I'm about to offend alot of people....
I'm not sending money or items to Haiti. Nope. No way. Not gonna happen. I bet you're wondering why I feel this way. Am I cold hearted? Nope, whats happened in Haiti is a horrible tradgedy and I feel for the people living there. I just feel that we've got people here who are are losing or have already lost everything and little is being done to help them. I'm sorry if my view offends anyone but I happen to think that charity starts at home and let us say that our goverment hasn't been very charitable with its own citizens. We've spent billions of dollars bailing out companies with tax payer money but have spent little to help the people themselves. The United States Government is slapping us in the face again by sending tens of millions of dollars in aid to Haiti while we have children in our country who will not be getting a meal tonight. We have families living in a car who deserve the help that will no go to Haiti instead, tax payer money should always go to taxpayers first. I have no issue with people who want to donate on thier own, more power to you. I just don't like that our tax dollars are being sent to help people in a different country when we can't or won't help our own citizens. Remember that there may be people on your own block that need help too, while you're buying a bag of groceries for Haiti buy one for an elderly neighbor as well.
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I have no problem with the US
I have no problem with the US helping Haiti only problem is the government there is so corrupt that we will have to nation build there. Don't worry though if any soldiers gets killed Obama will pull them out.
Why can't we do both?
The wealth in this country did not disappear. It is like Einstein proved of matter and energy how they can be transformed into one another but never actually destroyed, only changed. Likewise, wealth does not disappear unless we're talking about an object like a car that gets wrecked and loses it's value. But when the economy tanked there were winners. For many years we've had a HUGE transfer of wealth from the middle class And from the poor to the Wealthiest tiniest minority. That concentration of wealth means the money still exists, it just moved to where precious few of us ever even get a whiff of it.
Those who stand in the way of remedying that grossest of gross injustices are in my opinion murderers. We can save Hatians and we can save Americans. The recent bonuses on Wall Street were the largest ever in history while the firms giving them were instrumental in causing our economic crises by acting most irresponsibly. The bailout money should be returned to the taxpayers where we can decide how to use it. We've already texted massive millions to help rescue buried alive quake victims and heal, feed, clothe, house the refugees, a Large disproportionate number of whom are children without parents due to the nation having Never been well governed and so perpetually in poverty and turmoil through NO fault of their own.
Charity starts at home. I agree. We also Do do a LOT for our own. No one here would EVER be left buried alive in the rubble either without heroic efforts to rescue them however costly. We have spoken with our texted money and donations of all kinds that we do care about Haiti. That's one tremendous outpouring from people here of our own free will. We may demonize the troublemakers over there but it would be a terrible mistake to believe they are all bad, those children... have you seen them? I have to look away most of the time but have caught enough glimpses to know that we can not call ourselves human beings and sit here only a few hours away allowing them to perish such horrible deaths any more when we are able to save a lot of them. They're real people.
I am not offended by your statement. I've thought that way many times. Then I learned better. It's difficult to admit but I was that way alright. Everyone else can learn, many did before me and some have taught me, brave camera men and journalists have shown me. I can't look the other way in the fullest sense of the phrase. I can not watch but I can not not help. Thinking about how fortunate we are here, knowing from travel to less fortunate cultures, yes - some right here in our country too, I know that it is unconscienable to not help those so much more in need. I need not give all I have either, or give so much that I risk becoming like them, but $5, $10, $50 - if anyone truly can't give that much at least then let me know, if you are *that* bad off I will do what I can to help You. And do not ever think it won't make a difference. If everyone thought that way it'd be so horrific I have no words to describe it. How could we live with ourselves? What does a little water cost, water that will save a life? You may never see that person but you give and you know that they are someone, someone's mother, someone's father, someone's child or a child completely alone in this world with no family... You save a life and for a pitance. It's a nice feeling. When it's too painful to look, it helps ease that pain. Looking away may prevent immediate pain but believe me when I say it catches up with you and it's much worse when it does.
