This is a bad economy? So far Americans donated $500 mil to Haiti
- Thread starter ~~whimsy~~
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A couple of points:
1. Relatively speaking for something like this 500 million dollars isn't a lot of money at all. For a comparison just look at just what one large bank, out of many that received them, got as a bailout. Here they got a lot less and hundreds of thousands of people are either dead, hurt or dying, homeless, starving, or in some other really bad situation.
2. Americans aren't really generous. Whether it's to our own people or donating abroad we like to give just enough to make ourselves feel good and to allow us to give ourselves a pat on the back. Americans absolutely love congratulating themselves. We don't like to make real sacrifices or do anything truly significant. We are good at throwing people a bone and then watching as everybody that's ravenous fights over the meager amount of leftover meat on it while we sit back and feel proud for having done that, often while we are the reason the ravenous masses exist in the first place. We like to do things that allow us to pretend we are good people. It reminds me of the politicians, the rich, and celebrities that donate a couple of hours at a food pantry for the homeless on Thanksgiving or something and then conveniently don't give a shit about anybody the other 364 days and 20+ hours of the year. Even the vast overwhelming majority of the people that aren't celebrities or politicians do it in the same spirit as they do instead of genuinely caring.
3. Just because there are enormous masses of poor and people quickly becoming that way in the United States doesn't mean we don't have a small percentage that are richer than God where money is no concern for them and they always have money to blow on something like this or their next toy or whatever.
1. Relatively speaking for something like this 500 million dollars isn't a lot of money at all. For a comparison just look at just what one large bank, out of many that received them, got as a bailout. Here they got a lot less and hundreds of thousands of people are either dead, hurt or dying, homeless, starving, or in some other really bad situation.
2. Americans aren't really generous. Whether it's to our own people or donating abroad we like to give just enough to make ourselves feel good and to allow us to give ourselves a pat on the back. Americans absolutely love congratulating themselves. We don't like to make real sacrifices or do anything truly significant. We are good at throwing people a bone and then watching as everybody that's ravenous fights over the meager amount of leftover meat on it while we sit back and feel proud for having done that, often while we are the reason the ravenous masses exist in the first place. We like to do things that allow us to pretend we are good people. It reminds me of the politicians, the rich, and celebrities that donate a couple of hours at a food pantry for the homeless on Thanksgiving or something and then conveniently don't give a shit about anybody the other 364 days and 20+ hours of the year. Even the vast overwhelming majority of the people that aren't celebrities or politicians do it in the same spirit as they do instead of genuinely caring.
3. Just because there are enormous masses of poor and people quickly becoming that way in the United States doesn't mean we don't have a small percentage that are richer than God where money is no concern for them and they always have money to blow on something like this or their next toy or whatever.
There is no recession. So the stock market crashed... and then all the companies got bailed out. No loss there.
10% national unemployment. Yeah, that means that 90% of people are still working. Per capita that means that the staff of three or four Starbucks or Mcdonald's closed down in your home town.
Yup, the housing bubble did burst. Sorry that you are a dumbass that didn't pay attention to your loan and got a house that you couldn't afford, but am I supposed to believe that is dragging down a nation that can still afford to spend trillions on all the stupid shit that has not changed since then?
10% national unemployment. Yeah, that means that 90% of people are still working. Per capita that means that the staff of three or four Starbucks or Mcdonald's closed down in your home town.
Yup, the housing bubble did burst. Sorry that you are a dumbass that didn't pay attention to your loan and got a house that you couldn't afford, but am I supposed to believe that is dragging down a nation that can still afford to spend trillions on all the stupid shit that has not changed since then?
^I'd like to argue with this for some reason. Nothing is actually wrong although maybe things are not as simple as you make it seem.
For instance--not every city or state has 10% unemployment. Some parts of Cali are at 17%, same with some parts of Illinois. I think Wyoming has one of the lowest unemployment rates...but they don't count.
For instance--not every city or state has 10% unemployment. Some parts of Cali are at 17%, same with some parts of Illinois. I think Wyoming has one of the lowest unemployment rates...but they don't count.
tartanterrier
Is somewhere outhere.
I can only imagine they got this money from the bankers bonuses 
It's not that much if you look closely at it. Holland sofar donated little over 100 million sofar and we have 20 times less the population the US has
All good though
Doing nothing is easy :2 cents:
My heart breaks for the men women and childern of haiti no one should be homeless but with that being said america has its own homeless to worry about .
