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[HokieJoe]

America is the evil empire all right- yep, that about sums it up. [/SARCASM]

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=730652005

 

[scorcho]

wow. great topic. have fun in Iraq.

and btw, this deals more with the philantropy of private citizens rather than the government's response, which as a percentage is still much lower than Europe's average.

 

[Xenon]

What-ever, most of those people chose to give. Its not the same as being forced to through taxes. The USA still sucks

 

[DarienA]

Hey what about the US own financial commitments and programs for it's own disenfranchised citizens?

<sound of crickets>

 

[ManDudeChild]

America is the evil empire all right- yep, that about sums it up. [/SARCASM]

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=730652005

Of course, this is assuming it's all from the kindness of the heart. I mean there's writing it off to get into a lower tax bracket to save thousands. Of course, I doubt you'd understand that it isn't private citizens in the U.S. that people have a problem with. So continue with the dick measuring contest, that's what kids do right?

Spoiler

If the reply above pissed you off, think about how the initial topic made others feel, and think before you post next time

 

[Macam]

Others have already pointed out the basic flaw of your assumption, but I think if you want to talks about America's stance towards Africa in general, I think our inaction against the Sudanese genocide about sums it up.

 

[HokieJoe]

Hey what about the US own financial commitments and programs for it's own disenfranchised citizens?

<sound of crickets>

What, you must mean the following (and this is just a smattering of the byzantine maze of available programs):

Aid to Dependent Children-Welfare
Medicaid
Medicare
Food Stamps
Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
Fuel Assistance
Rental Assitance
Cooling Assistance
Americorp
Adult Day Care
Adult Protective Services
Assisted Living Facilities
Social Security SSI
Social Security Disability

 

[APF]

this deals more with the philantropy of private citizens rather than the government's response, which as a percentage is still much lower than Europe's average.

I fail to understand why you might feel this is an important distinction. I don't think it's inaccurate to assume private donations would likely reduce substantially if, for example, taxes were raised to increase foreign aid. I'm sure you'd agree that ultimately, to the people receiving the aid, it matters little which middle-man that money was transferred through.

 

[ManDudeChild]

What, you must mean the following (and this is just a smattering of the byzantine maze of available programs):

Aid to Dependent Children-Welfare
Medicaid
Medicare
Food Stamps
Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
Fuel Assistance
Rental Assitance
Cooling Assistance
Americorp
Adult Day Care
Adult Protective Services
Assisted Living Facilities
Social Security SSI
Social Security Disability

That wasn't what he meant, but keep on making lists.

 

[Ghost]

Id imagine most of that "charity" is in the form of bribes from big corporations.



But congrats anyway America.

 

[ToxicAdam]

The pure raw amount of money that hard working Americans donate to worthy causes is always scoffed at. It's a losing battle with the haters.

 

[DarienA]

What, you must mean the following (and this is just a smattering of the byzantine maze of available programs):

Aid to Dependent Children-Welfare
Medicaid
Medicare
Food Stamps
Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
Fuel Assistance
Rental Assitance
Cooling Assistance
Americorp
Adult Day Care
Adult Protective Services
Assisted Living Facilities
Social Security SSI
Social Security Disability

Hey and tell me how much the funds put in to those and the eligibility for those programs has decreased over the last 5-10 years.

 

[lexy]

I fail to understand why you might feel this is an important distinction. I don't think it's inaccurate to assume private donations would likely reduce substantially if, for example, taxes were raised to increase foreign aid. I'm sure you'd agree that ultimately, to the people receiving the aid, it matters little which middle-man that money was transferred through.

It does matter. Goverment donations always come with strings attached. Private donations, not so much. Some African countries sometimes reject aid because of this.

Hey what about the US own financial commitments and programs for it's own disenfranchised citizens?

<sound of crickets>

If anything, the US needs to cut back on domestic government funded programs.

 

[HokieJoe]

Of course, this is assuming it's all from the kindness of the heart. I mean there's writing it off to get into a lower tax bracket to save thousands. Of course, I doubt you'd understand that it isn't private citizens in the U.S. that people have a problem with. So continue with the dick measuring contest, that's what kids do right?

Spoiler

If the reply above pissed you off, think about how the initial topic made others feel, and think before you post next time

No hard feelings here. Yes, I used sarcasm. However, with some the smack-downs I've seen laid on this site, I figured mildly offending people was la rigueur.

 

[HokieJoe]

That wasn't what he meant, but keep on making lists.

He mentioned disenfranchised US citizens; and I rebutted with a list of programs aimed at helping the disenfranchised.

So what's your point?

 

[DarienA]

If anything, the US needs to cut back on domestic government funded programs.

