Are Americans Stingy?

**akaivyleaf** · 12-30-2004, 08:51 AM

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

As an American I think we give a lot to other countries and do a lot for others, while neglecting our own. God knows I feel for those affected by the Tsunami, I can't imagine it and I'm so thankful that I didn't have to endure it but I do look at the massive amount of money the US has pledged to help and the massive amount of people we're moving into the area to help and think what about those people here who don't have enough money to heat their houses this winter, or are struggling to pay a bill versus their medicine and wonder where is the fairness.

I think some official said after criticisms that the US took in being "slow to respond" to the Tsunami crisis that it isn't about rushing in and helping its about that sustaining help that comes months/years after a tragedy that the US is invaluable in assistance. This is so true. I'm glad to be in a country that is benevolent, but I think that some of this assistance needs to be turned toward our own first.

**miclason** · 12-30-2004, 08:51 AM

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

I have met enough Americans in my life to know that they are not stingy (sadly enough, in my country, most of the time you will find that charities have been started by foreigners, not by locals...)

**PrincessPerky** · 12-30-2004, 10:25 AM

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

I believe that many Americans (and many others) are very generous, many more are not. I do however think that since our American government is perfectly willing to take our tax money and send it to whomever and wherever, that many Americans who would otherwise be more generous feel the gov't did it for them, and therefore don't help out. In the case of the recent troubles with the Tsunami, I am glad some help can be offered, in the many many cases of food sitting in ports to rot, and worse, I think individuals would do a better job of helping out.

**henrybemis** · 12-30-2004, 02:55 PM

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

I totally agree with Sharon. While the entire world, not just the US, should committ to helping out the victims and survivors of the Tsunami in South Asia, our government should also take that same passionate committment and turn it inwards toward our own poor and starving. I think Western countries, especially those with tourist killed in South Asia should set up a seismac watch and emergency system in the Indian Ocean like we have in the Pacific along our coast (and probably should have in the Atlantic along our coast).

Now I did give money for the crisis but I also gave money to US charities for the good of people struggling in the US. One of the benefits of being thrifty is having the power to use the money you save for good, for real needs, communal needs.

Henry Bemis

**not-a-jones** · 12-30-2004, 04:02 PM

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

i think the US government s stingy towards its own! i talk to alot of americans online and they dont get half the benefits we do in australia. for example, we get $3000 if we have a baby, department of housing will pay for a hotel for you if your homeless till they find you accomodation, single parents get 680 dollars a fornight, free medical to unemployed, single parents and working parents, 55 plus get it all free too.$7000 first home owners grant, free stamp duty if your within a certain wage range...plus if you go to a hospital instead of a Dr even if you earn alot its still free and you get free medicine! i have heard americans turn people away if they dont have insurance! how is that even legal!!!!!????

**amomof4** · 12-30-2004, 08:06 PM

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

I think America is frequently over-generous with it's own. I know, I know--hit me with a wet noodle. In the old days, people were too proud to take charity. If they had 1 set of clothes and food in their bellies, that was enough. Wives stayed home to care for this children and husbands went to work to care for the family.

Now, a man sleeps with a women and gets her pregnant. The only money he offers is enough for an abotion. Then he's gone. Her family doesn't want to give financial support, so she ends up on welfare with perhaps a few other children from a few other men.

I like the old days better when the only single moms were widows. Where you had 2-3 generations living in the same home all working for the good of everyone else. It's my bet that in pre-welfare days, you didn't have very many single moms.

When I was young, a single mom could get welfare, but if she lived with a man, even they baby's father she couldn't. Now, all 3 get welfare.

I'n not knocking people on welfare, I think needy people should be helped. But my sister lived on welfare for the entire time she had children at home. Interesting now that her son is 18 and she lost her welfare check, she is looking for work.

People want a lot of social bennefits, but they don't want to pay taxes for the bennefit. I country wasn't formed as a socialistic country. If people want something, then they should work for it. Even the Bible says if a man doesn't work then he doesn't eat. Too many people are eating and not working.

I have a tenant who is a single mom with no education. She isn't on welfare. She works. She doesn't have much, but she has earned everything she has. When she is laid off from work and doesn't have enough money for rent, her church helps her. She doesn't abuse the system. When she's out of work, she's on the streets everyday looking for work.

This is in contrast to my son-in-law. The 3 of them moved in with me. He thought looking for work 1 time a week was adequate. All he did was sit in front of the tv. He's the real reason I got rid of the tv. I learned to absolutely hate it. I finally told him that he had 3 months to get a job and then he's out. They didn't get on welfare, we the family helped them. I think this is how it should be.

Oh well, I guess I rambled enough. I don't even know if this post flows. I do know that I'm tired of taxes, and I tired of supporting people who don't even try to support themselves.

**PrincessPerky** · 12-31-2004, 06:59 AM

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

I totally agree with you, I know many families who get divorced so they can have more welfare benifits, when you take charity to a federal level instead of from small churches or friends and family you leave the door wide open to abuse, there is no reason for anyone to have a closet full of clothes cable tv and still be taking our tax money for food, or worse, ciggarets! Don't get my wrong, I once worked 3 jobs trying to live on my own and I smoked, I paid for them with my own hard earned money. Not saying it was good, just saying I liked them, Still do, but they are bad for kids. Anyway I understand addiction, I understand the need for stress relief, especially when broke. I just don't understand the need for tax money to pay for them.

You don't want to get me started on my objections to public schooling. But I will say that I am firmly against welfare paying for all medical bills, trust me when the theory is 'someone will pay' docs do every test they can think of! Most are not neccessary. And most are way more than I can afford. All of my friends on public helth assistance got ultrasounds to know what they were having, I didn't. I only had one with my second kid cause they assured me it was covered, liers.

One of my friends had the gall to complain that her free dental was up when she had the kid, I at the time had no dental at all. And I was paying alot more for my kids birth, like 5,000 compared to 0! Somedays I wish I would take the gov't money they would gladly pay every cent of my medical bills, and buy me milk for the kids, and lots more, but it wouldn't be right. I can't take your tax money when I still support my vices. That would be asking all my fellow americans to support my vices!

One little disclaimer, if you or your children are in danger, if the gov't will be between you and death or for a kid between you and serious injury, take it. I gladly give my aid in that situation. but please, tun off teh cable and quit smoking first.

**2moretrees** · 01-04-2005, 12:38 AM

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

This is very interesting for me. I have a friend who wants to know why the US is spending $200 BILLION on the Iraq war and giving $350 million for one of the worst natual disasters in history. Anyone have a good answer I can pass along?

**akaivyleaf** · 01-04-2005, 06:36 AM

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

When you find an answer 2moretrees, pass it along to the rest of us.

**xboxundone** · 01-05-2005, 05:14 AM

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

I think america as a whole is very generous how many times do you hear of other countries giving money to us.... rarely like never but I guess that is when you are the #1 country...

**terry1156** · 01-08-2005, 12:25 AM

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

I just read that individuals in the US have donated over $245 million and will surpass the $350 million in tax money the government has offered. The article also said that more than half the people in the US have made a donation. Although I think Americans are generous, I think that we could also do more than we do...I sometimes think we forget how lucky we are to live where we do.

**lieweheksie** · 01-08-2005, 07:43 AM

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

According to a news bulleting here in SA- the US has made the 4th largest donation - Australia being the largest
Are Americans stingy- the people I don't think so- the government we'll thats a whole other story-
As to why more money is spent on the was- one word- OIL

**Momtwo** · 01-08-2005, 08:27 AM

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

I think Americans are the most generous caring people in the world. We give and give and give! People take and take and take.

Where were all the other countries when 9/11 happened? Yes, they sent their condolences, but I saw no one sending help. We helped France out in World War II. They paid us back by refusing to help with Iraq.

Where were all the other countries when the Hurricanes went through Florida this year and ruined so many Americans lives? There are still people who have no homes and our government is barely helping them!

I am a loving, caring person and I gave a generous donation out of my pocket to help the people of the Tsunami Disaster along with the money our government is giving.

However I can't help but be a little bitter after the way we have been treated over what we did and are still doing to help the Iraqi people. We have given many American lives and billions of dollars to this cause. The only major governments that I see that helped us were England, Australia, Japan and Spain, who has since pulled out. Where were other countries troops and money?

I get very bitter when I hear on TV yesterday that the people in the East and Muslims are blaming us for causing the Tsunami by testing a nuclear weapon or some other ridiculous idea. No matter what the Americans do for every other country, we are condemned.

People says Americans are the richest country in the world and that we should help all other countries. Well, you know what my ancestors made this country what it is. We Americans have made this country what it is!
It is about time that other countries stop whining and make their country as strong and as rich as ours. And it is about time that Americans start thinking about and taking care of their own.

My grandparents always said "Buy American or Americans will someday be without jobs." They were so right! We see the trade deficit and how many Americans are out of jobs. The National Debt is downright ugly because we have taken care of everyone else and not our own.

It is time for Americans to think about ourselves. I as one proud American will not buy any products that are not made in America. There are many good wines made in CA and NY. We do not need French wines. Spend your money with American businesses that make their products here, not the big box Walmarts that use overseas labor. We need to make OUR COUNTRY strong again and give the American Dream to our children!

This is just my $.02! But I think it is time, we all woke up.

Momtwo

**amomof4** · 01-08-2005, 10:58 AM

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

Well, if you count the $350 million donated (or soon to be) and the $350 million the government has donated for a total of $700 million, I bet we would be tops.

Are Americans Stingy?