(no subject)

[drivebyluna.livejournal.com]

Comments

[mmmmjournal.livejournal.com]

All that meaningless crap we got for Xmas seems less enjoyable now, doesn't it?

[johnraptor.livejournal.com]

That's pretty funny coming from the guy who said, "It's bad enough we have to be the police for the rest of the world, must we be the medic as well? Those nations (which hate America and, in some cases, harbor terrorists I might add) are lucky to get anything we choose to give."

[mmmmjournal.livejournal.com]

Why is it funny? Both statements are true.

We don't HAVE to give them anything.... they're fortunate that we do. That's what makes us the greatest nation on earth.

[johnraptor.livejournal.com]

It's funny because the statements imply vastly different points of view, one of selflessness and compassion, the other of selfishness and contempt.

[mmmmjournal.livejournal.com]

One states that America is not obligated to help other nations in need, especially those that hate us.

The other is marvel at the fact that we do anyway out of the goodness of our hearts.

Do the other nations deserve our help considering how little they help, respect, and appreciate us? Certainly not. Yet we don't hold it against the citizens who need it now.

Not hypocritical, just two different legitimate observations.

[itsjustkelly.livejournal.com]

To be fair, other countries are giving, too, according to their ability...

[ice-lord.livejournal.com]

yes, and even not according to their ability. The US is ranked 3rd in the world (by GDP per capita) and is giving something like $350,000,000. Australia, all the way down at number 14, is giving $1Billion to Indonesia alone.

[dlmorgoth.livejournal.com]

It's funny. I thought us American people were so selfish that we would only give to worthy causes if the government forcefully takes it from us and doles it out.

So much for your liberal dogma.

Private charity is the only true compassion.

[itsjustkelly.livejournal.com]

So we should take back the $350 million, because they don't need it now...?

[dlmorgoth.livejournal.com]

No, what's done is done. What we need to do is quit treating the citizenry like children and politicians like the parent who "knows better what's good for them."

Pretending that robbing the American populace to send the money overseas is "compassion" is absurd. If those politicians cared so much, they would donate their own money, repeal most of the tax burden, and allow Americans to be the generous and compassionate people most of us are. As it stands, most of the money they steal from us is used for completely frivolous purposes and would be put to much better use by those who actually earned it.

[itsjustkelly.livejournal.com]

So, we should never have given the $350 million to help with the frivolous Indonesian problems in the first place, because our $18 million is enough.

Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of anarchism, but it's just not going to work out the way you want it to.

[dlmorgoth.livejournal.com]

Nice. Assert an idea and completely fail to support it. Besides, who's talking about anarchism? We have a constitution which allows for a VERY limited federal government. This government could be financed by the tariffs and excise taxes already in place.

Besides, most people would give more to charity if they could. And somehow "aid" given by governments rarely seems to get to the people who really need it.

[itsjustkelly.livejournal.com]

Well, the terminology of taxes as "stealing" is relatively extreme. If taxing is stealing, then why would be OK for your government to steal from you a little, but immoral to steal a lot? Where is the line between ethical and unethical?

And you're right, those fucking orphans don't need our help to ward off dysentery. And when I get my refund this year, I and most of my fellow Americans are certainly going to divvy it up between mental health care facilities for all the nuts in the subway that creep me out, educational services (elementary and secondary, and I'll loan some to college students), scientific research, defense, FEMA, child protective services, fire departments, police departments, the DMV, and the postal service. And I'll help that disabled woman down the street buy milk and oranges for her kids.

[drivebyluna.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on that bottom paragraph.

[the-call-up.livejournal.com]

Whoever you are, You rock...

[mid-limbo.livejournal.com]

ok ok you were right about underlying american decency, just this once. you've got me this time, but ill be back! bwahahahahahahahahaha!

p.s. although it doesnt prove anything about your point wrong, its still worthwhile to point out that private u.s. citizens havnt given squat shit to people in nicaragua, sudan, or guatemala. the more widely televised catastrophes in sumatra and kosovo tend to get the sympathy cheques.

[dlmorgoth.livejournal.com]

And what have people in those countries given in charity to needy Americans? ;-)

[mid-limbo.livejournal.com]

all they own (nothing) which is more than you or i can say.

tricky rhetoric there, dont think i actually think it means anything.

[level-head.livejournal.com]

Not true, in fact. We've been donating private aid to each of those for decades. The Sudan crisis -- the Arab north attacking the African south over oil -- has been going on for more than 30 years, and there have been private US charities helping there. Not much, perhaps, but more than you suggested. These charities, with Central America and Africa as theur targets, have been doing television ads for almost as long as television has been around.

===|==============/ Level Head