United States aid to Tsunami victims

[Men the Master]

The United States will no doubt be the biggest provider of aid to the citizens of the countries that have unfortunately been victimized by the devastating tsunamis that has caused thousands of lives and suffering in Asia.

Should the United States act separately from the United Nations by directly giving aid to the victims? Afterall, the UN has called us "stingy" even though they didn't even have a clue what the United States is planning to do (which we all know will be bigger than the combined contributions of all the countries in the UN put together). Should the US bypass the UN when it comes to helping the tsunami victims? Do we really have to go through their beaureaucracy and corruption in order to give the victims the help that they urgently need?

[MelchyBeau]

if you care. U.S. is giving 35 mill. Japan is giving 40 mill.

Melch

[natedogg]

The UN should be ignored at every turn if at all possible. Giving aid to the tsunami victims is a perfect example of an activity where the U.N. is wholly useless.

Ideally, the U.S. wouldn't be giving aid in the first place.

They'd be collecting far fewer taxes and letting the citizens decide how much they want to give. All in all, americans are pretty charitable and I wouldn't be surprised if the private charitable contributions rival or exceed the token amounts given by government.

natedogg

[bholdr]

ah natedogg, trying to slip in a little libertarian propaganda, eh? very clever...

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
The UN should be ignored at every turn if at all possible. Giving aid to the tsunami victims is a perfect example of an activity where the U.N. is wholly useless.

Ideally, the U.S. wouldn't be giving aid in the first place.

They'd be collecting far fewer taxes and letting the citizens decide how much they want to give. All in all, americans are pretty charitable and I wouldn't be surprised if the private charitable contributions rival or exceed the token amounts given by government.

natedogg

[/ QUOTE ]

DING DING DING!!!

[vulturesrow]

If you take a look at charity by private donors, both in dollar amounts and in volunteer hours, the US far outstrips other industrialized nations in the world. Off the top of my head I remember one figure that showed that average household in America gives 6-7 times the amount that the average German household does. The US is by far the biggest contributor to these sorts of causes. Funny how a free market economy that gives people choice on how they spend their income ends up this way.

[hetron]

[ QUOTE ]
The UN should be ignored at every turn if at all possible. Giving aid to the tsunami victims is a perfect example of an activity where the U.N. is wholly useless.

Ideally, the U.S. wouldn't be giving aid in the first place.

They'd be collecting far fewer taxes and letting the citizens decide how much they want to give. All in all, americans are pretty charitable and I wouldn't be surprised if the private charitable contributions rival or exceed the token amounts given by government.

natedogg

[/ QUOTE ]

And how would they go about doing that?

[hetron]

[ QUOTE ]
If you take a look at charity by private donors, both in dollar amounts and in volunteer hours, the US far outstrips other industrialized nations in the world. Off the top of my head I remember one figure that showed that average household in America gives 6-7 times the amount that the average German household does. The US is by far the biggest contributor to these sorts of causes. Funny how a free market economy that gives people choice on how they spend their income ends up this way.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can you cite the sources for that, please?

[ACPlayer]

Aid to Tsunami victims

A worth reading report from the Washingto Post.

As self annointed leaders of the free world we should lead and not just bully.

[vulturesrow]

[ QUOTE ]
if you care. U.S. is giving 35 mill. Japan is giving 40 mill.

Melch

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually the Japanese pledged 30 million. Check here for a complete roundup.