Why is it always the US that is expected to help the world when it comes to disasters

[K1052]

Other countries are sending aid but the US response is the most immediate because we own lots of assets that are either forward deployed or can be sent on minimal notice. The British are sending the HMS Illustrious among other stuff.

Having a carrier group (with 20 helicopters, a portable lake of aviation fuel, and a nuclear powered desalination plant) only a couple days transit away is sort of an unmatchable asset. Also, the bases in the pacific have a lot of helpful stuff laying around like C-130s and MV-22s.

 

[Tom]

Because we live in bubbles and don't realize that other countries actually do send billions in aid?

And percentage-wise, we're pretty shitty. It's not that other countries are that stellar, but we're pretty low even by low standards.

That's complete BS.

Money is nice but people can't eat money. Somebody has to get food, water, shelter, to where it's needed, or people will die.

You are discounting our ability and willingness to provide that as if it's of no value.

And I don't know what you mean by percentage-wise, but I am sure the USA will actually spend billions, and probably Japan. Australia and Canada will spend a lot.

I am very skeptical any other country will spend "billions" on this effort.

Tell me what countries will ?

 

[Tom]

Other than a strategic location in SE Asia for military bases you mean?

Its never charity was the point.

Yea, Haiti is really a strategic coup.

 

[trenchfoot]

The only thing that I'm somewhat curious about is where in our federal "budget" are these millions of $$$ in aid coming from?

 

[Pulsar]

Because, as the wealthiest nation on earth, as a compassionate people, we expect it of ourselves. Well, other than our selfish rightwing haters, currently displaying those very qualities. They even whine when we help our own citizens- witness the reactions to Katrina & Sandy, just for starters.

They rarely pass up an opportunity to remind the rest of us that they suck.

The wealthiest nation on earth? Really?

Have you done some math lately on how much we owe?

 

[compuwiz1]

The wealthiest nation on earth? Really?

Have you done some math lately on how much we owe?

Cadillacs, gold chains & EBT cards. We're rich!

 

[Tom]

The wealthiest nation on earth? Really?

Have you done some math lately on how much we owe?

We are $2,500,000,000,000 more wealthy than the next most wealthy, China.

And, btw, our wealth is the driving factor in why China is now the 2nd largest.

 

[M0RPH]

The USA is 5% of the people in this world but we suck up 20-30% of the worlds resources. So we're just paying back what we owe to these people.

 

[HeXen]

If you give your dog a treat every time you come home, he will always expect it.

We are $2,500,000,000,000 more wealthy than the next most wealthy, China.

And, btw, our wealth is the driving factor in why China is now the 2nd largest.

Is that including our deficit? Also that is an awfully nice round number...where did you get that and how exact is it supposed to be?
Usually when I owe money, there is always cents included as well.

 

[BoberFett]

Because, as the wealthiest nation on earth, as a compassionate people, we expect it of ourselves. Well, other than our selfish rightwing haters, currently displaying those very qualities. They even whine when we help our own citizens- witness the reactions to Katrina & Sandy, just for starters.

They rarely pass up an opportunity to remind the rest of us that they suck.

Oh look, Jhhnhnhn the idiot hack, at it again.

http://blog.dc.esri.com/2009/01/07/dataset-of-the-day-who-is-more-generous-republicans-or-democrats/

 

[Tom]

If you give your dog a treat every time you come home, he will always expect it.



Is that including our deficit? Also that is an awfully nice round number...where did you get that and how exact is it supposed to be?
Usually when I owe money, there is always cents included as well.

It's actually closer to $3 trillion but I rounded it down so as not to exaggerate.

That includes everything. Based on your questions I think you're talking about the government, not the total wealth of the country.

But we do own tremendous assets through government, I don't know what the overall balance sheet would be, but that number isn't the overall wealth of the country.

 

[Tom]

The USA is 5% of the people in this world but we suck up 20-30% of the worlds resources. So we're just paying back what we owe to these people.

We don't "suck up" resources. We use them to produce.

A measure of how good we are at it is that we generate something like 20-25% of the economic activity in the world. (based on my memory so might be off)

We aren't the only country that does this, there's several very prosperous and productive countries.

Anyway, all this economic activity, and the process of producing, fuels the global economy which benefits the world.