Why not do something for them what about all our people who are without healthcare.
the bible says to lend a hand to those in need but how can we help others 1st while our own men women and childern lay cold and hungry on the streets
Why not do something for them what about all our people who are without healthcare.
the bible says to lend a hand to those in need but how can we help others 1st while our own men women and childern lay cold and hungry on the streets
South Florida hospitals defend role on halt of Haiti airlift
The U.S. military stopped flying critically injured Haitians to Florida, saying it's not clear who'll pay for their care.
BY ELINOR J. BRECHER AND LEE LOGAN
HERALD/TIMES TALLAHASSEE BUREAU
South Florida hospital spokespeople strongly denied Saturday that their facilities are refusing to take more trauma patients from Haiti, leaving them to die at field hospitals in the earthquake-ravaged country.
Military planes stopped flying the injured to Florida on Wednesday, after Gov. Charlie Crist wrote to Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of Health and Human Services, asking the federal government for help covering millions of dollars in care that hospitals around the state are providing, the New York Times reported in Saturday's editions.
Crist pointed out that Florida hospitals were ``at capacity.''
Friday, Maj. James Lowe, deputy chief of public affairs for the United States Transportation Command, told the Times that ``the places they were being taken, without being specific, were not willing to continue to receive those patients without a different arrangement being worked out by the government to pay for the care.''
Not so, said Dr. William O'Neill, executive dean of clinical affairs at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine.
Although ``there hasn't been a well-defined plan to pay for uninsured people... we are still willing to take people even if we don't know who is going to pay,'' O'Neill said Saturday. He said UM doctors in Haiti are not putting injured patients on planes, since they've been told that they won't be flown to Florida.
His colleague at UM's field hospital in Port-au-Prince, Dr. Barth A. Green, said Friday that ``people are dying in Haiti because they can't get out.''
``I have to take him at his word,'' O'Neill said.
He estimated that the treatment for about 50 patients brought to Ryder Trauma center would range from $50,000-$100,000, and called the dustup between the state and the feds ``a little bit of a power contest... to see who will blink first.''
For the rest of the article, click here
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Ah yes, the American Healthcare system brings about the end to America's Humanitarian spirit.
If a Haiti Healthcare Fund was setup, I doubt anyone would donate to it. :dunno: Perhaps the state of Florida can petition the American Red Cross to send along some donations to cover these costs? Is that fair? :dunno:
It's pretty sad that people are going to be dying in makeshift tents while we figure out how Doctors and Hospitals will be paid. How about airlifting these patients to Cuba anyways?
The U.S. military stopped flying critically injured Haitians to Florida, saying it's not clear who'll pay for their care.
BY ELINOR J. BRECHER AND LEE LOGAN
HERALD/TIMES TALLAHASSEE BUREAU
South Florida hospital spokespeople strongly denied Saturday that their facilities are refusing to take more trauma patients from Haiti, leaving them to die at field hospitals in the earthquake-ravaged country.
Military planes stopped flying the injured to Florida on Wednesday, after Gov. Charlie Crist wrote to Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of Health and Human Services, asking the federal government for help covering millions of dollars in care that hospitals around the state are providing, the New York Times reported in Saturday's editions.
Crist pointed out that Florida hospitals were ``at capacity.''
Friday, Maj. James Lowe, deputy chief of public affairs for the United States Transportation Command, told the Times that ``the places they were being taken, without being specific, were not willing to continue to receive those patients without a different arrangement being worked out by the government to pay for the care.''
Not so, said Dr. William O'Neill, executive dean of clinical affairs at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine.
Although ``there hasn't been a well-defined plan to pay for uninsured people... we are still willing to take people even if we don't know who is going to pay,'' O'Neill said Saturday. He said UM doctors in Haiti are not putting injured patients on planes, since they've been told that they won't be flown to Florida.
His colleague at UM's field hospital in Port-au-Prince, Dr. Barth A. Green, said Friday that ``people are dying in Haiti because they can't get out.''
``I have to take him at his word,'' O'Neill said.
He estimated that the treatment for about 50 patients brought to Ryder Trauma center would range from $50,000-$100,000, and called the dustup between the state and the feds ``a little bit of a power contest... to see who will blink first.''
