The United States has a long history of helping lesser countries when they are down on their luck. Whenever there is a disaster in the world, there we are giving a helping hand. We are the go to guy whenever a country needs serious help.
Consider the following:
- In 2004, the United States Federal government gave $18.9 billion in humanitarian financial aid.
- In 2004, Japan the second largest governmental donator, gave only $8.8 billion(USD); less than half the amount given by the United States
- According to the American Association of Fundraising Counsel's Trust for Philanthropy in Indianapolis, private American citizens gave an estimated $240.92 billion in gifts equalling 2.3 percent of US gross domestic product, to charities of all types.
- The United States has spent trillions on the defense of Western Europe, Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Australia, and the Middle East, without ever asking for anything in payment other than friendship.
- American inventions and ingenuity have given the world the ability to feed more people than in any time in history.
- American technology has given the world the means to communicate in ways that would make the greatest king of yore insane with jealousy.
America has given the world so much in last two hundred years, yet has asked for so little in return. Yet here it is several days after the worst natural disaster in modern American history and the only news report I have seen from other countries is one from the BBC. In it Her Majesty, The Queen of England, sends her condolences. Condolences? Thanks Liz, but how about some cash from your fellow Europeans or Japan? Hey Canada, how about some bottled water? The silence is deafening!
The world always has their collective hands out to the USA, least we come a runnin', they get mighty upset. Take for example the Tsunami disaster in Indonesia. The Norwegian Ambassador to the UN, Jan Egeland, called President Bush a cheapskate for not coughing up money fast enough. Funny thing that we haven't heard from of good ole Jan Jan the Norwegian Man of late?
Written by John Bill, founder of independent think tank the Jmaximus Institute of Freedom.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - alienboy
Luckily, this is only an opinion cos it is factually inaccurate.
Firstly, the United States has been offered a lot of international aid and is currently deciding what to accept. A 1 second search of Google News turned up that information.
There are other factually inaccurate claims in your post too but I am too busy to research all the details to give a reasoned response.
Perhaps you should think things through more carefully next time, but hey, that's opinion for you.
2 - D L Ennis
Canada and Japan both are sending help. However, I have seen nothing about, our friends (LOL) the UK, offering anything but what the Queen offered.
D L
3 - Bunny
Hey Alienboy, give the guy a break. The news media in this country is focused on showing pictures of destruction, looting, and chaos. Give the news a few days, and they will report the aid, and John will hear about it.
What John is right about is how our news media reported right away the demands of foreigners (not affected by the Tsunami) on President Bush for money. That was a sick political stunt. The fact that they are not pursuing other world leaders the same way now is irrelevant.
4 - The Bastard
Alienboy,
You are correct and since I'm not so busy I'll do some of the research for you;
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Wednesday 10 to 12 foreign governments have offered general assistance to the United States to deal with the hurricane aftermath. No decision has been reached about accepting the offers.
I had about twenty links in her to all different countries but BC won't let me post it because they said it looks like spam.
10-12 countries but the US not ready to make a decision hmmmmm......
5 - Sappho
I had the same problem - but here are my quotes (URLs available on request to [edited] - I would also appreciate any that I've missed!)
Quote:
1) 'State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Wednesday that 10 to 12 foreign governments have offered general assistance to the United States to deal with the hurricane aftermath. No decision has been reached about accepting the offers.'
2) '"We place at the disposition of the people of the United States in the event of shortages -- we have drinking water, food, we can provide fuel," Chavez told reporters ... Last week, Chavez offered discount gasoline to poor Americans suffering from high oil prices and on Sunday offered free eye surgery for Americans without access to health care.'
3) 'The U.S. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland - a capital at the foot of the Alps hit by flooding last week - said calls were rushing in from Swiss individuals and institutions looking for a way to donate to relief efforts.'
4) 'Saudi Arabia said it is prepared to help the US in any way it could to ease the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the official SPA agency reported.'
5) '"If we've got it, and the Americans need it, obviously, we'll be there," [Canadian Federal Finance Minister Ralph Goodale] told the Regina Leader-Post.'
6) '"The United Nations stands ready to help with any kind of disaster expertise that might be required ... in full recognition that the United States is the country in the world that possesses the greatest civilian and military search and rescue and recovery assets themselves," Egeland told Reuters in an interview.
'He said U.S. officials had thanked the U.N. for its offer, but had not requested any assistance so far.'
