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AUX
Entheogenist

Registered: 03/12/11
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Aid to Japan
#14142678 - 03/18/11 11:10 AM (13 years, 2 months ago) |
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To start this off, I have nothing against the Japanese. But it seems that every time a huge natural disaster happens in a country, the US starts a massive relief effort to help them out, encouraging our citizens to send our money and supplies to said country. A lot of that aid doesn't even go to the people it is intended for. It is a waste of resources and effort that could be better used elsewhere.
The Japan situation is no different. I have had at least 20 different organizations ask me for money since the earthquake / tsunami. One of the justifications for aid that I have seen a lot of is that Japan is in debt already. Guess what? We are in massive debt here as well! We owe trillions to the Chinese and the debt gets worse every day. There are starving, struggling people throughout America that we ignore because they have "equal opportunity" yet every time an earthquake or hurricane happens, we all blindly jump on the bandwagon to send <insert struggling country's name here> money! We need to solve our own problems before we tackle other people's problems. There are still people who are homeless from Katrina! What the fuck? The justice system is fucked. How about let's fix that instead? Or we can get my nephew some real food in his school cafeteria. Fuck the food, let's just get him some real education in his school! Let's end our unjust wars. More people die per month in the countries we occupy than die from natural disasters in the countries we attempt to help.
Look, I have no problem with sending aid to countries that need it. But let's get our own shit under control first before we start fishing bills out of our wallets.
Edited by AUX (03/18/11 11:12 AM)
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Jeffreylabowski
THE DUDE


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Re: Aid to Japan [Re: AUX]
#14142714 - 03/18/11 11:18 AM (13 years, 2 months ago) |
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Yeah as much as id like to help out.. With prices on EVERYTHING going up and my paycheck staying the same.. I have to take care of me & my family before I start mailing money to Japan. Its terrible to even think about enduring a natural disaster as bad as that. Not to be selfish, but any one of us in U.S. could be jobless anyday. Always expect the worst and hope for the best! Its reality.
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Astral_JL
Teonanácatl


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Re: Aid to Japan [Re: AUX]
#14142724 - 03/18/11 11:21 AM (13 years, 2 months ago) |
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Japanese citizens were one the biggest donators of money to the Hurricane Katrina effort. google it
-------------------- STFU and go eat some mushrooms
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Jeffreylabowski
THE DUDE


Registered: 02/28/11
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I get it. For me, i live in a big city..Cost of living per month is outrageous. I could pay bills... or donate money to Japan. Not much to consider. Before our economy went to shit.. I couldve afforded to donate $$.
Since Japanese citizens donated money for Katrina your saying we owe them?
Isnt that like giving a homeless guy a free sandwich then asking him for a dollar?
Im not trying to be a dick. I feel bad for all the people over there. Just making a statement.
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egodeathflux
Guttersnipe



Registered: 02/02/10
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When radiation starts drifting accross the Pacific and contaminating US soil, you may wish we had all helped a little more. Don't forget there are 50,000 US troops permenantly stationed in Japan still, you want them to be safe don't you? I think most of what the US is providing is mechanical/logistical support, let's not forget the knock-on effect to global economies, Japan is one the biggest trading partners the US has..
-------------------- "Atrophic interludes weave through my life far too often, for me to fight the biggest enemies" "Standing on the corner of 5th and Vermouth"
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AUX
Entheogenist

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What about Haiti? Did the Haitians donate a bunch of money to Hurricane Katrina victims? Like I said, I'm not against the Japanese. I'm against the American media sensationalizing headlines when we should be focusing on more important things. I hope other Americans with a bigger wallet and bigger heart than I help our Japanese brothers, but first they should extend their aid to other Americans who are trying to make a change and fix our nation for the better. As for those of us who don't have the money to do both, we should be helping on the home front first.
On the economy part, the CEOs and politicians who have disgusting amount of money and are pretty much in charge of the economy anyway should be making big donations to Japan instead of forming "non-profit" organizations that ask all of the ordinary people for money. It's the same shit on a different day. People in charge pretend to care so they can ask us to care with them.
Edited by AUX (03/18/11 11:53 AM)
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Jeffreylabowski
THE DUDE


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Like i said..I get it.. If I could afford to help i'd be the first in line.. But come april 1st and bills are due.. They arent going to pay themselves. Try running a business in this economy!! I feel bad being in a position where i can't help. I wish the best for everyone involved!
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migraineur
Geezer


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Many other countries do the same. If we all thought 'fuck it' and didn't give anything then many countries would be completely screwed during a crisis. It would be pretty sad if people stopped helping each other out.
Furthermore, due to American imperialism Japan hosts American bases such as the bass in Okinawa. There is heaps of Japanese resistance to the bases due to noise, pollution and crime and I don't think it would help America's cause if they abandoned the Japanese at this time. Japan is very important for American strategically because it can launch attacks in the Asia Pacific from the north against countries like North Korea and China (should this ever happen).
In addition to this, the Japanese manufacture a lot of important good such as memory chips, cars and other hi tech goods so if the world fails to help Japan get back on its feet then don't expect the prices of your gadgets to be going down in price any time soon.
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egodeathflux
Guttersnipe



