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#105272 - 07/28/08 06:07 AM It takes all sorts...
Agnostic
Member


Registered: 06/28/03
Posts: 3257
Loc: Chennai, TN, India
Received in the mail from a Canadian buddy who naturally left Canada out of the joke...

A Worldwide survey was conducted by the UN. The only question asked was: "Would you please give your honest opinion about solutions to the food shortage in the rest of the world?"

The survey was a huge failure:

In Africa they didn't know what 'food' meant,
In India they didn't know what 'honest' meant,
In Europe they didn't know what 'shortage' meant,
In China they didn't know what 'opinion' meant,
In the Middle East they didn't know what 'solution' meant,
In South America they didn't know what 'please' meant,
And in the USA they didn't know what 'the rest of the world' meant.

Have a great week. \:\)
_________________________
Harry
-----
I believe marriage is a sacred institution between two unwilling teenagers.--Tina Fey.

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#105276 - 07/28/08 08:19 AM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: Agnostic]
BlankKeys
Member


Registered: 04/09/08
Posts: 884
Loc: New York
Sad but true. One of those things that almost makes you smile, but has you sadly shaking your head at the same time.

Thanks for sharing, Harry. Stay safe!

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#105283 - 07/28/08 09:17 AM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: Agnostic]
vernondi
Member


Registered: 08/11/01
Posts: 950
Loc: Hartland, Wisconsin
Quote:
And in the USA they didn't know what 'the rest of the world' meant.


Never mind the fact that the US sends millions of dollars every year to different parts of the world in order to feed and educate third world countries so they can become more self sufficient and stop starving to death.

Perhaps the word Canada should have replaced the word USA. And I certainly don't remember ANY other country or continent rushing to the aid of the US in times of crisis, especially those listed in that stupid "joke."

Yeah it was a joke, I get it, but it's a real crappy one considering the US has sent countless provisions and billions of dollars in monetary donations to every single placed mentioned in that so-called joke.
_________________________
Unborn babies are not an abomination. Abortion is an Obama-nation.

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#105285 - 07/28/08 09:31 AM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: vernondi]
bobbcat
Member


Registered: 03/27/03
Posts: 7187
Loc: My office.
Well said, vermondi.
_________________________
Bottom line, it's either M-TEC or Andrews.

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#105287 - 07/28/08 10:37 AM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: vernondi]
FarAwayDeb
Member


Registered: 03/15/02
Posts: 2956
Loc: just south of Rochester, NY
Maybe it was meant as a dig at Americans' poor knowledge of geography? I know I am certainly guilty of that.
_________________________
Good grammar ain't easy.

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#105288 - 07/28/08 10:51 AM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: FarAwayDeb]
tropsicleAfter
Member


Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 2725
Loc: Vicksburg, MS
It's true that our largess with foreign aid exceeds that of all other countries, but the concept of the Ugly American is equally true.
_________________________
tropsicle

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#105290 - 07/28/08 10:59 AM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: vernondi]
moaab
Member


Registered: 02/02/08
Posts: 480
Loc: Chicagoland
If we quit giving aid to other countries for the period of one year, I think that everyone would see how much the U.S. really does for those other countries in need. Of course, they wouldn't see it that way. They would just say we're being mean and greedy.

I'm not saying we should do that. It's just a hypothetical.
_________________________
Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.........Abraham Lincoln's mother

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#105292 - 07/28/08 11:16 AM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: moaab]
Magda
Member


Registered: 02/12/07
Posts: 114
Yes, our government gives large amounts of aid to other countries, as do our private citizens when there is a disaster or crisis in another country. Also, there are large numbers of American volunteers and aid workers in countries throughout the world.

That said, how many Americans could find some of those countries on a map? How many Americans can tell you, even in brief, the history of the humanitarian crises in Congo or Darfur or Haiti or human rights issues in Uzbekistan or Eritrea? How many Americans could name more than 10 leaders of foreign governments or another country's system of government? I am afraid that unless it accompanied by some interesting video footage or is a colossal disaster, most world news is not generally covered in depth by our MSM, which is really quite sad and should be just the opposite considering all the time they have to fill.

There are Americans who are well informed about international news, but they have to actively seek out that information.

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#105296 - 07/28/08 12:07 PM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: Agnostic]
fostermama
Member


Registered: 04/06/08
Posts: 964
Loc: Podunk
We give them money-but are they grateful?
No, they're spiteful and they're hateful
They don't respect us-so let's surprise them
We'll drop the big one and pulverize them . . .