That... is quite the absurd statement IMO, but I'm curious to hear your reasoning on it.

 

[Deg]

Many fo these research are generally skewed or to represent an agenda. So i wouldnt( edit) even bother giving this time after reading the article.

 

[HokieJoe]

Id imagine most of that "charity" is in the form of bribes from big corporations.



But congrats anyway America.

I suppose that the bribes are unique to American corporations then? Come on, when you get down to it, European corporations are no different than American companies. As well, I don't assume that bribes are a necessary condition for contribution by companies on either continent.

 

[HokieJoe]

Many fo these research are generally skewed or to represent an agenda. So i wouldnt( edit) even bother giving this time after reading the article.

Well, given that it's a Scottish news site, I doubt much blame can be ascribed to the US if any agenda's are being played out.

 

[Jeffahn]

I guess the 3rd world should consider all that cash as compensation for all the resources being consumed by the US.

...

 

[Cauliflower of Love]

At least they're finally paying for all those diamonds.












*runs

 

[APF]

It does matter. Goverment donations always come with strings attached. Private donations, not so much. Some African countries sometimes reject aid because of this.

You're arguing for "carrots and sticks" here?

 

[ManDudeChild]

He mentioned disenfranchised US citizens; and I rebutted with a list of programs aimed at helping the disenfranchised.

So what's your point?

DarienA already said it clear as day with his last post man.

 

[The Faceless Master]

I guess the 3rd world should consider all that cash as compensation for all the resources being consumed by the US.

...

yah, and the 3rd world should stop letting europe stop using those same resources... or cut them by 14/15ths

 

[Kuramu]

wow. great topic. have fun in Iraq.

and btw, this deals more with the philantropy of private citizens rather than the government's response, which as a percentage is still much lower than Europe's average.

But this is a major part of an american philosophy, which is to let the people themselves choose how to best use their resources.

If your end goal is to give aid to africa, then the US method is working very well.

If you think the only meaningful way to give money is to have your government force you to do so, even if that means giving less money overall, then i'm really not sure what your end goal is.

 

[lexy]

That... is quite the absurd statement IMO, but I'm curious to hear your reasoning on it.

Here's one example of why I don't support such programs.

A woman comes into the office with her baby. Doctor does a check up, etc. Doctor notices she's spending hundreds of dollars a month on a particular brand of baby formula. The doctor asks her about it, suggesting a comparable alternative that doesn't cost as much. The woman’s replies, "I don't care, WIC pays for it."

I can't tolerate this kind of attitude.

Education is one of the only domestic government funded program that I make exception for and even then I have my limits. The teachers union is demanding $40,000/year minimum starting salary for teachers!? F-U-C-K that.

If you don’t see anything wrong with either situation then you clearly aren’t paying enough in taxes.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

Of course, I doubt you'd understand that it isn't private citizens in the U.S. that people have a problem with.

well, apart from electing that ringhole president TWICE. Friendly bunch though.

 

[Ghost]

I suppose that the bribes are unique to American corporations then? Come on, when you get down to it, European corporations are no different than American companies. As well, I don't assume that bribes are a necessary condition for contribution by companies on either continent.

I never said american corporations were the only ones that ever bribed an african government, you just have a lot more corporations and therefore, a lot more bribes.

 

[Incognito]

I think Bush is doing a great job in regards to Africa.

 

[Koshiro]

Well, no-one said it so I will.


DAMAGE CONTROL!

 

[ManDudeChild]

I think Bush is doing a great job in regards to Africa.

You're being sarcastic, right?

 

[Catchpenny]

Church collections, philanthropists and company-giving amounted to $22bn a year, according to a study by the Hudson Institute think-tank, easily more than the $16.3bn in overseas development sent by the US government. American churches, synagogues and mosques alone gave $7.5bn in 2003

Sourcewatch on the Hudson Institute:

The Hudson Institute is a hard-right activist think tank that advocates the abolition of government-backed Social Security and an end to corporate income taxes. It also campaigns heavily on environmental issues (pro-GM, anti-organic).

Fair and balanced! Be sure to read on to see their other positions, and note what organizations actually fund the Hudson Institute. It's a laugh riot.

Goverment donations always come with strings attached. Private donations, not so much.

See the second part that I bolded. Religious missionaries can have some pretty big strings attached as well.

 

[Incognito]

You're being sarcastic, right?

No.

 

[Ruzbeh]

ALL HAIL AMERICA!!!

ALL HAIL GEORGE BUSH!!

No, really, what kind of reply were you expecting? Don't lash out to Europe like that. We are very poor. And you americans are very rich (I can tell, by how many americans are fat, not how much money you give to other countries :lol).

