US Tsunami Donations Fail To Make The Grade - Or Do They?
Once again, the "media," when given the chance, joins the world in poo-pooing the American character. In today's Atlanta Journal Constititution there appears a front page article with the heading, "Do we give enough?: The U.S. is the world's biggest donor of foriegn aid, but with its wealth and population, it is far from being the most generous." Excuse me? Far from being the most generous? The article uses a per capita average to support the conclusion in the headline.
I have learned recently that when someone states "research" or "statistics" as evidence that those facts should be looked into. So let's look at the facts. According to the AJC the US has pledged 350 million dollars in aid. There are, according to this site 288, 705, 715 Americans in the US. That is a total of $1.21 per person in aid. The combined donations of other "rich" countries like Canada, Germany, France, and England amounts to $212,000,000. The combined populations of these countries is 233,903,275. That is a total of $.91 per person. I realize that thirty cents per person is probably no big deal. But the AJC would have its readers think that we Americans give less per capita. A whole lot less. And, while the US is busy protecting South Korea from the North Koreans and rebuilding Afghanistan and Iraq and, oh yeah, giving aid all over the world; the other countries (save England) don't have to spend hardly a dime on their own defense.
So let's be fair, then. Take England out of the mix. They are our allies, after all and have a great deal invested militarily. The new amount, per person in Germany, Canada, and France is $.67 per person. For each country it breaks down like this:
Canada 33 million in aid 31,842,252 people $1.04 per person
Germany 27 million in aid 81,817,335 people $o.33 per person
France 57 million in aid 60,453,245 people $0.94 per person
If we were to match these countries dollar for dollar, we would get a refund!
So is it lazy reporting? No. The headline should have read, "The US Continues To Give At Record Rates." But what agenda would that forward? Sometimes you just have to create an opportunity to bash the US. This is like Kyoto all over again. "The US should do more! "
The politics of all of this, while not suprising, are still sickening. The UN and its sycophants are using the tsunami as an opportunity to take a swipe at the US. After all, the UN should run things - not the US. Meanwhile, here at home, some are suggesting that the tsunami has created an opportunity for the US to show its compassion. How anyone can see tragedy as opportunity is still beyond me.
I think the US government should do what it is already doing. Provide aid as fast as possible, in the most efficient ways available. Continually assess the situation and remain flexible to the needs of the region. Let the UN stew. Their problem is not that we don't give enough, it's that we will not let them control the money we do give. There is good reason for not trusting the infrastucture of the UN - remember "Oil for Food?" That was a rousing humanitarian success, wasn't it?
So here is what we are left with: What ever country is seen as the most powerful will always be trashed by the ones that are less so. We must get used to that fact. If they ever stop throwing rocks, it will not be because we are doing things right, it will be because we are too weak to do much at all.
I have learned recently that when someone states "research" or "statistics" as evidence that those facts should be looked into. So let's look at the facts. According to the AJC the US has pledged 350 million dollars in aid. There are, according to this site 288, 705, 715 Americans in the US. That is a total of $1.21 per person in aid. The combined donations of other "rich" countries like Canada, Germany, France, and England amounts to $212,000,000. The combined populations of these countries is 233,903,275. That is a total of $.91 per person. I realize that thirty cents per person is probably no big deal. But the AJC would have its readers think that we Americans give less per capita. A whole lot less. And, while the US is busy protecting South Korea from the North Koreans and rebuilding Afghanistan and Iraq and, oh yeah, giving aid all over the world; the other countries (save England) don't have to spend hardly a dime on their own defense.
So let's be fair, then. Take England out of the mix. They are our allies, after all and have a great deal invested militarily. The new amount, per person in Germany, Canada, and France is $.67 per person. For each country it breaks down like this:
Canada 33 million in aid 31,842,252 people $1.04 per person
Germany 27 million in aid 81,817,335 people $o.33 per person
France 57 million in aid 60,453,245 people $0.94 per person
If we were to match these countries dollar for dollar, we would get a refund!
So is it lazy reporting? No. The headline should have read, "The US Continues To Give At Record Rates." But what agenda would that forward? Sometimes you just have to create an opportunity to bash the US. This is like Kyoto all over again. "The US should do more! "
The politics of all of this, while not suprising, are still sickening. The UN and its sycophants are using the tsunami as an opportunity to take a swipe at the US. After all, the UN should run things - not the US. Meanwhile, here at home, some are suggesting that the tsunami has created an opportunity for the US to show its compassion. How anyone can see tragedy as opportunity is still beyond me.
I think the US government should do what it is already doing. Provide aid as fast as possible, in the most efficient ways available. Continually assess the situation and remain flexible to the needs of the region. Let the UN stew. Their problem is not that we don't give enough, it's that we will not let them control the money we do give. There is good reason for not trusting the infrastucture of the UN - remember "Oil for Food?" That was a rousing humanitarian success, wasn't it?
So here is what we are left with: What ever country is seen as the most powerful will always be trashed by the ones that are less so. We must get used to that fact. If they ever stop throwing rocks, it will not be because we are doing things right, it will be because we are too weak to do much at all.
posted by EduDude at 4:33 PM
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