Randy Newman
_________________________
Resistance is futile.
--Seven of Nine

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#105317 - 07/28/08 01:53 PM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: fostermama]
vernondi
Member


Registered: 08/11/01
Posts: 950
Loc: Hartland, Wisconsin
It's precisely why I have never and will never donate money to any world relief funds or organizations. I have only ever donated money to local charities and organizations (local meaning within the US).

I don't give my kids money if they don't intend on thanking me, appreciate it, or handle the money responsibly...why the heck would I give my money to someone halfway around the world who goes out of their way to proclaim their hatred and disgust towards the US as they have their pockets open screaming that they're entitled to handouts from the US, all the while misappropriating the funds and then begging for more because it's never enough, then pop out a few dozen more kids so we can watch them starve to death on national TV and feel bad and write them more checks and send them more funds, and then have them get pissed off because didn't send enough, and then start blowing up their own citizens on national TV so we can again feel bad and somehow guilty and responsible and then write even more checks and send more funds so they can pretend to rebuild their God forsaken craphole "cities" as they continue to kill their own citizens? Ain't gonna happen. Charity begins at home, my friends...and if we can't even take care of our own homeless, elderly, widowed, sick, and dying people and make sure our own babies are fed, clothed, and healthy, then we should NOT be worrying about the rest of the world.
_________________________
Unborn babies are not an abomination. Abortion is an Obama-nation.

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#105323 - 07/28/08 02:26 PM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: vernondi]
fostermama
Member


Registered: 04/06/08
Posts: 964
Loc: Podunk
IMO, even the organized charities in the U.S. are iffy, just by the nature of the beast. CEO salaries to be paid, mailers to go out, TV commercials.

When I donate money, it's pretty strictly in the community. I'm much more likely to give what I can to our food bank drive or my church toy drive or my local animal shelter than I am to fire off a check somewhere to somebody I've never even seen. You can't save the whole world.

I don't check off the box to give $3 to the presidential election fund either.
_________________________
Resistance is futile.
--Seven of Nine

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#105331 - 07/28/08 03:21 PM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: vernondi]
sheepshearinglady
Member


Registered: 03/26/04
Posts: 225
Loc: Nebraska
Compassion should extend to all humanity, whether they are in our country or not.
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#105355 - 07/28/08 07:51 PM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: sheepshearinglady]
BlankKeys
Member


Registered: 04/09/08
Posts: 884
Loc: New York
The piece wasn't exactly complimentary to any country, but gives a little insight at what is lacking in them. I guess you could read it two ways: 1) Americans are not great at world geography (heaven knows I'm not - it just wasn't emphasized when I was in school) or 2) That we Americans don't think there is any place or way to live other than ours that matters.

We all know this country gives a lot -- too much IMO -- to other countries in the guise of foreign aid. I do agree that charity begins at home, though, and we need to solve the many problems we have here before attempting to solve those of other countries. Still, an interesting and thought provoking piece to my mind.

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#105535 - 07/30/08 01:58 AM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: vernondi]
Agnostic
Member


Registered: 06/28/03
Posts: 3257
Loc: Chennai, TN, India
Originally Posted By: vernondi
Quote:
And in the USA they didn't know what 'the rest of the world' meant.


Never mind the fact that the US sends millions of dollars every year to different parts of the world in order to feed and educate third world countries so they can become more self sufficient and stop starving to death.

Perhaps the word Canada should have replaced the word USA. And I certainly don't remember ANY other country or continent rushing to the aid of the US in times of crisis, especially those listed in that stupid "joke."

Yeah it was a joke, I get it, but it's a real crappy one considering the US has sent countless provisions and billions of dollars in monetary donations to every single placed mentioned in that so-called joke.


Interesting web site--UK based, of course...

The US ranks 22nd among the world's most 22 developed nations...
_________________________
Harry
-----
I believe marriage is a sacred institution between two unwilling teenagers.--Tina Fey.

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#105604 - 07/30/08 04:34 PM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: Agnostic]
mtag
Member


Registered: 07/09/01
Posts: 1262
Loc: North AL
From the same article:

Quote:
Comparing USA aid to that of European countries is not in itself a simple task. The American people are actually no less generous than those of other developed countries. By comparing aid as a percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) you measure the amount of aid that is given by individuals. On this scale, Americans look angelic, giving twice as much as Britons or Canadians.
_________________________
Something I've learned: Any pan is a no-stick pan if you no cook in it.

