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I don't get it. Haiti is hugely in need right now, so people donate millions of dollars, and people complain about it. Quoting an acquaintance: "Why can't that money be raised to help the US instead of using my tax dollars?"
So, is she saying that HER money shouldn't go to help people in the US, but other people should donate freely? If people think charity is fine and dandy, then why do they have such a problem with taxes helping the needy? If they have a charitable spirit, why all the complaining when their tax dollars help other people?
She's probably not irritated at helping those in need, but irritated because we've got our pockets being looted here, yet nothing is done. Our tax dollars in the US are largely wasted. Not one program has been cut since Obama took office. I'd be shocked if any have been cut in 20 years. The government's fix for everything is to raise taxes, yet they wonder why we're in peril here.
THAT'S what's frustrating. We should absolutely be helping Haiti. We'd be able to do a hell of a lot more if our taxes weren't given to special interest groups for inane projects.
I don't get it. Haiti is hugely in need right now, so people donate millions of dollars, and people complain about it. Quoting an acquaintance: "Why can't that money be raised to help the US instead of using my tax dollars?"
So, is she saying that HER money shouldn't go to help people in the US, but other people should donate freely? If people think charity is fine and dandy, then why do they have such a problem with taxes helping the needy? If they have a charitable spirit, why all the complaining when their tax dollars help other people?
Voluntary versus forced.
Control and accountability over where the money goes verus bureaucratic effort.
I don't get it. Haiti is hugely in need right now, so people donate millions of dollars, and people complain about it. Quoting an acquaintance: "Why can't that money be raised to help the US instead of using my tax dollars?"
So, is she saying that HER money shouldn't go to help people in the US, but other people should donate freely? If people think charity is fine and dandy, then why do they have such a problem with taxes helping the needy? If they have a charitable spirit, why all the complaining when their tax dollars help other people?
My guess would be that many tax payers feel that tax dollars should be used to help US citizens first and always. That tax dollars are not some slush fund for our politicians to use for their personal charity missions. When you think about it that is exactly what we are seeing.
The US pledges 100 million for disaster relief. In other words Obama donated 100 million. He gets credit, a credit much higher than any politician deserves. After all it wasn't their money he gave away. It was ours. Its easy spending other peoples money.
That said I have no heart burn with the 100 million or even the hundreds of millions that it is costing the tax payers to have a carrier task force parked off the coast of Haiti.
My heart burn is with the complainers that we are not doing enough.
Voluntary versus forced.
Control and accountability over where the money goes verus bureaucratic effort.
I do somewhat understand that. It just seems like the same people who complain about taxes and spending would be the same ones who complained about a telethon raising a ton of money to give to the poor in this country. It would be a hand out. It would perpetuate the welfare cycle, would it not?
We're never going to do enough in some eyes. It's ridiculous. We donated $100 million before the ground stopped shaking and we're still going to be criticized.
Our government did a good thing in donating and sending aid. But what I'm more proud of is that so many people opened their wallets voluntarily. THAT'S charity. Using our tax money isn't charity.
I do somewhat understand that. It just seems like the same people who complain about taxes and spending would be the same ones who complained about a telethon raising a ton of money to give to the poor in this country. It would be a hand out. It would perpetuate the welfare cycle, would it not?
Many people that complain about taxes and spending are quite charitable. They complain that the government affords people a lifestyle through an inefficient and involuntary use of public funds. I also think that most are okay with giving help to those that really need it. The size of a government program and the desire for political gain allows for abuse of the efforts.
government needs to get out of the charity biz. the charity biz rapidly turns into the entitlement biz, too many people working it.
having said that yes a relief effort of temp assistance is appropriate and timely, mr obama has done that but lets not flog the charity givers with scathing criticism why not more why not faster why not better. its a voluntary program.
We're never going to do enough in some eyes. It's ridiculous. We donated $100 million before the ground stopped shaking and we're still going to be criticized.
Our government did a good thing in donating and sending aid. But what I'm more proud of is that so many people opened their wallets voluntarily. THAT'S charity. Using our tax money isn't charity.
I guess I don't understand the comparison between individual charitable donations to Haiti vs using tax dollars to help Americans. That seems to be the comparison my acquaintance was making, and it is apples and oranges to me.
Its because if you actually keep your money the govenrment doesnt trust you with it period and that is all you need to know. Government uses your money to keep themselves well paid, taken care of and generally keep the masses in line and the power in washington.
GOD forbid people actually get to choose what they spend their OWN money on.
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