Is anyone else sick of taking care of other countries?

[NotFadeAway]

Because I sure am. I'm tired of spending more money and resources on third world countries instead of my fellow countrymen. They should come first and foremost. We still hold the hand of third world countries everywhere and neglect our own people in the process, and what does the USA get in return, nothing, not even a simple thank you.

If you go by the belief that every man, women, and child on this Earth was born equal, then these countries should be able to take care of themselves, but they don't. Despite our best efforts, there are people in this world who still don't understand the concept of building a road, people that still spread diseases like HIV despite the fact that we tell them how to avoid such problems. There are times when I just shake my head. And yes, I want nothing more than to help homeless Americans, to help Americans with diseases like HIV. We have idiots sending money to help homeless children in South America and Africa, but what about the homeless children in the States? We need to stop putting other countries first until we fix the one we live in.

 

[SuperFerret]

Honestly, if I don't know you or know someone who knows you, I couldn't care less, American or not. But I don't give anything to other people I don't know.

 

[Hound55]

At this point in time the money and resources you spend on third world countries comes back to your own backyard in the form of Remote Access Medicals who cater for your uninsured and underinsured... whilst every other developing country will cater for these folk at least to some degree.

 

[SuBe]

"Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto."
Letter to Thomas Lomax (12 March 1799)

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

If you go by the belief that every man, women, and child on this Earth was born equal, then these countries should be able to take care of themselves, but they don't. Despite our best efforts, there are people in this world who still don't understand the concept of building a road, people that still spread diseases like HIV despite the fact that we tell them how to avoid such problems. There are times when I just shake my head. And yes, I want nothing more than to help homeless Americans, to help Americans with diseases like HIV. We have idiots sending money to help homeless children in South America and Africa, but what about the homeless children in the States? We need to stop putting other countries first until we fix the one we live in.

I'm pretty sure that belief doesn't equate that everyone should be equally as wealthy as the other.

In fact, I'm pretty sure it's supposed to mean that just because they can't take care of themselves doesn't mean they're any less 'human' than us.

How'd you **** that up?

And idiots who don't learn are just as pervasive here in the U.S., as they are abroad.

 

[VampElvis]

As with many issues in this forum, this is a complex topic. Arguments, good arguments, can be made on each side. However, as long as we are running a deficit, I can't support large spending of this kind. We need to get our own house in order before we start cleaning up someone elses.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

But, didn't we get into this mess by "taking care" of Iraq?

I mean, the way I hear some Republicans debate it, success in Iraq means permanent occupation which means we'll be taking care of Iraq for a long ****ing time.

 

[The Overlord]

No offense but being poor in America is akin to being middle class in the third world.

I doubt people are starving to death in Africa because they are lazy.

There several articles about why Africa is so poor, so its not as simple as "they just can't take care of themselves".

 

[[A]]

In the context of this thread, taking care = invading, sacking, loot of natural resources

How can you be tired of that..?

 

[[A]]

double

 

[Gilpesh]

Shouldn't this thread be about being sick of taking care of corporations? Cause that's doing us more trouble than taking care of other countries.

 

[Kelly]

Because I sure am. I'm tired of spending more money and resources on third world countries instead of my fellow countrymen. They should come first and foremost. We still hold the hand of third world countries everywhere and neglect our own people in the process, and what does the USA get in return, nothing, not even a simple thank you.

If you go by the belief that every man, women, and child on this Earth was born equal, then these countries should be able to take care of themselves, but they don't. Despite our best efforts, there are people in this world who still don't understand the concept of building a road, people that still spread diseases like HIV despite the fact that we tell them how to avoid such problems. There are times when I just shake my head. And yes, I want nothing more than to help homeless Americans, to help Americans with diseases like HIV. We have idiots sending money to help homeless children in South America and Africa, but what about the homeless children in the States? We need to stop putting other countries first until we fix the one we live in.

Since you brought up HIV as your example, children and adults here in the US have access to ARVs, and in cases where it is needed, they can get them free.

Children on the continents you mentioned, through no fault of their own, are now HIV positive, and these drugs can save their lives, they can grow up, have a chance at a solid education, and make a better life for themselves if they are just given the chance. These drugs can do that, so if my money is able to do that, as a human being, I have no problem with a portion of my taxes going to that, AS LONG, as it is done effectively, efficiently, and with great oversight in the governments that we are dealing with.....we can do that through our government, as well as private charities. I see no problem with that at all....and there are other things as well, such as conflicts in the world, where children are the main victims.....if I can do something about that, and my government's involvement can help.......then I say we do it.

You may or may not agree with my opinion, and that's fine, but I think humanitarian help around the world is indeed one of our countries greatest diplomatic tools.

So, to answer your question?

No, my government's involvement in humanitarian issues around the world, makes me very proud, and encourages me to do more personally to help.

 

[Bob ROARman!]

Because I sure am. I'm tired of spending more money and resources on third world countries instead of my fellow countrymen. They should come first and foremost. We still hold the hand of third world countries everywhere and neglect our own people in the process, and what does the USA get in return, nothing, not even a simple thank you.

