Extremely Sad But True - American People vs. Rebuilding Haiti

[curious3069]

I don't have the US budget in front of me, but I'm going to take a guess that aid for disasters around the world is a budget line item. Which would mean that it would already be funded just like all the social programs here in the US and would also mean $$ not being taken away from any programs here in the US.

If there are so many worried about where the government is sending our money, call your congressperson and tell them you don't want to help Haiti.


I do wonder if this how the aid figure is calculated, ie, actual cash or the dollar value of equipment, food, water & manpower.

 

[BunsenH]

$150 million is probably less than what we give daily to other countries to buy weapons.

I'll bet that there are more men in Haiti that know 'how to fish' than in the USA.

It appears that many still have their Scrooge faces on.

 

[SunnyP4Disney]

This is a completely different issue. We were talking about our government's decision to commit money for relief, not the Coast Guard.

I suspect that no matter how much we commit we will be inundated with refugees.

Last time I checked, the CG is part of the Department of Homeland Security and all funding comes from the US Government. The government has to appropriate funding for these types of operations, they are not part of the regular budget. So, there is new money being spent on this effort. Which includes bringing relief supplies via CG aircraft. It's not a different issue, it's part of the whole package.

I have a question for you, do you wish we were more of an isolationist country? You seem to be very adamant about not assisting in other countries due to lack of funding and problems at home.

 

[cheermom1]

When will all of you get that is has nothing to do with compassion or the willingness to help others or even the willingness to help other countries..it has to do with what we can give which isn't $150 million ..we just don;t have it!!! when you have so much money a week and have to pay bills but you don't have enough to pay the bills, you have to choose which bills to pay and when no matter how much you don't want to it has to be done b/c you have to...

something with our government and with each of us as individuals we have to CHOOSE!!! that is life no matter how you slice it!!

 

[Tiger926]

Although I can't stand CNN, there are some interesting numbers on this page from CNN. Almost 12,000 U.S. citizens were saved, but there are still 5,000 missing:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/26/haiti.by.the.numbers/index.html?hpt=T1

Tiger

 

[Sanchez]

Last time I checked, the CG is part of the Department of Homeland Security and all funding comes from the US Government. The government has to appropriate funding for these types of operations, they are not part of the regular budget. So, there is new money being spent on this effort. Which includes bringing relief supplies via CG aircraft. It's not a different issue, it's part of the whole package.

I have a question for you, do you wish we were more of an isolationist country? You seem to be very adamant about not assisting in other countries due to lack of funding and problems at home.

I am not adamant about any of this and to answer your question takes this seemingly simple issue into a political discussion. The SOLE question raised is whether it is responsible for our government to commit aid money. Obviously there are going to be other expenses (too many to count) and we cannot adequately discuss whether each of this is worthy of a government expenditure.

Obviously, some feel that $150 million to relief effort is a responsible decision. Others do not.

 

[Sanchez]

$150 million is probably less than what we give daily to other countries to buy weapons.

I'll bet that there are more men in Haiti that know 'how to fish' than in the USA.

It appears that many still have their Scrooge faces on.

Then you should start a thread on that issue as well.

 

[curious3069]

When will all of you get that is has nothing to do with compassion or the willingness to help others or even the willingness to help other countries..it has to do with what we can give which isn't $150 million ..we just don;t have it!!! when you have so much money a week and have to pay bills but you don't have enough to pay the bills, you have to choose which bills to pay and when no matter how much you don't want to it has to be done b/c you have to...

something with our government and with each of us as individuals we have to CHOOSE!!! that is life no matter how you slice it!!

If your child had an life threatening emergency, would you borrow money to save him or would you say "sorry, but I don't have any more money, you'll have to help yourself"

 

[LukenDC]

I will never fault another individual for giving to a person in need, but I do not feel that it is our government's place to give on our behalf. Our government has no money to give. That is our money. They just made a donation for you, if you are a tax payer.

For me, charity always starts at home, and America has one of the most charitable populations in the world. I would like to see government handouts stopped, here and abroad...

Americans also like their country to be a superpower in all areas and world leader. Such status does not come cheaply.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

I think some people here are getting the wrong point. The article was not meant to criticize the individual that donates his money or his time to the earthquake effort in Haiti. By all means, if you have it, please send it. We're talking about the amount donated on the government level. The telethon raised how much? (I'm not sure of the amount, so someone please help me) Why can't this be the way we help for world disasters? By depending NOT on the American government, but on the American people.

 

[jodifla]

Americans also like their country to be a superpower in all areas and world leader. Such status does not come cheaply.

Exactly!

Not to mention, it might be US that needs help someday if/when calamity befalls us.

 

[curious3069]

Well, if I had warships and troops to send to Haiti to help, then that's what I would do. Sadly, I do not.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

Maybe we should send all of OUR unemployed people(especially contracters) to Haiti to help rebuild and pay them for their work as well as help out Haiti a little.

That sounds like a great idea!!

 

[iwrbnd]

I'm all for helping the people of Hait but it's so corrupt how will we know it's really going to the people?

I'm also worried that the 150 million will end up raising taxes! I can't take any more taxes!

 

[cheermom1]

If your child had an life threatening emergency, would you borrow money to save him or would you say "sorry, but I don't have any more money, you'll have to help yourself"

there is a difference between family and non family ...you have to draw the line somewhere..

 

[curious3069]

I think some people here are getting the wrong point. The article was not meant to criticize the individual that donates his money or his time to the earthquake effort in Haiti. By all means, if you have it, please send it. We're talking about the amount donated on the government level. The telethon raised how much? (I'm not sure of the amount, so someone please help me) Why can't this be the way we help for world disasters? By depending NOT on the American government, but on the American people.

Because that is not the way the world works.

I'm not sure you understand what "aid" means. It's not pallets of cash, it's troops on the ground, ships that are acting as hospitals, food and water, communications equipment, etc etc etc. Most relief organizations could not co-ordinate an effort the way the US government, or any government for that matter, could.

 

[SunnyP4Disney]

Because that is not the way the world works.

I'm not sure you understand what "aid" means. It's not pallets of cash, it's troops on the ground, ships that are acting as hospitals, food and water, communications equipment, etc etc etc. Most relief organizations could not co-ordinate an effort the way the US government, or any government for that matter, could.

That about sums it up in one succinct, eloquent post. Bravo!

 

[curious3069]

there is a difference between family and non family ...you have to draw the line somewhere..

Well, the government decided that it didn't have to draw the line with Haiti. Like I said, call your congressperson to complain.

 

[cheermom1]

Well, the government decided that it didn't have to draw the line with Haiti. Like I said, call your congressperson to complain.

I was just telling how some people are seeing this...and my opinion...if you don't agree that is fine no biggie...but I will continue to have my opinion till we can get a handle on what is going on here first...

I will be doing what I can to help with that ...

 

[SaraJayne]

If your child had an life threatening emergency, would you borrow money to save him or would you say "sorry, but I don't have any more money, you'll have to help yourself"

Absolutely no comparison. Haiti isn't our responsibility.

And my feelings are, my government has unilaterally decided to make a donation with *our* (meaning all Americans) money. I don't need to give more.

The "government" there is so corrupt that even during "good" times, people were starving and had no where to live. Where did all the hundreds of millions of dollars that the US donated every year go?

To the crooks in the government, that's where. I would guess that months down the road, you're going to be hearing about all the millions of dollars that went directly into someone's pocket ~ not where aid was most needed.