For the rest of the article, click here
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ah yes, the American Healthcare system brings about the end to America's Humanitarian spirit.
If a Haiti Healthcare Fund was setup, I doubt anyone would donate to it. :dunno: Perhaps the state of Florida can petition the American Red Cross to send along some donations to cover these costs? Is that fair? :dunno:
It's pretty sad that people are going to be dying in makeshift tents while we figure out how Doctors and Hospitals will be paid. How about airlifting these patients to Cuba anyways?
Rey C.
Racing is life... anything else is just waiting.
I think that would be a good use of the funds. We don't want to overburden the American hospitals willing to accept these patients. And the money is there. So I think the Red Cross, and other organizations that have been collecting funds, should step forward ASAP.
That's more like it. people in America donate because they want to, not because the gov't has a gun to our heads. I wonder where (and if) the other surrounding governments down there are doing anything at all.
Of course we will because we owe the world everything.
^
Healthcare's a ~heated~ topic in the U.S. right now. This could re-ignite the debate in this country depending on how the Corporations, the Special Interests and the Grass Roots Groups use it (if any of them choose to).
There's a wall in the mind of most Americans between helping people and healthcare...:dunno:
If we weren't so into Warmongering and thrusting American Democracy and Values in everyone's face all the time, we'd be in better financial position to help countries considered 3rd World :dunno:
Healthcare's a ~heated~ topic in the U.S. right now. This could re-ignite the debate in this country depending on how the Corporations, the Special Interests and the Grass Roots Groups use it (if any of them choose to).
There's a wall in the mind of most Americans between helping people and healthcare...:dunno:
If we weren't so into Warmongering and thrusting American Democracy and Values in everyone's face all the time, we'd be in better financial position to help countries considered 3rd World :dunno:
Rey C.
Racing is life... anything else is just waiting.
Possibly. It is an international effort, so the burden should be shared, as much as is practical.
meesterperfect
Hiliary 2020
yeah i dont watch much tv but i did see yesterday that there are hundreds of bodies just piled up in heaps at the cemetary, nobody knows who they are, no documentation, and nobody will bury them.
doesnt get much more 3rd world than haiti (perhaps zimbabwe).
I said earlier, i'll say it again, unless we go to that country physically and rebuild it with our own handsmost of the money will be stolen and wasted as it always has been.
Which isnt a bad idea, send US contracters there, pay them with the aid and charity that has been given, at least we would know the job would get done and the money accounted for, or at least should be
I think I see what you're saying. When we see people in distress we go out of our way to bend over backward, but when it's in our own back yard, no...
I'm all for a good healthcare system that doesn't F over regular people who make minimum wage and get picked up by an ambulance and get a $2,000 bill in the mail because of the g-damn ambulance. Then there's the hospitals, who charge $10.50 for an aspirin; I mean, how much more unethical can you get than charging $10.50 for an aspirin?
I will point out, however, that it still does vary from state to state and that my state still maintains a good healthcare system, for now. But I don't like the $10.50 an aspirin thing and think it stinks of a rat. I also am conscience of when I "need" to actually go to a hospital. When I sprained my ankle 2 years ago, it hurt so damn bad and was the size of a football, but I wouldn't go because I was afraid of the bill.
Then my gf finally made me go because it was just horrible looking. Got around a $2K bill in the mail the next onth, for a 50cent plastic ankle piece, an x-ray, and some bullshit advice from the doctor about staying of of it. Crap.
I've gotten $16,000K bills in the mail when I was just out of being covered by my parents and it's not a fun thing. It's pretty scary. Thankfully people donated millions to the hospital I went to so I filled out an application and the majority of that was covered. God bless'em.
Word is - source being Fox news - Haitians don't like Wycleff Jean at all and think he is a greedy out-for-himself publicity whore who does not do much if anything at all for Haiti.
I think the USA with all the debt we have, needs to stop dishing out money. If they wanna dish out money, hand it out to the people here that need it first. You got people homeless and outta work, but yet they sending food, water, and money to another country? Is it just me, or does this not seem right? Don't get me wrong, what happened is horrible and they do need help, but what about the Americans suffering? Everyone just turns a blind eye to what's happening here. Everyone just figures the homeless are nothing but drunks who don't wanna work, and that's not always the case.
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