If you go by the belief that every man, women, and child on this Earth was born equal, then these countries should be able to take care of themselves, but they don't. Despite our best efforts, there are people in this world who still don't understand the concept of building a road, people that still spread diseases like HIV despite the fact that we tell them how to avoid such problems. There are times when I just shake my head. And yes, I want nothing more than to help homeless Americans, to help Americans with diseases like HIV. We have idiots sending money to help homeless children in South America and Africa, but what about the homeless children in the States? We need to stop putting other countries first until we fix the one we live in.

You have to realize, that a lot of that stuff you're talking about, the roots of those problems again comes back to banks. Namely the World Bank and IMF. This is the kind of history you don't get taught in schools and it's for a reason. There is more slavery today than there ever was before.

In a nutshell these organizations basically do the same thing the Federal Reserve does in America, except it's on a global scale. They make these "third world" countries take out ridiculous loans in order to keep them in debt. The loans don't go to help the population, rather they help some of the few rich leaders of that country and they use it to build infrastructure projects like power plants, industrial parks, etc.

But of course there's no way they can ever get out of their debt, so they settle for things like selling off their resources to U.S or multinational corporations for pennies on the dollar. Or they'll have their social services privatized, which cuts the budget on things like health care, the education system, utilities,etc. They do exactly the opposite of what they say they do. They literally own these people, these countries. These are what our "best efforts" are. An invisible war, a global empire that is completely ignored. They don't care about the people, all they want is control.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Well the thing is, a lot of the money our governments send to Africa and other countries is stolen but the despots who run them. So a lot of this charity we provide third world countries, isn't even reaching the people that need it most. And that is not our fault.

I say charity starts at home. You sort out the natives first. With the economy in the **** we shouldn't be throwing money at these third world countries. Not only because we can't really afford it and there is people in our countries who need aid, but because as I said, A LOT of that charity just lines the pockets of the corrupt.

 

[Bob ROARman!]

It's not possible to fix the problem. The problem is the monetary system and the way it works. And that's not going anywhere. We live off this empire, we literally NEED it to be this way. We're past the point of no return on this.

 

[Tanin]

I miss the non-intervention policy. Heck I wasn't even alive and I wish we'd go back to it.

 

[Kelly]

Well the thing is, a lot of the money our governments send to Africa and other countries is stolen but the despots who run them. So a lot of this charity we provide third world countries, isn't even reaching the people that need it most. And that is not our fault.

I say charity starts at home. You sort out the natives first. With the economy in the **** we shouldn't be throwing money at these third world countries. Not only because we can't really afford it and there is people in our countries who need aid, but because as I said, A LOT of that charity just lines the pockets of the corrupt.

Doesn't mean we stop trying.....

If we work harder to get the UN back to what it was meant to do, that would go a long way in fixing a lot of the problem.

The President of Sudan is now on the run, this is the PERFECT time for countries to put together a coalition and get in there to provide humanitarian help. Chad's government is screaming for help....Uganada's government is screaming for help....

Not all countries out there are corrupt.

Our intervention along with other countries around the world is actually doing some good, and has changed a lot of things in Sierra Leone....

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Yea well I feel for those people, I really do.

But I also feel for the guy who just got made unemployed and lost his house in my country.

I also feel for the kids who live in utter poverty in my country.

See where I'm going with this? IMO charity starts at home. End of.

 

[Kelly]

I see where you are going.....and we can do that as well.....


I believe charity starts at home, but I don't believe that it ends there.

 

[The Overlord]

I see where you are going.....and we can do that as well.....


I believe charity starts at home, but I don't believe that it ends there.

I do think he brings up a good point, if the aid is not used properly it doesn't do any good. If the aid ends up in the hands of warlords and corrupt government officials, it doesn't make things better, it could even make things worse. You have to find a way to deliver the aid to people who need and circumvent the governments who would abuse it.

 

[Kelly]

I do think he brings up a good point, if the aid is not used properly it doesn't do any good. If the aid ends up in the hands of warlords and corrupt government officials, it doesn't make things better, it could even make things worse. You have to find a way to deliver the aid to people who need and circumvent the governments who would abuse it.

I didn't ignore the statement, I addressed it in the post before.

That is something that will always have to be addressed.....and working on the UN, and trickling down from there will help IMO. Doesn't mean we stop....

 

[Bob ROARman!]

The problem is the MONETARY SYSTEM. That's the root of the problem. You can take out corrupt governments, you can take out corrupt leaders all you want, it'll be like saying "Hey I'm going to boycott the Yankees because they charge too much" or "I'm going to boycott the Cubs because of their stupidity in front office" it won't make a difference, the space you left void there's already a waiting list for it with the same kind of people as you once were.

No, the only way things will ever change significantly is an entire cultural shift. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

 

[Kelly]

That is what teaching is all about....

 

[Bob ROARman!]

The people who talk about things like that are usually outcast as crazy radicals, anti-American, conspiracy theorists, etc. Depending on what you do, what your own personal situation is, it's not worth taking that chance. And I don't blame them.

 

[Kelly]

talking about what?