I think about how I was saved from my severe car wreck. Might something good I did in my life before then give me the strength to fight death when my heart stopped on the operating table? I like to think so. Would I have died if my soul deep down (a place you dwell when confronted with the doorstep of death) reminded me how I was a selfish bastard who never helped others in need worrying only about seeing the latest movie or buying the latest music album instead of parting with what, an hour of my wages that could have saved a perfectly innocent child's life?
It's not always an either-or decision. It's also a Lot less costly than you may think. Don't have cash? You can volunteer time. There are places set up country-wide for volunteers to come help sort and package survival items to be sent there. Let's be real about this. It's not Katrina/Rita either. We had infrastructure left and there were not nearly so many victims because we had warnings whereas they had none. I hope you donated to help out then and do so again now. My philosophy ought to be clear but I'll sum it up - We live in a global village and we Are our brothers' keeper.
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Why can't we do both? We don't have unlimited resources.
We still have people from the Katrina disaster who don't have suitable homes, people who will now see whatever aid they may have been given go elsewhere. We should take care of business at home before we run out to save the rest of the world, we owe it to our fellow countrymen. We've done our bit, we come running whenever some disaster hits, maybe its time for us to step back for a bit and clean up messes here at home. We have people not just in New Orleans but all over the country who have nothing: no housing, decent clothing, or food. Let's help the homeless in the US first then go to Haiti, send my tax money to help a family who have been thrown on the street by some souless banker.
I don't think people realize just how bad things are for many people in this country. I do volunteer work for a local charity which serves a city of about 30,000 not including surrounding townships, we're taking 100+ calls a day for people who can't afford to pay the rent, buy food, or are facing a winter with no heat. We help as many people as possible but there isn't enough funding to help everyone, we have to turn many people away. Our big fear now is that whatever aid we may have recieved before may well be sent to Haiti instead of to a family here who deserves it just as much as the people of Haiti.
I say again that I have no problem with private persons or companies donating to Haiti, I just think that the government should be giving aid to Americans first, after all it is our money they are sending elsewhere.
How many people in your town are buried alive under rubble?
How many are starving to death? How many have gaping open wounds being eaten by maggots?
We do need to do better but we take a LOT better care of our own than many will admit. Being "homeless" in the U.S. is different, we have shelters available. Being homeless here due to unscrupulous lenders is a problem yet I have absolutely ZERO sympathy for the ones we have all around here that bought McMansions and now are able to move back with family when you compare the dire plight of our neighbors to the south who lost everything including their family and their entire city and there is not a roof to be found anywhere around. Here, people can move back in with family. How horrible. That is not being truly "homeless" merely because they can not afford the multi thousand dollar monthly payment on their overbought castle that is excessive-beyond comprehension to even those of us who work hard and own our own homes which we bought responsibly.
I get regular mail from a few sources regarding photo jobs available and just received a message about a Haiti fundraiser that will be held down the road in D.C. Sunday and that is in need of a photographer to take pictures of the attendees. I may need to reschedule at work but I hope to be able to do the job within budget. The poster said the budget isn't much. I hope free is low enough for them. Think I'll get the job? I have to leave for work right now but will come back and spend some of my lunch hour replying (have to actually pay for this job lead) and will walk the dog and I may not have time for lunch even though I type fast. That's OK by me. I've made these kind of sacrifices before and I applaud you who volunteer too at your church or wherever. We can do more and we should.
Being human is not about whether it is my neighbor on my street, in my neighborhood, my town, or someone a couple hundred or a thousand miles away. I don't become less human for people who simply happen to live on the next street or in the next neighborhood or in the next town. How strange that would be. It's a mindset that I am unable to comprehend when I see babies who were buried alive for 8 days! Show me one of them in the U.S. and I'm There for them!!
No money for Haiti
First off, anybody that pays taxes is sending a lot of money to Haiti. You just don't know exactly how much. So, for some folks, that's enough. It is for me. There is a lot of sadness in the world and I certainly don't wish any on anybody anywhere. That said, there is a limit to what I can do. So, I do what is most important first. Haiti happens to be on the front page right now but there are people dying all over the world that need help. The needs are unlimited; the ability to help is limited.
