My thought may piss off some here

[thefloyd]

but I am tired of Cons talking about the genorosity of the American people. I am tired of all the patting each other on the back. I mean it should be expected the American people give money. Much is expected from people who are given much.

[Canuckistanian]

1. Freedom isn't free, as they say

That should apply to helping your neighbours as well as harming foreigners.

[BlueJac]

2. Well you see....

the rich neo-cons never pay for anything....they are just so use to the American public picking up the tab. :sarcasm:

[iamjoy]

3. I Agree With You, Sort Of

I think we should give, in fact, we should give more. But, it doesn't make me angry or tired to hear talk of American's generosity. It is positive reinforcement. It is like when your children do their homework, or house chores, etc. and you tell them what good children they are.

You could disagree with the idea of praising some one for doing their job, and that is OK. I don't agree with that philosophy, but I see your point.

[incapsulated]

4. They talk like this so *they* don't have to pay

Yes, they just LOVE the generosity of the American People. They would also love to have that generosity be the only source of help for their fellow Americans in need. That's what faith based government is all about. Caring for each other.

[jokerman93]

5. bingo n/t

[Solly Mack]

6. precisely

[thefloyd]

7. Good point

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. As a percentage of disposable income and wealth, Poor are most generous.

[thefloyd]

16. Oh yeah

I am not talking about the poor. I am talking about rich CONS

[Bernardo de La Paz]

19. I'm agreeing with you, and adding a supportive point.

[thefloyd]

20. Ok I was not sure

[Gyre]

9. Frankly I don't see why our tax dollars aren't used for this.

Why are the American people expected to give, give and give some more to cover up the bad or non-existent planning by FEMA?

Gyre

[thefloyd]

11. Those were my thoughts exactly

[RaleighNCDUer]

15. Because our tax dollars are already spoken for

by Halliburton.

[whatever4]

10. Yeah, but compared to those that were "supposed to help"

We're sterling, you know? In comparison, I think we deserve a little pat. Especially the locals, some folks with not much of their own, all pooling together to donate to churches. A lot of folks that gave didn't really have all that much. I saw one family on the news offering up shelter, though both are out of work, and only have a one-bedroom apartment.

Not to completely detract from your point. But to say, a lot of the effort that really made a difference came from people that didn't have to do a darn thing. They did a lot, for nothing, and saved lives. It's pretty heroic, when you think about it, the ones that went out of their way to provide food and water, even going so far as it deliver it themselves. One guy that used to live in the area loaded up his sailboat and brought it to them from shore. Something our own officials seemed to not have even thought of. Or placed priority on.

Whereas, I don't think anyone could pay me enough money to go there. For any reason, seriously, I just don't think I could handle it.

I don't mean to invalidate your point or argue with you, not really, but just to say, from my perspective, a lot of people gave who didn't have a lot to give, but did anyway, and a lot of them did it in a larger way than just writing a check. Many people went there themselves to save lives, and did save lives. So from my pov, just my opinion to be sure, many Americans weren't just generous, they were brave as well.

Know what gets me, the same way this gets you? What I couldn't stand, absolutely made me yell, was the president on tv standing there telling everyone to give, and even giving web sites. While this damned admin is too lazy, stupid or evil, or some combination, to muster even partial aid in a timely manner. HE has the nerve to tell us to donate money. What has he given? Has he donated 2 million dollars of his own money, like rapper JayZ did? Has he even paid any damned attention? Hell no, he brags about not watching the news, like any good royal monster, the little people and their issues are not his concern. He is not one of us, our feared leader. He's telling us to donate, when days and days worth of millions of donations haven't seems to speed things us one BIT and people are suffering, FEMA has turned it into a nightmare by his own hand, and the best solution is to donate more money? What a jerk, you know?

[FlaGranny]

12. You're not pissing me off.

I was just thinking last night that all the "heartwarming" stories showing up are sickening because what they do is make you feel good and forget all the suffering.

[Dora]

13. I agree. Our generosity as citizens is one thing, but

it in no way should be seen as compensation for our government's failure to stand by our fellow Americans in time of need.

[Xithras]

14. Erm, forced charity isn't.

We do give. It's called taxes, and helping people like the Katrina victims is one of the reasons we pay them. Paying those taxes is a social duty, and is the price we're expected to pay for living in such a wealthy society. We pay money to the government so the government can help people out in times of crisis.

When people make the personal sacrifice of contributing additional money ON TOP OF their societal duties, they are indeed being generous. I donated $200 that I didn't have to help these people out. My car registration is overdue RIGHT NOW, because the money I should have sent to the DMV will instead go to help clothe a homeless family.

I had no duty to give anything to these people, but I did it anyway because they needed it more than I did. That's a personal decision, and certainly isn't one that should be "expected" from everybody.

[tanyev]

17. It is irritating because they want to completely wash their hands

of any governmental responsibility in taking care of problems like this. Charitable donations should be in addition to the government's response, not in place of.

[Booster]

18. Does anyone have any thoughts on donating to organizations

that should be covered by either our Federal or State taxes, such as firefighters and police? I love and admire both, but my local sheriff's office called and was asking for a donation, which I usually give without question, but at the end of the phone conversation, the guy said "now, you do understand that this is not a tax deductible donation"? I got angry and asked him if my taxes pay for his department and he said yes. I told him "I paid $4,000 state taxes last year and now you want a donation that's not tax deductible. Take my name off of your list because I can't support your department all by myself" and he just said ok. Why in the Hell wouldn't a donation to any org that is paid by taxes be tax deductible - or was I just being scammed?

[tanyev]

21. Are you sure it was your local sheriff's office?

There's some organization out there, something Sheriff's Association, that does lots of unsolicited phone calling. I've never heard that they are a total scam, but I don't think any local law enforcement agency actually endorses them.

[mitchum]

22. You are correct...

there are a number of scams out there soliciting as law enforcement or fireman associations. These are FOR PROFIT enterprises.