this one kind of stunned me (asia tsunami)

[jo1]

The United States will increase its aid from $35 million to $350 million for tsunami victims, CNN has learned.

 

[isasir]

Originally posted by: jo1
The United States will increase its aid from $35 million to $350 million for tsunami victims, CNN has learned.

Yup. I hope those bitching will shut up now. 😛

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: isasir

Originally posted by: jo1
The United States will increase its aid from $35 million to $350 million for tsunami victims, CNN has learned.

Yup. I hope those bitching will shut up now. 😛

heh, those are the same people who are ALWAYS bitching about something

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: jo1
The United States will increase its aid from $35 million to $350 million for tsunami victims, CNN has learned.

I'm sure when it's all said and done the US will end up paying the most in aid. I don't have a problem with that - we're the biggest country, so we should be able to help the most. It just annoys me that people start to complain about how stingy we are when it's only been a few days since the tsunami and nobody's even sure what's really going on.

 

[flot]

Originally posted by: flexy
i just read that the German government ordered all flags flying at half mast 'til January 3rd in wake of the recent catastrophe in asia. Afaik 26 or so Germans were confirmed killed and 2000-3000 are still missing.

Who the hell cares? What good does flying your flag at half mast do?!?

Edit: Idiot.

 

[flot]

Originally posted by: aswedc
The problem here isn't the government, its the people. The vast majority simply don't care about something that happened in Asia.

And I suppose Asia would be tripping over itself to send the US support if a earthquake caused California to slide into the ocean?

But does it matter? If YOUR city got hit by a *natural disaster* would you expect some foreign country to chip in to help?

And 120,000 people, while a horrifying number, (I do personally feel terrible and wish there were something everyone could do to help) is far less than what you could expect if a real "disaster" struck any major populated US city.

 

[mwtgg]

Originally posted by: preslove

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven

Originally posted by: preslove

Originally posted by: aswedc
The US is NOT donating 35 million. 20 million is a loan. 10 million is the donation.

The problem here isn't the government, its the people. The vast majority simply don't care about something that happened in Asia.

Did you want the Pres to convene congress or somethin? Jeez,

He can't. He's at the Western White House 😉

Yeah, that's what I thought I heard. $35 in "aid," but the majority of it in loans. The U.S. might even make some money off of the disaster.

You ought to look up how much the U.S. actually ever gets back on its "loans." Most of the time they wind up just forgiving them.

AFAIK the U.S. hasn't forgiven any foreign debt recently. There is a bill in the U.S. House in 1999 to forgive outsdanding debts, but that got stuck in committee. The U.S. does in fact make money from these loans.

Oh, really? That's odd. I guess $4.1 BILLION means nothing to anyone.

 

[X Factor]

That's just it. Everybody bashes America (non-Americans that is) and yet when something bad happens, who is the first one they run to for help? Flying your flag at half staff doesn't bring back the dead. The American Red Cross raised more money for this Tsunami (in 24 hours) then they raised in all the last year. Americans don't have to make a public, media display in order to hype compassion. Each American gives quietly and generously, and when all the other countries run out of money, we will still be there giving. And when it's all over, and all the mess is cleaned up and things are rebuilt, they will resume their pitiful bashing of us.

 

[Skiguy411]

Originally posted by: X Factor
That's just it. Everybody bashes America (non-Americans that is) and yet when something bad happens, who is the first one they run to for help? Flying your flag at half staff doesn't bring back the dead. The American Red Cross raised more money for this Tsunami (in 24 hours) then they raised in all the last year. Americans don't have to make a public, media display in order to hype compassion. Each American gives quietly and generously, and when all the other countries run out of money, we will still be there giving. And when it's all over, and all the mess is cleaned up and things are rebuilt, they will resume their pitiful bashing of us.

Could not agree more. Its that kind of sh!t that pisses me off.

 

[coolVariable]

I think people in this threat lost track what it was about.
It was a simple question why the US (us) does not lower the flags to half mast which 1) would not cost anything 2) would be a nice gesture 3) would show our compassion for the people affected by the desaster.

To all of those who feel threatened by this simple question and try to wiggle their way out by pointing out the amount of money countries gave:
What a weak and stupid response.
1) I wonder if someone in your family dies, do you just send the relateives most closely related to that person a check for 10 bucks? (If you do, you are an a$$ in my book).
2) And why do we fly the flag at half mast when something happens to Americans? It sure does not do them any good any more!! You might as well piss on their graves ... they are dead and do not care anymore.

 

[flexy]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOL....radio.reut/index.html

BINGO 🙂 I cant believe they do it now 🙂