Securing our borders

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by Lux

I don't understand your point Jason, nor yours Mary. You say America gives more than any other country, I didn't say it didn't give. You say you're aware of how much bigger the GNP is. So how can the fact that America gives any more than say New Zealand, be anything to rave about. Of course it should freakin give more than New Zealand or the likes. It should give a certain percentage (and so should Aust. etc.) of the GNP, no matter what that may be, but it is not. It is taking money from the poorest countries from old debts. And yes Mary, people look to America for the aid because it's the country that can provide the most. If each gave a certain percent, the amount coming from America would naturally be greater so it's the key one to be eager on receiving. Doesn't mean other nations get off the hook either. Australia doesn't give enough either, I've never denied that. But if Australia still gave it's 0.7% we'd be giving far less than America so naturally when disaster strikes, practicalities come into place and America is the one they're keen to receive money from the most.

And don't treat me like I'm a naive kid. Patronising due to age will not get you far when there's a thread further down about that very thing. Perhaps you're just a misinformed American then? You say charity begins at home, and it does but it's about distribution of GNP and it's simply not going in the right places. America has been a large contributing force when it comes to stripping nations of their wealth and so you can't then turn around and use the excuse that the aid money for these nations should now go to homeland issues. Money should go to domestic causes but there is enough money to be given back to the poorest people in the world who are only in that position because the rest of us freakin put them there!

Also, expecting aid from America is not an issue. Aid should be expected from all the wealthy nations. You do not get to complain about being expected to provide aid. As I just said above, the ranking system only comes about due to the wealthier nations actions against the poorer nations. It is the least we can do for them and every wealthy nation is expected to. So just don't even complain about that one.

One more thing Jason, you talk about Corporate donations as aid. So if you're adopting corporation's aid as American aid, we'll adopt corporation's destruction as American destruction. Watch out because then you'll have a lot of explaining to do. In that case you're destroying most of the earth, you're responsible for most of the poverty. It's double sided, so are you still going to take on corporation aid as your own?

Actually Lux, EXPECTING aid at ALL is a mistake. Maybe I was too generous when I said you were young therefore idealistic. Possibly your youth just translates to foolishness. I dont know what any previous thread said about "patronizing due to age", but I can tell you, once you've lived a little (and I've lived a little more than you) you begin to realize some of your dearly held idealisms go by the wayside. Also: where do you get the idea that America's GNP needs to be redistributed OUTSIDE of America? That is unbelievable! America's GNP is driven at its heart by American workers and it is THEY who should be reaping the benefits! America is under NO obligation to fork over, unless there is some treaty or contract between the two countries in question. If Nations had your attitude (you have more than me so fork over because you OWE me), borders would be closed and barred and locked for all time. If we are talking about true AID here (not some sort of reparation for past wrongs--such as Germany or Japan received from us after WWII) then it should be given as an expression of humanitarianism NOT merely because we have it.

If a society determines that it wants to help its poorest members, it does so, within limits. But that is different from constantly sending out $$$ outside the country. There is NO obligation to do so absent some agreement between the countries

Also, on a side note, I heard just recently that the GNP is not an accurate indicator of wealth so you may be using the wrong benchmark.