$35M Aid to Disaster Relief
 

The U.S. has pledged $35M to help affected areas recover from the tsunami disaster. If my memory serves me correctly, Bush gave several $ billion to hurricaine relief in Florida. Anybody else bothered by this staggering difference?

Personally, I can't think of a single more worthy cause for U.S. dollars to be spent than international relief like this.

Re: $35M Aid to Disaster Relief
 

Florida is in America, its filled with Americans that pay taxes.

Re: $35M Aid to Disaster Relief
 

There is another reason why it is only 35 million.

That 35 million was all we had left in our fund for instances such as this. In order to get more money Congress must pass it. Therefore Bush can't pledge more than he has a garantee on. I expect more aid to come from the U.S.

I still don't like Bush though.

Melch

Re: $35M Aid to Disaster Relief
 

and 35 mil goes a lot farther around the indian ocean, and there are may other countries in the effort

Re: $35M Aid to Disaster Relief
 

http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_b...ates_feed.html

The Tax Foundation has released a fascinating report showing which states benefit from federal tax and spending policies, and which states foot the bill.

US 50 States MapThe report shows that of the 32 states (and the District of Columbia) that are "winners" -- receiving more in federal spending than they pay in federal taxes -- 76% are Red States that voted for George Bush in 2000. Indeed, 17 of the 20 (85%) states receiving the most federal spending per dollar of federal taxes paid are Red States. Here are the Top 10 states that feed at the federal trough (with Red States highlighted in bold):

States Receiving Most in Federal Spending Per Dollar of Federal Taxes Paid:

1. D.C. ($6.17)
2. North Dakota ($2.03)
3. New Mexico ($1.89)
4. Mississippi ($1.84)
5. Alaska ($1.82)
6. West Virginia ($1.74)
7. Montana ($1.64)
8. Alabama ($1.61)
9. South Dakota ($1.59)
10. Arkansas ($1.53)

States Receiving Least in Federal Spending Per Dollar of Federal Taxes Paid:

1. New Jersey ($0.62)
2. Connecticut ($0.64)
3. New Hampshire ($0.68)
4. Nevada ($0.73)
5. Illinois ($0.77)
6. Minnesota ($0.77)
7. Colorado ($0.79)
8. Massachusetts ($0.79)
9. California ($0.81)
10. New York ($0.81)

Of the top 10 welfare states, 8 voted for George Bush in 2004.

Of the bottom 10 welfare states, 8 voted for Kerry in 2004.

It seems that Republicans in the South and Midwest do not mind being subsidized by us Northerners.

Re: $35M Aid to Disaster Relief
 

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Florida is in America, its filled with Americans that pay taxes.

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I don't give a sh[/i]it whether or not those people pay taxes into the U.S. coffers. I feel the same brotherhood to those from Sri Lanka and Indonesia as I do those from Florida. Outside of my family and immediate friends, I don't have any stronger affiliation to any one human than another.

Re: $35M Aid to Disaster Relief
 

[ QUOTE ]
That 35 million was all we had left in our fund for instances such as this. In order to get more money Congress must pass it.

[/ QUOTE ]
I sure as hell hope Bush lobbies hard for A LOT more money and aid to be given.

Re: $35M Aid to Disaster Relief
 

[ QUOTE ]
35 mil goes a lot farther around the indian ocean

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That's true.

Re: $35M Aid to Disaster Relief
 

That's great that you feel such a connection with your fellow human beings. Can you feed that connection with your own money please, instead of U.S. taxpayer dollars?

I gave $100 myself today, not because I was forced to, but because I WANTED to.

Compulsion is a nasty tool.

Re: $35M Aid to Disaster Relief
 

I tend to spend my disposable income rather compulsively, rather than planning it out. One reason I'm not as bothered by this as I should be is because I give very compulsively as well.

If a large enough majority of Americans felt strongly enough that tax dollars shouldn't be spent in international aid, then it wouldn't be spent that way. Obviously enough people think it's a good idea to use tax dollars for this kind of aid, so it gets used.