December 29, 2004

Comparative costs

As of my last reading, the US had doubled its initial pledge to 35 million dollars for flood relief. Roughly the same amount, as the RLP noted today, the Bush Inauguration will cost (minus security costs!). But that isn't all. The last

Republican National Convention cost upwards of $150 million while the DNC did hardly any better costing $95 million to put on their dog and pony show. If, when it is all said and done, and we spent more on these stupid conventions than helping the poorest in the world, I will hang my head in embarrasment for my country. We are the richest. We should do better.

4 comments:

Streak said...

I appreciate the comment, and am going to assume you have good intentions, but your comment has the tone of apathy about it. This isn't some food for oil program, or arguing about how to address global poverty. This is about human suffering that is hitting some of the poorest of the world. If we don't care about that, then what do we care about?

Never said the US was responsible for the world's problems. Said that as one of the wealthiest nations, they have a responsibility to help human suffering as much as they can. Your analogy sucks. I am giving, and so is the US. But the US is giving what adds up to chump change right now. I hear from people all the time about how morally superior we are. I am simply suggesting we actually live up to that. I am not saying that America should become impoverished to help out, but that isn't really the choice. We have money to waste--waste on the most inane issues. This is the essence of human suffering right now, and I think this is a good use of all of our money.

Black Sheep said...

In terms of dollars, the US gives millions. But when viewed from the perspective of our GNP, the US is dead last among the richest nations (including France, Germany, etc.) A CNN report stated yesterday:

Measured another way, as a percentage of gross national product, the OECD's figures on development aid show that as of April, none of the world's richest countries donated even 1 percent of its gross national product. Norway was highest, at 0.92 percent; the United States was last, at 0.14 percent.

WE can do better . . .

Streak said...

I agree. Wealth comes with responsibility, as does power. America is dropping the ball on both. Our President is cycling and "clearing brush" on his ranch while 70,000+ die. It isn't that he isn't doing anything. I know that he can't do anything personally. But given his public profession of his faith, shouldn't he do something more?

Here is my ultimate fear (actually two): 1) that evangelical Christians will internalize this as god's punishment on the world (read "others"), or 2) that American Christians will show how little they care about the world. I have noted here and many have written about the conservative evangelical outcry about the slavery in Sudan, where Muslims have enslaved large numbers of Christians. They are right to be mad about that. But if they are not vocal in their anguish over this huge disaster, they will show that if it isn't Christians suffering, they don't care.

Black Sheep said...

Just another interesting fact: Florida's hurricane aid payments have so far reached 3.17 BILLION dollars according to a Christian Science Monitor's article on Dec. 23.

About the message U.S. is sending:
". . . what appears to be a grudging increase in effort sends the wrong message, at a time when dollar totals matter less than a clear statement about U.S. intentions. Noting that the disaster occurred at a time when large numbers of people in many nations -- especially Muslim ones such as Indonesia -- object to U.S. policies in Iraq, . . .Bush was missing an opportunity to demonstrate American benevolence."

read the article: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/1229-04.htm

Keep up the good work streak!