Re: [OT] I hate being American

From: Everett Hickey (everett_at_ev1.net)
Date: 12/30/04 

Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 11:10:32 -0600

"Fred Bloggs" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:41D42589.2060005@nospam.com...
> > The United States dispatched disaster teams and prepared a $15 million
aid
> > package to the Asian countries, and the 25-nation European Union
promised
> > to deliver a mere $4 million.
> >
> > I am SO glad that we have the EU with an almost identical GDP as the
United
> > States and a vastly greater population to donate just over a quarter of
> > what the United States gave in immediate foreign aid. That's fantastic,
> > thanks Monsieur Chirac! Thanks Herr Schroeder!
>
> Both amounts are mere tokens.

Considering how many money problems the big (and supposedly rich) countries
have, it doesn't seem that a flat percentage of GDP is the best way to go
for working out aid. For one thing, our military spending is considerably
higher, because unlike many smaller countries we actually have to worry
about being defensible... and unlike a great many smaller countries, we can
expect very little in the way of useful assistance should we need it. Also,
with the large size of our country, we have to spend an inordinate amount of
our capital (compared to others) just maintaining our road ways, water
systems, transit systems, power, etc compared to others.

The Red Cross is primarily an American institution, as well as one founded
here (even though other countries finally got involved later in the game).
The Peace Corps (also an american institution, though we let others get
involved) has no equal and makes it's goal the prevention of later
humanitarian disasters, rather than knee-jerk wait-till-it's-broke
politically-motivated aid.

And when we offer aid, we do not run with our tail between our legs as soon
as things get unpleasant. How often do you hear about us bailing out of a
disaster area because armed gunmen are nearby or we feel we can't guarantee
the security of our people (who are there regardless of risk)? One of the
greatest issues our government has with the UN is their habit of often
leaving as soon as the job gets particularly difficult, when they're needed
most (and demanding that any our forces under their banner leave as well).

There is a lot more to international aid than waiting for things to get at
their worst, and then demand cash from anyone who's got it.

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