7) '"I have sent a message to President Bush expressing New Zealanders� sympathy for all those so badly affected. Although extensive relief operations are already underway in the United States, I have told the President that we are ready to offer assistance, if needed," Helen Clark said.'
8) 'Two Russian Ilyshin cargo planes with rescue workers, search helicopters and special equipment for off-line operations in disaster areas are on standby at the Ramenskoe aerodrome outside Moscow ready to leave for the United States.'
9) 'The White House does not currently believe it is practical to send a Russian rescue plane to areas hit by Hurricane Katrina in the United States, but will reconsider a Russian proposal to do so later if need be, the Russian ambassador to the U.S. said Thursday.'
10) 'AUSTRALIA has offered to send two specialist emergency managers to the US in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
'Attorney-General Philip Ruddock and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer released a statement today, pledging further assistance if needed by the US.'
11) '"As we all stand in awe at the great force of nature unleashed on the shores of the United States, please be rest assured that the people of Israel share your sorrow and extend our hand in comfort and friendship," he wrote. "We also stand ready to assist in any way possible."'
6 - Z.Z. Bachman
Here is some additional items on the topic. Bunny is dead on !!!! The issue is our Mainstream Media focuses on the destruction. There have been a number of "un confirmed" offers... See one article posted out our site ZZ News & Satire... Here is a clip of the offical State Dept position.
“The United States Government and its People Respectfully Decline your offer of assistance and refer you to our previous State Department Bulletin (NCO:13788) in which we had stated that this remains an internal action.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ZZ Bachman / ZardozZ News & Satire Portal
Have a Blog? Ring Surf it @ ZZ OpenRing
7 - Nancy
If Bush thru the state dept. turns down offers of aid or drags his sorry ass in deciding to accept because of his EGO, then he should be strung up by his guts by the defrauded citizens of New Orleans & Mississippi who have to bear the brunt of suffering for his arrogance because he thinks we can handle it ourselves.
8 - John Bill
Perhaps there are some countries willing to give token amounts of aid, however it isn't listed under google news front page categories: top stories, world, or u.s. Perhaps if one is willing to do a little data mining, one can find it, but it isn't front page news at present. I stand by my op/ed.
9 - toastman
Islamic extremists rejoiced in America's misfortune, giving the storm a military rank and declaring in Internet chatter that "Private" Katrina had joined the global jihad, or holy war. With "God's help," they declared, oil prices would hit $100 US a barrel this year.
>>>>>
What if we said --
Christ willing, those who died in the Iraqi stampedes - the women and children, died like the dogs they are. Shalom.
10 - Rob
I'm keeping a list going of foreign countries offering to help at UnSpace
Part of the problem for the foreign countries is that the United States is quite strong and can do a lot itself. We can do a lot ourselves, so they're not sure what help we do need. I like the quote from the German Embassy worker that I included in the linked post.
They have not forgotten our generosity and we are receiving offers to repay that generosity in our time of need.
The individuals from many foreign countries are donating money to the charites as well.
I hope everyone posted here has already donated.
11 - Paulie
"Perhaps there are some countries willing to give token amounts of aid, however it isn't listed under google news front page categories: top stories, world, or u.s. Perhaps if one is willing to do a little data mining, one can find it, but it isn't front page news at present. I stand by my op/ed."
So if it isn't front page news, then it doesn't exist? What kind of logic is that?!? Your op-ed states that no foreign countries are offering the US aid, so how can you stand by it when it has been completely disproven? Just because Google doesn't have it on the front page in no way backs up your piece. This is blatant Republican propaganda.
12 - Natalie Bennett
Given the US is the richest state in the world, and one of the most parsimonious in aiding other states, it should be capable of looking after its own.
Save your money for the Ethopians or the Rwandans or indeed citizens of many Latin American states whose countrymen and women can't afford to help each other.
Perhaps - shock horror - the US could put a special tax on its super-rich to aid the victims? One per cent of capital should produce a tidy sum.
13 - Mark the Sane and Sensible
hey natalie bennett, next time your little second rate power of a country is firebombed by foreign invaders and your military needs help, fight them yourself and don't call us. Got that, sweetie?
Winston Churchill would be ashamed of you.
14 - Natalie Bennett
Since you (apparently from your words) belong to the world's rogue super-power Mark, I'd be happy if you stayed as far away as possible.
