Extremely Sad But True - American People vs. Rebuilding Haiti

[cheermom1]

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.

ITA!!!!

 

[OceanAnnie]

This thread needs a poll!

Suggestions

1. Give all we (U.S.) have and more to Haiti
2. Give responsibly according to the state of our economy
3. Other

 

[KramBerries]

Isn't 150 million about fifty cents per US citizen? Is that worth getting angry about? Besides, it could save us money by reducing further refugee problems.

 

[Aisling]

This thread needs a poll!

Suggestions

1. Give all we (U.S.) have and more to Haiti
2. Give responsibly according to the state of our economy
3. Other

I vote #2.

 

[jodifla]

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.

The government does a lot of thing with my money I'm not wild about (wars, for example)

I'd say there are plenty of Americans HAPPY that their country is stepping
up and doing the right thing, the moral thing. And I can't imagine the worldwide battering we'd get (and so rightly deserve) if we sat on our hands and did nothing.

There is very little in the way of organized government in Haiti right now. We aren't there throwing money around the streets -- we are there with food, water and medical aid going RIGHT to the people.


There's a story in the Wall Street Journal about a boy getting a plate of food to share with his family. His cut of it? He took one bean. ONE BEAN!

The attitudes on this board are illuminating. Shocking as well.

 

[cheermom1]

I vote #2.

I think that most people would vote for #2 but the problem is that most everyone would have a different opinion on how much is a reasonable amount...

 

[Planogirl]

It's interesting. The U.S. routinely gives aid to other nations and I can't recall ever so much fuss until it was Haiti. What is it about Haiti?

Personally I'd rather see our government doing this than some of the other things they spend billions on but we all differ in our opinions of course.

 

[OceanAnnie]

It's interesting. The U.S. routinely gives aid to other nations and I can't recall ever so much fuss until it was Haiti. What is it about Haiti?

Personally I'd rather see our government doing this than some of the other things they spend billions on but we all differ in our opinions of course.

I don't think it has to do with Haiti at all. It has to do with the state of our economy. We've been hearing and seeing the swan song for so long. Our dollar has tanked. Isn't there a new proposal for a spending freeze right now? How does that not come into the picture?

 

[Planogirl]

I don't think it has to do with Haiti at all. It has to do with the state of our economy. We've been hearing and seeing the swan song for so long. Our dollar has tanked. Isn't there a new proposal for a spending freeze right now? How does that not come into the picture?

I have heard about the spending freeze and it apparently doesn't include the truly expensive things that the government fritters money away on. Helping other people is still a higher priority to me and I don't care if it's people at home or elsewhere.

Haiti troubles me a little though but only because of their corrupt government. That part worries me.

 

[wdwfan16]

There's a big difference between what problems we have here than the absolute DEVASTATION in Haiti. Their whole country has basically been reduced to rubble. Hundreds of thousands are dead, many including Americans. There are reports the American death toll in Haiti will surpass 9/11!!! Children are dying of simple infections antibiotics could cure, thousands of Haitians will face amputation of some kind. The infrastructure is post-apocalyptic. You cannot imagine the suffering down there. If we turn our backs on this nation I have lost all faith in humanity.

We have FEMA, homeless shelters, food stamps, unemployment, Haiti has had no kind of agencies like those that can help the poor in Haiti. The whole country is poor. Criticizing those of us that have donated and continue to help in the relief effort is unbelievable. To the ones that criticize the effort, what are YOU doing in this country to help your fellow citizen? It's really easy to sit behind your computer and pass judgment on us while you walk by the homeless guy on the street without a second thought.

What would the US do if we had a catastrophy that destroyed 80% of oue country. FEMA would be useless or even so damaged that they could not help.

We, not you, need to realize that this is an entire country in trouble not just a city in one of 50 states.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I have heard about the spending freeze and it apparently doesn't include the truly expensive things that the government fritters money away on. Helping other people is still a higher priority to me and I don't care if it's people at home or elsewhere.

Haiti troubles me a little though but only because of their corrupt government. That part worries me.

It worries me too. I hope and pray that the people that need the aid get it! The situation is ripe for mishandling and swindling. Look at the aid that went towards the Tsunami. That was a case in mishandling that should be reviewed and lessons learned.

 

[threecrazykids]

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"

I totally understand what you're saying...but when you refer to "borrowing" money the assumption is that you (meaning other countries) will be returning this money to the US. Do you believe Haiti (or any other country) for that matter plans on giving this "borrowed" money back? Haiti I don't believe will EVER have the funds to pay back this "loan"...it's very sad all around.

I guess I just hear about how the US is "broke" we're cutting all sorts of jobs/ government programs/school funding/ etc...yet we apparently have 150M in "savings" to give? Why aren't we tapping into all of this "savings" when we need it? I am not at ALL saying we shouldn't help the people of Haiti...it's a HORRIBLE situation that deserves at a minimum peoples compassion and assistance, WHATEVER that assistance may be...be it financial or physical/medical etc.

