Nightingale 0 #51 October 13, 2005 The state department says we've gotten over 1 billion in foreign aid and supplies. Keep in mind that many other countries simply do not have the kind of money that the US has access to. We can't expect a foreign country to give more than it could afford, anymore than our government would give more than we could afford to aid them. Also, these figures are in American dollars. Many countries, like Cambodia, for example, do not have a strong exchange rate with the American dollar. Last I heard it was about 4270 riel. You can live pretty well in Cambodia for a couple hundred American dollars a month, so what they gave, from their perspective, is more than what we perceive it as, because a dollar goes a lot farther there than it does here. As an aside, the most recent figure I could find on the tsunami relief money we sent was about $350 million (Bush asked congress for 950 million more, but I can't find if that was approved). Including cash and oil, we got $500 million from kuwait for Katrina. We've gotten over a billion dollars total, which comes close to, if not matches, what we gave for the tsunami, if the 950 million was approved and sent. So, I guess you could say we've pretty much gotten our money back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #52 October 13, 2005 >Yeah, it maybe the "right thing to do", BUT, who helped us out?? >We maybe the "richest country" in the world but who does "right" by >us and returns the favor? I must say I'm getting a little sick of all the complaining about how magnanimous the US is. Sure, we gave Pakistan a few billion in aid. Meanwhile, all those ungrateful countries that we diss all the time are loaning us 1.63 BILLION DOLLARS A DAY, every day. Let me repeat that. All those countries that we like to complain about are supporting the US by loaning us 1.63 BILLION DOLLARS A DAY. That's over half a trillion dollars a year. That means that you, personally, are getting $2600 a year in loans from all those other 'leech' countries. If they stopped, if they called in their debts, the US economy would collapse instantly and completely. So I find the whole "we're so generous" thing annoying. We are riding on the backs of all those countries we complain about. We're getting the world's biggest mortgage and then spitting on the bankers that let us live the lifestyle we want to. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #53 October 13, 2005 Like I said, I wasn't attempting to sound ungrateful, but even at $1B +/-, it amounts to about 1% of the blown-up $200B+ that the press thinks it's going to cost to rebuild New Orleans, and the Gulf Coast (not including costs from Hurricane Rita either). Meanwhile, US private sector relief for the Tsunami victims topped $1B within a month. Typical US federal initial responses are in increments of $50M at a time until Congress approves spending measures. I've said nothing of expecting more from other countries, or receiving anything at all. I think their contributions are extremely important, and welcome.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vallerina 2 #54 October 13, 2005 Bill, you still win "Dz.commer that makes the most sense" award! There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReBirth 0 #55 October 13, 2005 QuoteBill, you still win "Dz.commer that makes the most sense" award! Isn't that the same as "Dz.commer that hates America the most" award? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vallerina 2 #56 October 13, 2005 QuoteQuoteBill, you still win "Dz.commer that makes the most sense" award! Isn't that the same as "Dz.commer that hates America the most" award? Sorry, but I can't keep up with how evil that Bill-guy is anymore. I'm too busy trying to steal his wife.There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #57 October 14, 2005 Most of the numbers I've seen haven't really included private donations for Katrina, except from one or two countries. Anyone got any numbers on this? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #58 October 14, 2005 QuoteQuoteBill, you still win "Dz.commer that makes the most sense" award! Isn't that the same as "Dz.commer that hates America the most" award? Are you suggesting it makes sense to hate America? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StevePhelps 0 #59 October 14, 2005 QuoteLet me repeat that. All those countries that we like to complain about are supporting the US by loaning us 1.63 BILLION DOLLARS A DAY. That's over half a trillion dollars a year. ... If they stopped, if they called in their debts, the US economy would collapse instantly and completely. Just curious, I wonder what would happen in the USA called in it's debts? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GTAVercetti 0 #60 October 14, 2005 QuoteQuoteLet me repeat that. All those countries that we like to complain about are supporting the US by loaning us 1.63 BILLION DOLLARS A DAY. That's over half a trillion dollars a year. ... If they stopped, if they called in their debts, the US economy would collapse instantly and completely. Just curious, I wonder what would happen in the USA called in it's debts? I was trying to find out how much debt we hold of OTHER countries, but I kept finding just info about OUR debt. I did find that Wikipedia has a pretty thorough page explaining how public debt works in the US: National DebtWhy yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReBirth 0 #61 October 14, 2005 QuoteQuoteQuoteBill, you still win "Dz.commer that makes the most sense" award! Isn't that the same as "Dz.commer that hates America the most" award? Are you suggesting it makes sense to hate America? Nope....just that when people start making sense and stating factual information, they usually get accused of hating America. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GTAVercetti 0 #62 October 14, 2005 QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteBill, you still win "Dz.commer that makes the most sense" award! Isn't that the same as "Dz.commer that hates America the most" award? Are you suggesting it makes sense to hate America? Nope....just that when people start making sense and stating factual information, they usually get accused of hating America. There shall be no questioning of the status quo. Get back in line monkey!Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #63 October 14, 2005 hehe, what I really liked was the line run during the election which went that if you did anything other than vote for the incumbent President then you were automatically an America hater who wanted Americans to die... simply because you were voting against the President. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,596 #64 October 14, 2005 Quotehehe, what I really liked was the line run during the election which went that if you did anything other than vote for the incumbent President then you were automatically an America hater who wanted Americans to die... simply because you were voting against the President. How dare you be disloyal to the Commander in Chief!! If this was the good old days we could shoot you for treasonDo you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IanHarrop 43 #65 October 14, 2005 QuoteQuoteLet me repeat that. All those countries that we like to complain about are supporting the US by loaning us 1.63 BILLION DOLLARS A DAY. That's over half a trillion dollars a year. ... If they stopped, if they called in their debts, the US economy would collapse instantly and completely. Just curious, I wonder what would happen in the USA called in it's debts? With the size of the US National debt, maybe it would be more interesting to wonder what would happen if the rest of the world came knocking on the door of the USA with a pay up now notice "Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #66 October 14, 2005 QuoteQuoteQuoteLet me repeat that. All those countries that we like to complain about are supporting the US by loaning us 1.63 BILLION DOLLARS A DAY. That's over half a trillion dollars a year. ... If they stopped, if they called in their debts, the US economy would collapse instantly and completely. Just curious, I wonder what would happen in the USA called in it's debts? With the size of the US National debt, maybe it would be more interesting to wonder what would happen if the rest of the world came knocking on the door of the USA with a pay up now notice Almost none of the debt is of the 'demand' variety. If you own a T-bill or government bond with a redemption date of 2008 on it you cannot simply bang on the fed's door and cash it in. The problem is that all that debt pays interest which is payed for by the taxpayer. The key for the individual is to divide the national debt by the number of taxpayers and compare that number with the government bonds that you own either directly or indirectly (pension funds, mutual funds etc.). If you owe more than you own it means that the national debt amounts to a transfer of wealth from you to those more wealthy than you. Same thing next year, and the year after, and the year after, and the,... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #67 October 14, 2005 >I wonder what would happen in the USA called in it's debts? They would call in theirs; after all, it's quick money. And since our current debt is around 8 trillion dollars, our economy would rapidly collapse. This would lead to the collapse of most other economies - which is why neither the US nor our lenders will do such a thing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StevePhelps 0 #68 October 14, 2005 kinda figured as much. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydyvr 0 #69 October 26, 2005 Quote. . . BTW...there's meaning behind my screen name. Think about it. Yea, the real meaning is -- people get to be anonymous here and that costs HH viewership and money. Have fun. . . =(_8^(1) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #70 October 26, 2005 QuoteQuote. . . BTW...there's meaning behind my screen name. Think about it. Yea, the real meaning is -- people get to be anonymous here and that costs HH viewership and money. Have fun. And I'm sure you get funny looks when people see "skydyvr" on your driver's license, birth certificate, etc....Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydyvr 0 #71 October 26, 2005 QuoteAnd I'm sure you get funny looks when people see "skydyvr" on your driver's license, birth certificate, etc.... When people see it on my license plate, I usually get a wink or a smile. Your point, if any? . . =(_8^(1) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReBirth 0 #72 October 26, 2005 Enough people here know who I am that I don't really care what anyone else thinks. And besides, I filled in my profile. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dorbie 0 #73 October 26, 2005 Quote So I find the whole "we're so generous" thing annoying. We are riding on the backs of all those countries we complain about. We're getting the world's biggest mortgage and then spitting on the bankers that let us live the lifestyle we want to. I'm gonna buy some t-bills just so I can tell all you yankies you're riding my coat tails as I kick back and enjoy the stability of the dollar and the nice interest rate you're all paying me. Just keep paying your taxes you coat tail riding slackers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #74 October 26, 2005 QuoteQuoteAnd I'm sure you get funny looks when people see "skydyvr" on your driver's license, birth certificate, etc.... When people see it on my license plate, I usually get a wink or a smile. Your point, if any? The point is that there have been people that have lost their jobs over vindictive "debate opponents", so I don't blame him at all for not filling in all of his personal info. I also thought it humorous that you were railing on him about a anonymous screen name when you have one, yourself... unless your parents named you "skydyvr"....Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GTAVercetti 0 #75 October 26, 2005 QuoteQuote. . . BTW...there's meaning behind my screen name. Think about it. Yea, the real meaning is -- people get to be anonymous here and that costs HH viewership and money. Have fun. Can I have that explained please? How does a screenname unreflective of your actual name cost viewership and money? Do you really think my name is Vercetti?Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