 

[The_Sorrow]

Face it, America does far more to improve the world then any country in the world. The amount of finacial and humanitarian aid we give out every year far exceeds that of any other country in the world. But of course the far left are into there own little world and fail to see this.

It's a damn shame Europe isn't doing more. =(

 

[TheDuce22]

I agree with everyone in this thread, USA SUCKS AT EVERYTHING!!!! FUCK EM!!!! /sarcasm

 

[HokieJoe]

Hey and tell me how much the funds put in to those and the eligibility for those programs has decreased over the last 5-10 years.

From the Cato Institute:

LINK:

http://www.cato.org/research/fiscal_policy/2003/factsfigs.html#bush

 

[bionic77]

Face it, America does far more to improve the world then any country in the world. The amount of finacial and humanitarian aid we give out every year far exceeds that of any other country in the world. But of course the far left are into there own little world and fail to see this.

It's a damn shame Europe isn't doing more. =(

It is great we are donating more to Africa at the moment than Europe is, but that is such a load of crap that we do more than anyone else to help the world. If anything we pursue our interests with such reckless abandan and disregard for the consequences that we may do more to harm the rest of the world than any other country. We fuck over so many poor policies with our protectionism. When we are not doing that we fuck over countries by dropping bombs on them.

Not that we are the worst country in the world. In fact I think things might be worse off if a lot of other countries were in our dominant position, but there is a reason so many people hate America. And it isn't because of our "freedom". It is because of our policies which often leave someone else fucked over.

 

[ronito]

I think Bush is doing a pretty good job in regards to Africa.

Fixed. Honestly, I don't know what to make of it, I really stand against Bush in a lot of things, but fact is I actually agree with some of the stuff that he's doing in Africa. Could it be more? Sure. But all in all he's doing ok. (if you overlook how many genocides we convieniently ignored).

 

[HokieJoe]

Oh, and here's another doozy:

 

[Instigator]

America is the evil empire all right- yep, that about sums it up. [/SARCASM]

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=730652005

Remove your Audrey Tautou avatar, you dirty her whole being just having it.

 

[HokieJoe]

We fuck over so many poor policies with our protectionism.

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying here.

 

[HokieJoe]

Remove your Audrey Tautou avatar, you dirty her whole being just having it.

I'd like to dirty her all right.

 

[bionic77]

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying here.

I meant poor nations not poor policies.

 

[HokieJoe]

I meant poor nations not poor policies.

Oh. How so?

 

[Ruzbeh]

Oh, and here's another doozy:

What's up with those pics dude? I can't enlarge those (well, it's not like I'm going to look at them anyway).

What did you think you would achieve with this thread? Maybe that's the problem with some of you Americans. You want to get worshipped by everyone. As long as America keeps on giving and doing the right stuff (they're not doing the right stuff, btw) then, you will gain gratitude from people around the world automagically.

Having said that, I believe the American people are just as noble and kind as any other people on the planet. It's the American government that's the problem here, bub.

 

[Mooreberg]

What-ever, most of those people chose to give. Its not the same as being forced to through taxes.

Coercing people into being charitable is better? :lol

 

[Instigator]

Sourcewatch on the Hudson Institute:

It also campaigns heavily on environmental issues (pro-GM, anti-organic).

Not being anti-GM is one thing, but how can anyone being anti-organic?

In my view, everyone should be pro-organic with the option of being either anti-GM or cautiously for it.

 

[Deku]

wow. great topic. have fun in Iraq.

and btw, this deals more with the philantropy of private citizens rather than the government's response, which as a percentage is still much lower than Europe's average.

Why change the rules? And who gets to set the rules? Seems like you're picking one measuring stick so you can say "well, we are better than America" but use another measuring stick and the premise fails to hold.

I thought Europeans were more rational than that. Here's a nice article on BBC on this exact issue.

BBC: America's Generous Aid to Africa

Here are some quotes:

There is a smug view in Europe that the United States is particularly mean when it comes to helping poor countries. Whatever list you make of generosity to those less fortunate than themselves, the Americans will be near the bottom of it.

But it's not quite as simple as that - and certainly not the way the Americans see it.

It's true that United States "official development assistance" is less than 0.2% of its gross national product (way below that of Luxembourg, Holland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, all of which exceed the 0.7% target set at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992).

But when non-governmental generosity is included, the US moves up the list - not to the top, but way above the bottom.

 

[fart]

you sicken me. this is about real people not made up numbers and dick swinging competitions.

none of the western countries are doing anywhere near great things for africa, especially considering how much damage they caused in the first place.