strike you'?

:shrug:

[Stinky The Clown]

5. Reread the post

:eyes:

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. I had, already

"I'm sure we have done such fundraising in every disaster". So why is the "country's overall financial desperation" relevant, if you think this is something that happens all the time?

Are you saying that this should have been an exception - that Sec. Clinton should not have said it, because many people may find it difficult to donate?

You've said it struck you, not in a good way. What is the way it struck you?

[Stinky The Clown]

14. I am going to say this politely .....

..... my post was clear. You're demonstrating your history ...... picking fights in that passive-aggressive way of yours.

I'm choosing not to engage.

But thanks for playing the game.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

15. a sordid history, indeed n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. It's still unclear to me what you mean

though I appreciate your politeness.

[stray cat]

6. Money from the US is also your money and mine - why not encourage donations

Anyone who demands the government donate money is volunteering their money and others and might as well also donate directly.

[DefenseLawyer]

8. I'm kinda with you here

Donations are great but that's not the most efficient or equitable way to pay for things that are really needed. I feel the same way when schools and public hospitals have to ask for donations. It's good to help but that's not the way we ought to be paying for schools. Instead of asking for random handouts, I'd rather a politician had the courage to tell us to pay our taxes.

[Arkansas Granny]

9. Even though we know that the American aid that will be sent is funded by our tax dollars,

I think it's pretty evident that people also want to make their own contributions in the face of a disaster like this. The fact that she gave this type of information is not surprising to me at all. It speaks to the generosity of people in general that they want to help in a more personal manner.

[NashVegas]

10. Americathon?

Remember that?

[havocmom]

18. I think of that one at least once a week

Yep

[bigtree]

11. I don't think federal dollars have ever been adequate to a disaster of this size

. . . and magnitude. She's entirely correct in soliciting donations early on to supplement the large amount of aid forthcoming from the government. The response to the Tsunami comes to mind . . . but without knowing what 'struck' you I really don't know how to respond .

[GodlessBiker]

12. If only battleships were funded in the same way.

[SheilaT]

13. I donated to

Doctors Without Borders.

It's far better than trying to ship useless stuff, which is what happens all too often in a disaster.

[closeupready]

17. Unless people have a reason to object to the Red Cross (they may, I don't know),

I don't think it's healthy to spend energy criticizing faux pas' like this during a crisis, since there will undoubtedly be a lot of them made, in the rush to get the message out there and to start doing things to help triage. JMHO. :)

[Stinky The Clown]

19. My comment was neither a criticism nor a plea to not donate ..... my comment was .....

..... toward the state of our economy. The fact that we're such a debtor nation. The fact that, in this day and time, her plea (likely NOT unprecedented) struck a discordant note.

But some in this thread wish to make far more of it than that.

[closeupready]

20. Right, I understood, I did not intend to shush you. I also am tempted to

make observations like this; I guess I just stop and make a mental note to bring it up at some future time. No big deal either way. :hi: