Are Americans Stingy?

[moneyrant]

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

<i>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.</i>

Wealthy man loses his house. You expect poor people to help him rebuild?

<i>We helped France out in World War II. They paid us back by refusing to help with Iraq.</i>

Irrelevent comparison

<i>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>

Our government problem. Not other countries

<i>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>

Irrelevent comparison. Countries didn't like Bush policy. Nothing to do with being stingy with money.

<i>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.</i>

Always few radicals. Not sentiment of majority.

<i>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.</i>

That means not helping those in need?

<i>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.</i>

Counterdicts previous statement not to whine. OK for Americans to whine?

<i>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!</i>

Afraid to compete in the world? Give Americans more credit. French wines are better, deserve to be bought. American need to compete, make better wine. American way.

[amomof4]

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

Moneyrant, As always, I do enjoy your logically, sarcastic sense of humor and arguing.

[crosses]

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

I don't think Americans are stingy as can be seen by the millions of dollars in donation we made. The government is donating money, but also sent in our military to do most of the relief coordination and transport of needed supplies. I think a lot more people would have died had our military not helped out.

[akaivyleaf]

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

Would the money spent on the SECOND inauguration of Bush better have been spent in support of our troups? or of Tsunami victims or of our own impoverished people? Roosevelt canceled his inauguration to revence our troops.

[amomof4]

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

Gosh, John, I really loved & appreciate your post. I get sick of all the complaints about America. I wish u could send it to every US tv network & newspapers. I think they complain the loudest.

In India, they have enough cows to feed the country for 4 years, according to KP Yohannan of Gospel for Asia. But the cow is worshipped & not eaten. So, although they are vegetarians, they still have the expense of meat eating. Rats consume 25% of their grain, but rats are worshipped to, so they're not exterminated. Don't get me wrong, I love India & support a few Indian Missionaries there. They are a starving country, yet they have the resources to take care of their people, but don't. I assume some of the same things happen in other countries.

Mexico is a very poor nation, but that's because their rich government won't do anything about it. They want all the money for themselves, & then complain that America won't allow all their people to move here. If they really cared about their own people, they would do something about the poverty.

Thank you for posting & giving us something to think about.

[JLP]

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

No, Americans are not stingy. What else can I say?

JLP

[moneyrant]

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

<b>Well now. I was going to try to avoid controversy on this board, but the opportunity to express myself on this issue is too good to refuse.</b>

Good debate never hurt anyone.

<b>America can never win in the eyes of much of the world, no matter what they do. That's part of being the top dog. When America tries to help countries, it's accused of meddling and arrogance, and when it leaves them alone, it's accused of callousness.</b>

Not true. America thanked for help in Indonesia. Accused when there for self interest and not to help.

<b>There seems to be an assumption that because America is rich, the money they have earned belongs to anyone who might want or need it. How about this for an idea: Those countries that can barely feed themselves might like to address their religious and political systems so that they can stand on their own two feet.</b>

Again, not true. Many of countries are poor due to debts to rich nations. Kind of reminds of credit card companies.

<b>Many countries, including my own, free-load off the security provided by the USA. If America weren't there to address regional security threats, we in NZ might have to have a credible army of our own. Good on the Australians and Brits for helping to free Iraq from despotism. Shame on NZ and continental Europe.</b>

Reason went to war with Iraq was weapons of mass destruction. That was our (US) arugument to UN, not to free of despotism. If despotism is the reason, why aren't we invading many other countries? NZ and Europe were correct.

<b>The American government has the right and the obligation to maintain a large military force to defend the nation. If that capacity can sometimes be used to help the citizens of other countries, all the better. It's not INSTEAD of aid, it's AS WELL AS aid. Perhaps it's even a form of aid.</b>

Right to defend nation, not attack others.

<b>If I were a citizen of Iraq, I'd certainly think so (assuming I weren't a member of the deposed regime).</b>

You're not (nor am I), so what we think means crap.

<b>Still, if you insist that they are related, let me tell you this: If I had to choose between being the victim of a natural disaster and having to fend for myself, or being the victim of a vicious totalitarian dictatorship, I would choose the former without hesitation. If I had to choose for my loved ones between being drowned or being tortured to death in a concrete cell, it would be the former.</b>

Again, your choice. If NZ becomes dictatorship, you can ask US to come.

<b>Disaster victims can either struggle to help themselves, or accept help from other parts of their country or the world. Saddam's victims could do none of those things.</b>

True. So once he was gone, why are we still there?

<b>Another thing I hear all the time that bugs the hell out of me is the saying, "You can't impose democracy". Really? Tell it to the Germans and the Japanese. It's hard to imagine two cultures as different as 1940s America and Japan. Despite having almost all their industry destroyed in WWII, Germany and Japan are now among the richest and most successful countries in the world.</b>

Not comparable. Reason we are hated is because of that. We impose.