We have Americans living in tents in State and Federal parks ... not lazy people ... just middle class folks who lost jobs and then everything else in this depression. And, we are still in a depression. When the unemployment is over 20% counting people who have used up their unemployment funds, school graduates looking for jobs, etc.; we have serious problems right here in the US. I give at least monthly to the local food bank & help center. And, I donate extra for American disasters, troops overseas, and special fund raising like coats and shoes for the poor. That is my limit.
My personal donations are for my fellow Americans.
TGIX, you are correct, we
TGIX, you are correct, we DON'T have babies buried for 8 days in this country, what we DO have are people (not those ousted from their 'McMansions', but those laid off from their jobs because the factory closed (or worse, was OUTSOURCED away) in this country that can find NO shelter (in fact, the homeless shelter over here in Salinas won't take you unless you meet a few more 'standards' than just being 'without a home'. Not to mention, some (not all) of those homeless aren't those I would want around MY family (if I were homeless myself, that is). Not because of anything other than the unfortunate fact that you cannot put some people with others and expect them to be 'civilized' around others. Would this change if they all had homes? I don't know, but I know I would rather find out HERE with my tax dollars than send it somewhere else while we STILL HAVE THOSE IN NEED OVER HERE!
As a matter of fact....
"How many are starving to death? How many have gaping open wounds being eaten by maggots?"
We have people that die from hunger every day in this country, you're naive to think it doesn't happen.
The homeless in this country end up with infections that can litterally decimate entire limbs which can lead to wounds being eaten by maggots.
wounds being eaten by
wounds being eaten by maggots?"
Actually maggots only eat dead flesh. They have used to maggots for treatment on the flesh eating bacteria. Because they only eat dead flesh. Sounds gross yep.
Sure, the doctors in Haiti are lying then?
is that your point?
Give it up. You tell half truthes to imply someone else is lying when telling your half truth that way is in fact the only thing dishonest being said here.
Go away. You are killing this site again. No one else wants to post because of you. Are you that very Dense that you can't see it?
TGIX my point is just what it
TGIX my point is just what it is. Maggots eat dead flesh. That is all was just saying they have used them for medical treatments in the past. Do not read anymore into that is all.
TGIX I have not posted one political post for a very long time. The only that has is you. I am not killing this site I am just responding to you and having a little fun with you. Lighten up.
very interesting
I applaud you both. Im new here and I think just propelling arguements like these no matter the side gets people to think about things other than who wasn't wearing underwear on the red carpet and which celebrity was dressed the worst. Unfortunately, there is a whole lot of focus on ugly and meaningless happenings. You both have valid issues and i think even if you don't want to admit, you see each side. Peace and light to you both!
haiti
we have our own problems in this country to worry about. Did haiti help us with hurricane katrina ? I dont think so. so I refuse to help haiti too. We have people who are losing jobs and homes in this country and we need to worry about that more. I dont care what anything thinks of my comment but I am just telling it how it is.
I couldn't agree with you more!!
This country has everything backwards!! Obama gives out "Cash for Clunkers" when the people that bought those cars were sitting on the "job bubble"! Now that most of the people that bought cars in the "Cash for Clunkers" program are laid off..the repo lots are FULL of cars!! Does Obama even think before he throws out these programs??!
Sure..it's great that we're over there helping Haiti. It's horrible over there and I guess we should thank our lucky stars that WE'RE not buried underneath rubble..but where are all these other countries and why is the USA so quick to jump in while it's own people are jobless and struggling??
We've had plenty of disasters here in the USA ourselves, yet we're smart people and know how to bail ourselves out of these messes. I feel bad for the people over in Haiti as most of them are under educated (who would even THINK of building a new home on top of the old one?)..and to be honest, they seem like very sweet people but the USA has to realize that we can't keep helping out these other countries while our own is floundering in debt!!
Obama should try living on unemployment where you don't even get HALF of what you previously earned!! He should have said "No" to all those selfish corporations that managed their money stupidly and then went to Uncle Sam for a bailout!! The thing is..us taxpayers are the ones that are paying for all these bailouts while in the meantime..the corporate greed continues!!