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#105614 - 07/30/08 05:14 PM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: mtag]
tropsicleAfter
Member


Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 2725
Loc: Vicksburg, MS
Also, when comparing it as a percentage, one misses completely the total amount of foreign aid given.
_________________________
tropsicle

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#105620 - 07/30/08 05:46 PM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: tropsicleAfter]
14tonks
Member


Registered: 10/25/01
Posts: 7170
Loc: Only 3rd world country in US
Quote:
Also, when comparing it as a percentage, one misses completely the total amount of foreign aid given.


Quite true. However, if one looks only at total dollars, one misses the "widow's mite" aspect. It's perfectly valid to look at what percentage of their income someone gives away rather than just how many dollars they give when judging how generous they actually are.

I was also taught that the first rule of true generosity was that you give it away without strings, strings including the expectation of receiving someone's lifetime undying gratitude in return. Ego-boosting through philanthropy isn't exactly the same as generosity. The truly generous person is the one who is as happy or happier to make an anonymous donation as one with their name on it.

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#105624 - 07/30/08 06:01 PM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: 14tonks]
tropsicleAfter
Member


Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 2725
Loc: Vicksburg, MS
Granted, but I don't think a government's foreign aid, which is what I was talking about way up there, has ever been in that widow's mite category - not our government, for sure, and not other governments either.

It IS interesting to see how many of those countries that give more (as a percentage) than we do that also have some form of socialized medicine, and those that are thought of as much more social-domestic oriented.

Also interesting is that our foriegn aid over an approximately four-year period, which some, even here, have advocated eliminating, was only about the cost of the war for one month.
_________________________
tropsicle

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#105628 - 07/30/08 06:21 PM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: tropsicleAfter]
14tonks
Member


Registered: 10/25/01
Posts: 7170
Loc: Only 3rd world country in US
I agree that most governmental foreign aid has much more to do with politics than charity, which may explain why the results it gets from its recipients is not necessarily unalloyed gratitude. (Speaking of which, did anyone notice we totally torpedoed international trade negotiations this week because we felt our agribusinesses' gigantic profits needed much more protection than the marginal incomes of subsistence-level third world farmers?)

However, it is still valid to look at aid as a percentage of a nation's total wealth when calculating who is giving away "more."

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#105636 - 07/30/08 07:33 PM Re: It takes all sorts... [Re: 14tonks]
mtag
Member


Registered: 07/09/01
Posts: 1262
Loc: North AL
Torpedoed?

From the AP:

Quote:
The talks hit a snag over an obscure "safeguard" for protecting agricultural producers in the developing world from a sudden surge in imports or drop in commodity prices.

While farm import safeguards currently exist in rich and poor countries, they are rarely used and reflect only a minute portion of the billions of dollars in manufacturing, farm and services gains the WTO's Doha trade round was supposed to create.

"In the face of global food price crisis, it is ironic that the debate came down to how much and how fast could nations raise their barriers to imports of food," said U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab, who resisted attempts by China and India to ensure a loophole for developing countries allowing them to increase farm tariffs as part of an agreement.

Schwab called the measure "blatant protectionism."

and further down in the article: U.S. officials were bitter after agreeing under the deal to limit U.S. farm subsidies deemed to unfairly distort international trade to under $14.5 billion. Although it is still above actual payments to American farmers, it was a far lower level than Washington had ever accepted and seemed to gain the support of all 153 WTO members.

Some took the U.S. movement as an important step, noting that it came after a contentious five-year, $291 billion farm bill that maintained and even extended a number of U.S. subsidy programs. But others noted that offers were made without any congressional weight, citing President Bush's lack of a "fast track" authority to submit a trade deal to Congress for a yes-or-no vote.


And perhaps the news isn't all bad: from here

Quote:
In the U.S., Democrats have refused to renew President George W. Bush's fast-track trade negotiating authority, leaving the nation on the sidelines for bilateral deals. Congress won't approve pending deals with Colombia, South Korea and Panama.
(Don't want to hurt that 14% approval rating)

And regarding the percentage issue, if we give $1 billion and another country gives $100 million, yet they have the higher percentage, are they still "better?" Who is ultimately doing the most good?
_________________________
Something I've learned: Any pan is a no-stick pan if you no cook in it.

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