<b>Is America stingy? Ask anyone who benefitted from the Marshall plan.</b>

Different era. Marshall Plans in itself means Amerca not stingy?

<b>It irritates me intensely that the US is blamed for every problem in every part of the world. The world went through an era of colonialism. Every major European power was involved in that. They all have blood on their hands, but now they love to tut-tut about America's "arrogance".</b>

Irriatting doesn't mean wrong. If you have previously been wrong, then you are forever wrong?

<b>The Germans I'll give a bit of leeway to, because they've become peacenik in the extreme since the events of the early 20th Century. The despicable French have no excuse.</b>

Why? They don't agree with your opinion?

<b>I don't remember the French crying out in 1944, "No! Please don't invade to liberate us! Innocent people may be hurt in the process." Another thing I don't remember is any rallies or protest marches in France when French government agents sank the Rainbow Warrior (a peaceful protest ship) in Auckland harbour and killed a crew member in the process. Actually, the people who did it were spirited back to France and given military honours. French people shrugged and said, "Well, that's national security."</b>

Not comparable. Occupied by a foreign country. Not the case in Iraq.

<b>But when there's a chance to stick it to the US, watch the protest crowds swell and demand that Saddam and Uday be allowed to continue raping and murdering and gassing their people.</b>

People protesting US going in on made-up grounds. That doesn't mean support for Iraq dictator.

<b>As for the oil in Iraq, I don't know and don't care whether that was a consideration. Had I been living under constant threat of arrest and torture in Iraq I would have signed over my "share" of the oil reserves to any country willing to come and rescue me. A small price to pay, I would have thought.</b>

You weren't and you didn't. Not for you to decide.

<b>Too bad the people in North Korea still have to eat the bark off trees and wait at night for the knock on the door.</b>

Why isn't America there if we're so against despotism? No oil maybe?

<b>How does America help the world?

First by being a refuge for many persecuted people from all over. Next by being the driving engine behind the global economy - almost every useful tool in my house, including the computer on which I'm typing this, was either invented or developed in America, or at the very least made viable and affordable by purchasing power of the huge American market.</b>

No argument there.

<b>Next, by direct investment and involvement in many other countries. Even when they're "sweatshops" (by some people's judgements), the alternative is usually begging or starvation.</b>

If we wouldn't tolerate it here, why should we in other countries? People are people, right?

<b>Lastly, by being an example to the world.</b>

Isn't setting an example to say you're sorry when you're wrong? Or don't we teach that any more?

<b>I think that instead of whining about what meanies the Americans are, the poorer parts of the world need to get their acts together and develop free enterprise and capitalism, instead of scorning it while proffering the begging bowl.</b>

Again the whining. And of course there was none of that in your post...

[moneyrant]

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

They are a starving country, yet they have the resources to take care of their people, but don't. I assume some of the same things happen in other countries.

Mexico is a very poor nation, but that's because their rich government won't do anything about it. They want all the money for themselves, & then complain that America won't allow all their people to move here. If they really cared about their own people, they would do something about the poverty.

And what is America's excuse for poverty and not helping their own? We have resources (India example) and rich government (Mexico example) and kids still go to bed hungry here. That mean we don't care, either?

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

Reason went to war with Iraq was weapons of mass destruction. That was our (US) arugument to UN, not to free of despotism. If despotism is the reason, why aren't we invading many other countries? NZ and Europe were correct.

'Cause we havn't found a good excuse yet.

<b>If I were a citizen of Iraq, I'd certainly think so (assuming I weren't a member of the deposed regime).</b> You're not (nor am I), so what we think means crap. ...Again, your choice. If NZ becomes dictatorship, you can ask US to come.

Well even though many Iraq asked for help, we still had to wait around for the excuse of WMD, not saying it was right, just saying we didn't care what the Iraq people wanted either way.

True. So once he was gone, why are we still there?

To try and prevent another of his ilk from taking over, leaving the lives lost with nothing to show for it. Agian not saying we should have been there in the first place, but we can't leave now.

People protesting US going in on made-up grounds. That doesn't mean support for Iraq dictator.

So if we went in to take down a dictator there wouldn't be protesting?

<b>Lastly, by being an example to the world.</b>

Isn't setting an example to say you're sorry when you're wrong? Or don't we teach that any more?

I think you might want to take a second look at the American schools, we teach that no child is ahead or behind, honor student might hurt the pride of those left behind. we teach that it is ok to not learn so long as you sit still. It is more important to turn in work and walk in straight lines than to grasp concepts or knowledge. I believe sorry is reserved for bad grades. "I'm sorry that test was hard jr, we'll make it easier next time" But that is a whole 'nother debate.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Are Americans Stingy?

That mean we don't care, either?

Means we havn't figured out how to offer fishing lessons, just hand out fish. Or we just don't care