Saying that all this work and adding value to the world economy then means we OWE the less productive nations something doesn't sound right to me.

We owe it to them because we can do it, not for the cynical reason you say. The thing is other nations can do it to. Some are very generous, some aren't.

 

[Engineer]

We are $2,500,000,000,000 more wealthy than the next most wealthy, China.

And, btw, our wealth is the driving factor in why China is now the 2nd largest.

Speaking of China, I read (don't recall where) that they were giving $100,000 to the relief effort.

 

[Broheim]

You never see Europeans doing it. It is always expected that we send out massive logistical operations and spend billions to any country that suffers any natural disaster.

The Europeans just sit back and watch, they might of course throw out their opinions about how we are doing it wrong from the comfort of their afternoon social tea, but they will not lift a finger or throw a shilling to help others in need.

it's not like the EU is the biggest provider of foreign aid in the world or anything :hmm:

 

[Tom]

it's not like the EU is the biggest provider of foreign aid in the world or anything :hmm:

The EU ought to give more foreign aid, they are after all the countries that f'ed up the world many, many times over.

 

[HeXen]

Can't Canada do anything? They're like that weird fat guy at parties that just sits alone in the corner and watches everyone.

 

[Broheim]

The EU ought to give more foreign aid, they are after all the countries that f'ed up the world many, many times over.

we'll give the rest of the world more money when you Americans hand all your land back to the native Americans and leave their country.

 

[Broheim]

Can't Canada do anything? They're like that weird fat guy at parties that just sits alone in the corner and watches everyone.

can you blame him? he has to live next to the morbidly obese but incredibly self-obsessed redneck.

 

[UglyCasanova]

That's complete BS.

Money is nice but people can't eat money. Somebody has to get food, water, shelter, to where it's needed, or people will die.

You are discounting our ability and willingness to provide that as if it's of no value.

And I don't know what you mean by percentage-wise, but I am sure the USA will actually spend billions, and probably Japan. Australia and Canada will spend a lot. What they really need is money.

I am very skeptical any other country will spend "billions" on this effort.

Tell me what countries will ?

This is true, but donating goods has the effect of undermining the local economy. Farmers, merchants, etc cannot compete with free. Sending food and clothing has negative long term impacts by running the local economy into the ground.

 

[biostud]

http://www.statisticbrain.com/countries-that-give-the-most-in-foreign-aid-statistics/

Percent of GDP Commited to Foreign Aid

1 Sweden 0.99 %
2 Norway 0.88 %
3 Denmark 0.82 %
4 Netherlands 0.80 %
5 Belgium 0.50 %
6 United Kingdom 0.48 %
7 Ireland 0.43 %
8 Finland 0.43 %
9 Spain 0.43 %
10 Switzerland 0.42 %
11 Austria 0.42 %
12 Germany 0.38 %
13 France 0.38 %
14 Canada 0.32 %
15 Australia 0.29 %
16 New Zealand 0.27 %
17 Portugal 0.25 %
18 Italy 0.21 %
19 Greece 0.20 %
20 Japan 0.20 %
21 United States 0.19 %

/thread

 

[Londo_Jowo]

The US is expected to respond to disasters as we're the only country that has resources located worldwide and logistically able to provide aid. In some cases the US has supplied aid before the host country could get aid to the disaster site.

 

[alkemyst]

because we have the magic money printer.

QFT, and it makes the richer even more richer.

 

[stlc8tr]

http://www.statisticbrain.com/countries-that-give-the-most-in-foreign-aid-statistics/

Percent of GDP Commited to Foreign Aid

21 United States 0.19 %

/thread

Haha. Do you expect facts to derail or stop a thread?

 

[shady28]

You never see Europeans doing it. It is always expected that we send out massive logistical operations and spend billions to any country that suffers any natural disaster.

The Europeans just sit back and watch, they might of course throw out their opinions about how we are doing it wrong from the comfort of their afternoon social tea, but they will not lift a finger or throw a shilling to help others in need.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercenary

 

[StinkyPinky]

You never see Europeans doing it. It is always expected that we send out massive logistical operations and spend billions to any country that suffers any natural disaster.

The Europeans just sit back and watch, they might of course throw out their opinions about how we are doing it wrong from the comfort of their afternoon social tea, but they will not lift a finger or throw a shilling to help others in need.

Spot the ignorant American.