Wealthy Americans Donating to Foreign Countries

[JiveTurkey]

Maybe it's just me, but DAMN do I get mad when I hear some story praising so and so celeb (or mogul) for donating so many millions of dollars to open a school in Zaire or a Papa Johns in Bolivia or whatever the fuck they spend that money on.


Well, Jasn, why do you get pissed?



Well, mostly because I walk outside my door everyday and see people hurting.


Sure, there are a GOOD many of them that are junkies and such and, as far as they go, I have absolutely ZERO pity for them.



But what about the families on the streets because of foreclosures they could not help?


What about those that are unemployed because the factory they worked in decided it was cheaper to move to a foreign country?


The severely handicapped?


Those that go broke CARING for the severely handicapped?


Those that fell victim to "confidence men" (mostly older women)??



I'm sorry if this makes me insensitive, but I don't give a FUCK about some kid in Zimbabwe when there are kids in Valdosta that don't have any idea what a "good life" is.

Am I alone in this one?


(Naturally, for those of you who aren't American, just substitute your native country)


J

[MBF]

What pisses me off is when my tax money is used for this. The government just hands money out to a bunch of morons that hates our guts.

As for the people that care for the severely handicapped, my mother had a stroke back in 91 at 50 years old and she never got a penny from disability. It was left up to me and my father to look after her because she was paralyzed on her right side. He is 74 and slowing down so more is put on me. It's a job to pick her up out of the floor when she falls(I'm getting older too). There are 3 people that live next to me that are about my age that all draw disability and most are just as able to work as I am. I'm all for giving it to somebody that needs it, but there are people that just ride it.

[mojo]

Interest rates have just been raised for the 12th time in succesion here, there are families that are hurting big time atm. People WILL lose there homes.
Already there are not enough spare beds for the homeless here, and we are not far away from winter. There will be more weather related homeless deaths again this year, its a given.
If the rich made more of an effort in giving back to their local states and communities it would cause a flow on effect that would eventually equal what they originally donated to overseas aid. By raising the local living standards you will then have wealthier citizens with a greater awareness of the benefit of charitable donations which then in effect raises the overseas aid.
Help yourself and your local community so that you are strong enough to help others and their local community's. Makes sense doesn't it?

[Iori Komei]

If the government actually worked properly we really would'nt have this problem.

I think for alot of celebrities who donate huge sums of money to poor countries they don't really realize or think about how messed up the system here has become.

Anyways, when it comes down to it think of it this way.
The US has an economy of just under 14 trillion dollars and could, if the system were reformed completely get rid of the non-consensual medical problems for its citizens.


Anyways, when it comes down to it it's the price that one pays for living in a capitalist society, especially one as unregulated as the United States.

[JiveTurkey]

Anyways, when it comes down to it it's the price that one pays for living in a capitalist society, especially one as unregulated as the United States.


An unregulated capitalist society is far better than a regulated OR unregulated socialist one any day of the week.


Still, I know what you are saying and agree somewhat.


We are, however, going to have to debate this "socialism" thing one day.



Socialism, in THEORY, is great. In practice, it's fucking TERRIBLE.



J

[Iori Komei]

Well, if you think about it through a large chunk of history Humanity was naturally Socialist, Capitalism was only born of the 19th century out of a primitive kind of 'capitalism in one country'.


Anyways I'm derailing the thread, we should have a discussion thread about it eventually though.

[Yo Mama]

They're slashing our education budget in the state by some ridiculous number, when we have some of the worst schools in the nation. They'll be cutting money to the Ryan White fund, which pays for a lot of HIV services including low cost or free dental care. They're cutting In Home Support Services for severely disabled and elderly adults, so that they can be independent.

Until shit is fixed here at home, the money ought to stay home. Pisses me off. We're becoming one of the Third World countries in need of handouts from the rich.

[gunner]

I hear you jasn, that is something that has always bothered me. I am at a loss for what is going on in this country, we are spread all over the fucking world. We throw money and put troops in other countries, for what? Sorry but if china had troops stationed in this country, I dont give a crap if they gave us money it would piss me off that they were here.

We need to say screw the rest of the world, and take care of this country. We need to go back to our pre ww1 mentality of staying out of the worlds problems. Until we can get our country back on track it needs to be done, this country is sinking fast. I just got done reading none dare call it a conspiracy, read it, this countries problems started when the federal reserve was started. I think most of these idiots that donate the money, make themselves out to be these great people are the same ones that pushing for some underlying goal.

I remember when Oprah opened that all girls school in africa, I sat there while my wife and mom said oh she is such a great lady. I said no she is a racist, and more loyal to africa then she is the country that gave her the fortune she has. Why open a school over there, why not here, Jesus has she ever been to the bad parts of the damn town she lives in, chicago? Do something there, why go thousands of miles overseas to give those people aid, when there are people a couple miles away that need it just as bad?

I also look forward to a socialism discussion, in my opinion even in theory it isnt a good idea. I will work for what I have, if you want the same thing you need to work for it. I dont mind helping someone, but I dont want the government telling me I have to.

[Iori Komei]

I remember when Oprah opened that all girls school in africa, I sat there while my wife and mom said oh she is such a great lady. I said no she is a racist, and more loyal to africa then she is the country that gave her the fortune she has. Why open a school over there, why not here, Jesus has she ever been to the bad parts of the damn town she lives in, chicago? Do something there, why go thousands of miles overseas to give those people aid, when there are people a couple miles away that need it just as bad?

Te be fair, has'nt sh donated a ton of money domestically though?
Also, S. Africa is the whitest country in Africa, so much so that they only in the 90's stopped their program of Apartheid, so it's not so much that the girls are black (I thought some of them were'nt) but that they were not given the chance to go to school before.

[Lexion]

Africa is a lost cause.

Literally.

Ban the whole place from
travel.

Let them duke it out.

When they are done, we
build a Wal-Mart, with a huge
parking lot.

Iraq, same thing.

Iran, same thing.

These peoples have been at war
for over 2000 years.
No reason they'll stop, now.

Give them any weapon they want,
barring nukes; and let them have
at it.

Kill 'em all. Let Allah sort 'em out.

Regards,
Lex

[Iori Komei]

I highly disagree with that.

South Africa (the country) is approaching the point of being as developed as a normal Western country.

Egypt is a developing country that is well on its way to being an industrialized country like the west (it's laws and such not withstanding).
There are many parts of Africa that over the last twenty years have been stabilizing and starting to move towards a path of stability and peace.
When it comes down to it Africa's various wars and such are our own faults, the mid 20th century with the disastrous sudden 'independence' for Africa before they were ready for it is what has lead to all the wars there.


Iraq, well perhaps it is, I say we enforce our own laws there, but anyways.

Iran is a developed modern country, however it just happens to have a bunch of psychotic religious fundamentalists in charge.