15 - RogerMDillion
"Perhaps if one is willing to do a little data mining, one can find it, but it isn't front page news at present."
If you are so lazy in your research, why should anyone pay attention to your post?
16 - Dave Nalle
>>Given the US is the richest state in the world, and one of the most parsimonious in aiding other states, it should be capable of looking after its own.<<
In both charitable and governmental giving the US is the single most generous nation in the world.
In governmental aid to other countries the US ranks first among developed nations, donating double what the next ranked country (Japan) donates, and accounting for a total of about 24% of all foreign aid donations. You can get the stats on this at this link.
Even more impressive is private foreign charitable donation from the US, which totals over $34 billion, almost double our governmental aid budget, and first among all nations by a factor of 5 to 1 over the next highest nation.
Dave
17 - Natalie Bennett
In aid as a percentage of GDP, the US consistently ranks last among developed states in aid to the developing world, e.g. here.
18 - barbar
In aid as a percentage of GDP, the US consistently ranks last among developed states in aid to the developing world, e.g. here.
>>>
Thanks for offering such great armchair analysis Natalie. You should be ashamed. Life, regardless of nation-state, is too precious and not deserving of your comments.
From your site:
I'd like to think - and do think - that in a European city in the same circumstances people would be far more inclined to pull together and help each other; aside from anything else there'd be far fewer guns around to empower the ill-intentioned.
>>>>>
Typical. What a fine time to point out any perceived superiority.
19 - Natalie Bennett
I believe the poor and dispossessed of New Orleans should get help. Also those of Africa, of South America, of Asia ....
And the wealthy of America, and their government, must be in by far the best position to act.
There is no reason at all why they should need foreign aid, except perhaps in highly specialised services such as sniffer dogs to seek out the living, which should indeed be sent from anywhere that can provide them in time to be of assistance.
20 - Dave Nalle
Sorry, Natalie. Your figures are either incorrect or out of date. It looks like that site might be using data from several years ago, despite claiming the data is from 2005. Or else the figures ignore some forms of governmental aid.
The US ranked 12th worldwide in 2003 and almost doubled its level of aid in 2004, putting it far from the bottom among developed countries. Plus, percentage rankings are silly. All the top ranked countries are tiny with GNPs so small that relatively small donations can count as a large percentage.
In straight numbers the fact remains that no one gives anywhere near as much as the US.
Dave
21 - Natalie Bennett
Even if it is twelfth, and I haven't time now to dig up the official UN figures, from the richest state in the world that is hardly something to celebrate; and the percentage is what counts - that's how many cents in each dollar the people of the state are chosing, through their government, to give to the world's most disadvantaged people.
22 - barbar
Natalie:
Percentage doesn't count. Real numbers count. Real numbers == real results.
Which would you prefer,
1. $0.95 of my $100
or
2. $95,000 of my $1,000,000,000,000
to help you rebuild your home.
?
23 - Dave Nalle
Very well put, barbar. Unlike the top ranked countries in a percentage ranking - like Norway and Luxemburg, the US actually has things like poor people and a military to maintain. Let's see how high they would rank if they had to fund NATO and the UN and everything else the US puts up money for with no complaints.
Dave
24 - Dave Nalle
Oh, and Natalie - if you add in our charitable contributions (the voluntary way we do things here in a free country) to our government aid, we rank 5th and ahead of every country of anything like comparable size.
For a fair comparison how about trotting out how we compare for foreign aid with China or Russia or India or Indonesia - the only countries comparable in population to the US. Oh wait, they're all so low on the list that they aren't even ranked.
Dave
25 - John Bill
The percentage argument is specious and sour grapes by other countries. Another way of looking at it is say Joe Sixpack gives you a $100 and Bill Gates gives you $100,000; are you going to say "God dam Gates, he so dam cheap"? The US is basically the toughest kid on the block, who just had it's foot chewed off by a rabid pit bull. Does this mean the rest of the world should say, "oh he can take it, he can sew his own foot back on, ha ha"; or should it be "hey that guy that saved me from those bullies is hurt bad, let's see if we can give him a ride to the ER". Even worse are eco-leftists, like WWF or Greenpeace who are saying stuff like "They deserve it for causing global warming". We ought to round up these people, along with the Pat Robertson crowd, and ship them to Iraq as human shields.