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Re: Aid to Japan [Re: AUX]
#14142896 - 03/18/11 12:08 PM (13 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
AUX said: I'm against the American media sensationalizing headlines when we should be focusing on more important things.
For once the American media isn't sensationalising, this is on every news network in the world at the moment (except maybe Libya...). All western countries will be sending aid/support, stop feeling sorry for America. American problems are largely due to American domestic and foreign policy. Just cos Wall Street and the government fucked you guys, doesn't mean other innocent human beings deserve to suffer.
-------------------- "Atrophic interludes weave through my life far too often, for me to fight the biggest enemies" "Standing on the corner of 5th and Vermouth"
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Jeffreylabowski
THE DUDE


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I dont think anyone on here said they wanted the people in Japan to suffer (more than they already have). I have donated to all different types of disasters in the past (katrina,9/11,etc etc). I was in new orleans and helped with rebuilding the city... If i could drive to Japan and help out I would. But sending out money that i dont have is not an option.
Ego- What have you done to help?
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egodeathflux
Guttersnipe



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I'm as poor as you and also have no way of getting to Japan... I give several hundred dollars to charity every Christmas and always put change in charity boxes.
This isn't about me and what I do, it's about accepting that no matter where people are in the world they deserve help just as much as anyone else. I lived in the States for 6 years and have a lot of close friends there, I'm by no means anti-American (at least not the people). Japan has some of the best search and rescue teams in the world, they specialise in natural disasters, I have no doubt that when the super-volcano blows or San Fran drops into the sea that they will be there helping the Americans.
-------------------- "Atrophic interludes weave through my life far too often, for me to fight the biggest enemies" "Standing on the corner of 5th and Vermouth"
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AUX
Entheogenist

Registered: 03/12/11
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Ego, it seems to me like you aren't comprehending this. You just pretty much said what I'm saying in an attempt to flame me, except you took one sentence out of context to try to make me look like an asshole. I'm not saying the Japanese should suffer. I am saying that in a month or two, if not sooner, this earthquake / tsunami won't be on headlines anymore. It will be some stupid shit about how 11 kids overdosed on 2C-E because they didn't research their research chemical, and how this evil chemical should be banned. Our wallets will be that much lighter and we still won't be any closer to fixing our fucked up policies. They won't be mentioned. If you have enough money to help improve America — consequently improving the world by starting a trend of progress — AND send money to Japan, by all means do it. But when I have money that I can send somewhere as aid, it is going to go to fixing policies or furthering a M.A.P.S. campaign.
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egodeathflux
Guttersnipe



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Re: Aid to Japan [Re: AUX]
#14143084 - 03/18/11 12:57 PM (13 years, 2 months ago) |
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Trying to flame you, really?? I didn't say anyone wanted the Japanese to suffer, where are you getting that from? I'm tired of this conversation. Americans are better: fuck the rest of the world. Don't know why I thought I'd talk you out of your national pastime, fucking the rest of the world.
Whatever, I obviously "don't get it". You are aware that a budget is set aside for foreign aid? I suppose you'd like to protest that? America's insular view of the world is hilarious. The richest country on Earth can't send aid? Wow. You are right, plenty of people deserving help in the States, not disputing that. If Japan had oil you'd change your tune no doubt. Imperialist.
-------------------- "Atrophic interludes weave through my life far too often, for me to fight the biggest enemies" "Standing on the corner of 5th and Vermouth"
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zappaisgod
horrid asshole


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The lot of youse.
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AUX
Entheogenist

Registered: 03/12/11
Posts: 661
Last seen: 11 years, 4 months
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Quote:
Just cos Wall Street and the government fucked you guys, doesn't mean other innocent human beings deserve to suffer.
You're right, you didn't say that I wanted human beings wanted to suffer. I obviously said they deserve to suffer, didn't I?
The richest country on the Earth is China. America owes a tremendous amount of debt to China, so I don't know where this "richest country on Earth" bullshit is coming from.
We have a budget set aside for foreign aid. So lets use that and stop asking our citizens to send money.
As for oil, I say fuck oil altogether. We have the means to live oil free but it is not profitable for the people in charge.
Quote:
Americans are better: fuck the rest of the world. Don't know why I thought I'd talk you out of your national pastime, fucking the rest of the world.
Good for you. You can generalize a whole population based on the policies of its government. Keep assuming things and I'll keep laughing at you.
Edit: Hahaha you don't get it.
Edited by AUX (03/18/11 02:17 PM)
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Quote:
egodeathflux said: Trying to flame you, really?? I didn't say anyone wanted the Japanese to suffer, where are you getting that from? I'm tired of this conversation. Americans are better: fuck the rest of the world. Don't know why I thought I'd talk you out of your national pastime, fucking the rest of the world.
Whatever, I obviously "don't get it". You are aware that a budget is set aside for foreign aid? I suppose you'd like to protest that? America's insular view of the world is hilarious. The richest country on Earth can't send aid? Wow. You are right, plenty of people deserving help in the States, not disputing that. If Japan had oil you'd change your tune no doubt. Imperialist.
Why should we send aid to Japan, they don't have any oil.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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zappaisgod
horrid asshole


Registered: 02/11/04
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Who you calling we, no tax paying kemosabe?
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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I pay sales tax when I shop out of state. (It could happen)
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Zaxol
Stranger

Registered: 02/25/11
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Quote:
egodeathflux said: When radiation starts drifting accross the Pacific and contaminating US soil, you may wish we had all helped a little more.
From what I've been reading it seems unlikely that the radiation will impact the United States much at all even at high levels.
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