I am seriously not one to argue about government spending because honestly I don't understand how it works so please don't flame...if you want to explain I'd be happy to listen.

I don't understand why it's such a complicated issue...there should be one person (or multiple people) who at the end of the month go in front of all the "spenders" and say "Ok Timmy...you brought in 5M this week, but you're expenses are coming in a 5.5M so you can't spend anymore until next week!" Why is that such a complicated concept?? They (the government) expects all of us to do that why the hell can't we expect that of our government?! It seems like all they do is spend spend spend with never a "repayment" plan in place from those of whom they borrow from! I just don't get it...

 

[wdwfan16]

Thank you. I think that's the main issue. No one is saying we don't want to help, I just think we CAN'T. We can't afford to help them rebuild their country b/c that costs money. If some contractor wants to spend their own money and donate their time, then great! But if it's the government sending the money and buying the material, then in essence that's OUR tax money that can be put to some use here.

We can afford it. We just chose to piss money away on bridges to nowhere, big digs, useless stimulus projects and the list goes on and on.

 

[cheermom1]

We can afford it. We just chose to piss money away on bridges to nowhere, big digs, useless stimulus projects and the list goes on and on.

well it sounds like to me we need to get that under control first...not saying we shouldn't help but that we need to prioritize better first...

edited to add: we have to get ourselves in order before we can help b/c it's not there ...we can't help if we don't have it to help...so I suggest we get ourselves together and know where it is coming form ...

 

[wdwfan16]

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 my neighbor's house collasped on him and I had a bulldozer in my yard but no money for the gas I would go to anybody I could to get money for the gas and help my neighbor. I would then work to pay off the gas money later.

 

[SunnyP4Disney]

well it sounds like to me we need to get that under control first...not saying we shouldn't help but that we need to prioritize better first...

Well, I think helping the people dying in the street for lack of food and water and medical attention trumps going after the supplier of 5000 dollar toilets. We can't turn our backs on the suffering. What happened to the values we supposedly espouse? They can't wait! The dying can't be put on hold so we can "prioritize better first." They are burning the bodies of children on the streets to stop the spread of disease, it makes me sick!

 

[Tuffcookie]

SunnyP4Disney wrote: Well, I think helping the people dying in the street for lack of food and water and medical attention trumps going after the supplier of 5000 dollar toilets. We can't turn our backs on the suffering. What happened to the values we supposedly espouse? They can't wait! The dying can't be put on hold so we can "prioritize better first." They are burning the bodies of children on the streets to stop the spread of disease, it makes me sick!

ITA! We are our brother's keeper, wherever they live!

TC

 

[cheermom1]

Well, I think helping the people dying in the street for lack of food and water and medical attention trumps going after the supplier of 5000 dollar toilets. We can't turn our backs on the suffering. What happened to the values we supposedly espouse? They can't wait! The dying can't be put on hold so we can "prioritize better first." They are burning the bodies of children on the streets to stop the spread of disease, it makes me sick!

HUH? I never said anything about toilets? all I am saying is if you don;t have the money you don;t have the money bottom line...

if you want to give you look through your fiances and see where you cut back on and give what you can after that...that is what our government should be doing...this is easy...plus what a lot of people don't like is that we are being told there is no money for other programs to help here but then we give $150 million to another country ..the question is "where did that money come from?"

Like I said what happened there is a horrible situation all the way around and I do feel bad for them ...really I do..but you have so much money and we have too choose period is the bottom line...

 

[eliza61]

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/...n_ac360blog+(Blog:+AC360)&utm_content=Twitter

IMHO, we are no longer the wealthiest nation. With everything that's going on in our own "backyard", I think we need to take care of the American people first.

Very slippery slope. Do we stop giving aid to countries like Israel for weapons? How about the money we are giving over to Iraq for rebuilding?
Basically Americans have done a very poor job of taking care of our own in the past, I don't see that changing.

I think that people should give to the cause they believe in regardless of location.

I for one, am very proud of the worlds response to Haiti. This is a catastrophe beyond belief.

 

[SunnyP4Disney]

HUH? I never said anything about toilets? all I am saying is if you don;t have the money you don;t have the money bottom line...

if you want to give you look through your fiances and see where you cut back on and give what you can after that...that is what our government should be doing...this is easy...plus what a lot of people don't like is that we are being told there is no money for other programs to help here but then we give $150 million to another country ..the question is "where did that money come from?"

Like I said what happened there is a horrible situation all the way around and I do feel bad for them ...really I do..but you have so much money and we have too choose period is the bottom line...

I KNOW you didn't mention toilets, you mentioned the government wasting money on things and I used the oft-mentioned-very expensive-taxpayer paid for-toilet as an example.

So you would choose for people to go without help from our government. PERIOD. You can dance around it and dress it up with faux sympathy but the bottom line is you don't want our country to overextend themselves with Haiti.