Give money to Haiti, not Japan.

[GoNative]

Ronin just get over the fact that people will donate to things they feel a connection to or believe in. None of us can save the world single handedly, we all choose causes and issues which mean something to us personally. Our choices go beyond simple issues of who needs it most. I"ve always had an interest in human rights but have only ever been really active in rights abuses in Tibet. I have always been an environmentalist but am not able to fight the good fight on every environmental issue on the planet. I choose those which mean the most to me. People will donate to the Japanese people because they feel a more personal connection with the disaster here possibly more than what they feel for disasters in other areas. If we donated to every possible cause out there we'd all be broke! Your point is a valid one from a certain viewpoint but it does not reflect the reality of why people will feel motivated to choose one issue over another.

[kouichisan]

Originally Posted by Ryzorian

I'll say it though. In the grand sceme of things in reguards to American national interests, helping Japan is worth more than helping Haiti. Japan is a valued military ally in the pacific and helps safeguard against China, is a large tradeing partner with the 3rd worlds largest economy with direct ties to the American economy........What's Haiti got?..............hmmmmmm..let's see.............Hmmmmm........Nothing.

Despite all that we still sent billions to Haiti and guess what they did with it?...........brought back Baby Doc. Meanwile thousands die cause nothing has been rebuilt or fixed the water system is destroyed the government non functional. Weeeeeeeeeeee...that's some seriously well spent money there.

Oh well, so if people are going to be so cynical, people should start thinking about themselves and let others die then... that sound better to you? of course not. So why should people be deprived of aid because of a few corrupt people?.

[Ryzorian]

If folks want to do that on thier own I hear you. Nations won't as a general rule because it's not profitable for them to do so. The US actually helps more poor nations world wide with food, medicine and essentials than the rest of the world combined. yet all we get is grief, so it can leave you jaded.

[kouichisan]

Originally Posted by Ryzorian

If folks want to do that on thier own I hear you. Nations won't as a general rule because it's not profitable for them to do so. The US actually helps more poor nations world wide with food, medicine and essentials than the rest of the world combined. yet all we get is grief, so it can leave you jaded.

Yes we cannot control what they decide, but we can decide who we want to help.

[Ronin4hire]

Originally Posted by Ryzorian

If folks want to do that on thier own I hear you. Nations won't as a general rule because it's not profitable for them to do so. The US actually helps more poor nations world wide with food, medicine and essentials than the rest of the world combined. yet all we get is grief, so it can leave you jaded.

Actually as a pecentage of its GNP, the USA helps the LEAST amongst developed nations.

With countries like Norway and Sweden helping the most.

(If I remember correctly it's 1% for Norway and Sweden, USA is actually on par with Japan if I remember correctly at 0.035%. Also figures might have changed since I last looked at them)

[Ronin4hire]

Originally Posted by GoNative

Ronin just get over the fact that people will donate to things they feel a connection to or believe in. None of us can save the world single handedly, we all choose causes and issues which mean something to us personally. Our choices go beyond simple issues of who needs it most. I"ve always had an interest in human rights but have only ever been really active in rights abuses in Tibet. I have always been an environmentalist but am not able to fight the good fight on every environmental issue on the planet. I choose those which mean the most to me. People will donate to the Japanese people because they feel a more personal connection with the disaster here possibly more than what they feel for disasters in other areas. If we donated to every possible cause out there we'd all be broke! Your point is a valid one from a certain viewpoint but it does not reflect the reality of why people will feel motivated to choose one issue over another.

Fair point...

I guess I've made my case... not much more I can do.

[Ryzorian]

Your just playing stats tricks Ronin, the US helps poor nations more than everyone else combined despite being .035%..because that's .035% of 15 trillion. What's Swedens GNP? I bet the US"s .035% is more than half thier GNP. Plus that's just the US government..not all the aid organizations that are based here.

[Ronin4hire]

Originally Posted by Ryzorian

Your just playing stats tricks Ronin, the US helps poor nations more than everyone else combined despite being .035%..because that's .035% of 15 trillion. What's Swedens GNP? I bet the US"s .035% is more than half thier GNP. Plus that's just the US government..not all the aid organizations that are based here.

It's not a stats trick. It's just to bring balance what you said.

[MMM]

Ask th countries receiving aid which "stat" they would prefer, and you have your answer.

[fluffy0000]

Originally Posted by Ryzorian

.., However, why help poor nations that lack any capability of doing anything with your help any way? No infrastructure, no roads, no government, basically grass huts in the desert.

Investing means picking a winner, that's what your doing reguardless of your intentions. Putting money and resources into an area that will make something of it in the future. Placeing money in area's were they wont do that, is just a waste of money.

Dude, you are aware that Haiti is in it's present day dilemma due to a number of past and present economic & political constraints imposed on Haiti from more advanced and developed economys since day one of it's independence?

Before withdrawing from Haiti in 1825, France had demanded reparations for the loss of its economic and human property of 150 million francs - about $21 billion in today's money.

Haiti had to pay France for the inconveniece of rising up from slavery to become a nation.

Haiti would not pay off this debt until 1947. As a result, the young country never really got on its feet.

Off and on the US has supported dictatorships in Haiti like Francois Duvalier and his notorious Tonton Macoutes. It's estimated the Tonton Macoutes were responsible for 30,000 deaths.
Jean-Claude Duvalier, a.k.a. Baby Doc. In 1972 he told "60 Minutes"' Mike Wallace, "The aim of my government is to increase the volume of foreign investment, and at the same time promote tourism."

And foreign investment did come to Haiti in the form of 'sweat shop' labor for foreign owned textile industry and tourism.