>>>We went bankrupt decades ago propping up Europe and other failed socialist/fascist experiments. We made the mistake with our generosity/ naitivity and now we are living with the results. We gave away money and free education and technology to anyone who asked or stole it without some much as a thank you. To this day America gives more than any other 5 countries combined to any natural disaster or common defense situations.
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>>You are so misinformed. If you are refering to the marshal plan, this is not by all means something that got you bankrupt. It was in the US interest to do so.. A bankrupt europe was not in the interest of US manufacturers. It was a plan to get europe back upon its feet, be an US ally and trading partner.
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>>As for technology, the US profitted hugely from the events during an inmediately after the war. A lot of scientist moved to the US with their knowledge. The UK lost leading radar technology to the US in paying off debt.
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>>As for the US giving the most to any other 5 countries... There are a lot of countries that gave A LOT more to the tsunamie victims mearsure by citizen of that country. In fact the US contribution looks rather pale when measured by citizen: #19 (see
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/dis_fun_com_to_aid_percap-commited-tsunami-aid-per-capita). Also
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_eco_aid_don-economy-economic-aid-donor>>
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>We certainly wouldn't want to confuse anyone by providing this link:
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http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/dis_fun_com_to_aid-disasters-funds-commited-tsunami-aidYeah.. lets compare a 300million citizen country with a 16 million citizen country. Sure! Only two countries are needed to match up the total aid given by the US, not 5!. Again, you'd better check your facts before posting them.
>The majority of donations have always been individual private contributions in the U.S. and very often, they give directly to aid organizations of other countries which does not reflect in our country's totals. But then you know that of course :o) As for GNI, you also know that the U.S. counts income and product by corporations whose offices are in the country but whose labor is overseas. Try taking that amount out and see what you get.
And you think that would be any different from any other countries? If so, why ? Please get me any facts before you state something obviously biased. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanitarian_response_to_the_2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake. The dutch have given over $200M in private.
>For example, private donations from the US were 82% higher than state aid (that's the amount actually given, not pledged). Germany private donations reached 93% higher than their state aid. When you look at the total amount of private donations, countries whose citizens and companies gave more aid as a proportion of national income also gave more in the form of state aid. So while the US is lowest in terms of state aid, it is second lowest, behind only Japan, in terms of private giving.
Please list your source... Is this total or per citizen?
>The important thing to note here is that Americans made a concious choice and took money out of their pockets to donate. Most countries, however, had that decision made for them by the government and the individuals never saw the money and never missed it. They had no choice in the matter. In my mind, that makes Americans more generous in nature.
ehhh... where do you get that from? The dutch did everything up here to raise money for the tsunami victims. From Live shows on TV and radio to very small scale initiatives by the ordinary people. They did raise more than $200Million (out of a country of 16Million citizens). The situation in other european countries was similar. In my mind you are taking that typical american stance again, by not knowing what others did. In fact I regard your comments here as an ignorant and insulting.
>Anyone can twist the numbers to make it look however they want. I find it disheartening that while you constantly state that you like Americans and are friends with this country and it is a duty of friendship to give healthy criticism (which I agree with by the way), I don't recall EVER a comment by you complimenting this country on anything.
Then you did not read everything I wrote. I've state numerous times what I admire in your country. However arrogant false superiour feelings of americans is certainly not one of them. Luckely, most americans I know personally are very international oriented and they generally have a very different view.
>This whole discussion you keep having where you insult the U.S. is ridiculous. Many countries were extremely generous both in state aid and private donations and Netherlands was one of those. I don't see the point in your attempt to continuously insult this country and its people. No matter how much you claim to be a friend and have positive viewpoints on the U.S., I've never read one yet that I can recall. If you have have, it certainly is overshadowed by your years of complaining about this country.
To be honest, its the other way arround. I feel constantly insulted by arrogant americans who feel like they are superiour to everyone else, having no respect for other cultures and religions. They claim they are the most generous people on earth. Well tell that to the hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of people who lost family members in this stupid war in Iraq. Tell that to all the countries who dedicate a much higher percentage of their GNI to economic aid, charity and disaster aids. Tell that to the countries that you rely on, being there when the US asks for it. And then when I tell them that public health care IS working in their countries, they will find a way to tell you, you are lying or people dying on waitinglists or care is substandard while never, ever had real life experience with healthcare outside of the US. It really makes me sick and edgy. Your conservative rightwing message that you want to destroy whole heap of people by selection of religion and/or culture, triggered this. I feel emberrassed that our country did not speak up more during the Bush administration for its blind cowboy politics.
Sure the US is a beatiful country full of opportunity. People generally looking at the positive sides while europeans are chronic naggers. Its the country where you still can achieve the american dream, with a huge powerfull economy.
Here I said it.
