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I have stayed pretty much out of this for a little while, but HT that was just plain ridiculous. See the U.S disappear? Now tell me, what impact will having the U.S disappear as opposed to having Canada disappear? I like Canada and have no problems with them.. but honestly dude, some of those comments are a little assanine, no?Quote:
and as much as I'd love to see the US disappear...
I've kept my cool in dealing with HT's comments, but there is a time when it's just too much. It's every person's natural born right to hate whatever/whomever they choose, but there are forums of logic and maturity. I have yet to see a single post by HT that does not go to lengths to use every concievable situation to degrad the US and it's many fine citizens.
I hate to go this route, but I'm pretty aggitated. My only comment is that, "If the US is easily the most powerful economic, political, military, and civil rights leader in the world, yet comprised of nothing but detached, moronic, warmongering, yankee, fatass, ignorant, cowboys, what does that say about the country and the countrymen that you are kin to?
Every country/civilization has faults and successes, including you and your own. Grow up.
That is true about every nation, just like your post indicates.. but yeah. Anyways, I hope people don't think of me as an American loving facist or whatever. Quite the contrary, I'm rather EXTREMELY pissed off with our current government. Then again, Americans asked for it.. voting in Bush I mean.Quote:
Every country/civilization has faults and successes, including you and your own.
HT
So you mean to tell me that all year long all you give to: the united way, salvation army, catholic relief fund, red cross and other world wide releif organizations only comes to fifteen dollars and change? I highly doubt that of anybody in the nations of any of our members. i cant understand how you believe that the average citizen of the US gives less than four dollars.
I don’t know who compiled these figures but they can’t be based on any kind of real facts
Tedob > HTRegz got his statistics from Nationmaster (keeps forgetting to name his sources... tsk tsk).
thanks neg...HT, nevermind
Monday morning quarterbacking having not read much of this thread, so if I step on a few toes, please pardon my laziness:
My take on this is that there's entirely too much finger-pointing going on, perpetuated (as usual) by the media. Local governments are whining that Bush didn't mobilize the feds quick enough, the White House is firing back saying that Louisiana didn't have an adequate evacuation plan in place.
Frankly IMHO the whole effing thing is bogus with mistakes made on all sides. Just about the only person who seems to be acting with any authority is the Army Colonel now in charge. He's decisive, brooks no bullshit, and is getting the job done as he's paid to do. Kudos to him, shame on everyone else.
It seems that New Orleans at least has 'turned the corner' on this thing though - one of the levee breaks blocked and its pumps up and running, electrical power being restored to sections of the city, and the locals trying to 'pull themselves up by their bootstraps' are good indicators. I saw on Dateline NBC this evening where folks over on Royal street even threw their annual 'Decadence Day' parade today and held a mini-party New Orleans style. We need more stories on this 'never say die' attitude - people getting on with their lives despite the horrors around them.
On the up-side:
I've heard from my attorneys in New Orleans for the first time since the hurricaine and they're alive and well, as is the paralegal handling my case. It was she about whom I was most worried; she being elderly and having a husband who's infirm, and they lived in Slidell which is still completely underwater.
Also on the up-side:
Watch for this one guys, most especially those of you looking for work - in the not too distant future anyone who can swing a hammer, cut a semi-straight line, or has electrical, plumbing, construction, or computer experience will be in VERY high demand in areas effected. These won't be short-term jobs either, given the time estimations on rebuilding of 3 years or more. Pay will be quite lucrative to attract such workers, and will give a solid shot in the arm to the otherwise depressed economies of both Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as to those who come in to work these positions. I'm considering reviving my old computer business and registering the name with Louisiana...
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can't believe that people are attack the UN and other countries for not helping out.... The US may be high on the list of contributors for the Tsunami, but that was due to private donations. When you look at per capita, the US provided next to nothing in support.. 3.39/person.. compare that with the top 15
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1. Norway $57.71 per person
2. Australia $47.95 per person
3. Kuwait $42.81 per person
4. Qatar $28.96 per person
5. Netherlands $27.21 per person
6. Switzerland $21.08 per person
7. Denmark $20.24 per person
8. New Zealand $20.23 per person
9. Ireland $19.51 per person
10. Finland $16.86 per person
11. Sweden $16.04 per person
12. Canada $15.25 per person
13. Luxembourg $14.51 per person
14. Germany $12.99 per person
15. Austria $11.16 per person
Yea our per capita number is low, but I bet the people who were affected by the Tsunami sure appreciated $350 from our govrnment, plus the number of people helping out.Quote:
North America: United States: Disasters
View this page with sources or definitions listed for each statistic.
Tsunami - Economic impact: Not much of an effect as most US insurers have little exposure to Asia and those that do lay off risk to reinsurers, officials and industry watchers say (Dec 27)
Tsunami - Foreign tourists missing: 456 [6th of 37]
Tsunami - Foreigners death toll: 35 [4th of 35]
Tsunami - Funds pledged: $350,000,000 [4th of 38]
(per $ GDP): $29787.23 per $1 billion [29th of 36]
(per capita): $1.18 per person [24th of 37]
Tsunami - Funds pledged by NGOs and public: $653,000,000 [1st of 24]
(per $ GDP): $55574.46 per $1 billion [20th of 24]
(per capita): $2.20 per person [18th of 24]
Tsunami - International aid packages: $350m in government donations, plus military assistance involving 12,600 personnel, 21 ships, 14 cargo planes and more than 90 helicopters. Around $200m of private donations are also pouring in, with $120m donated to the US branches of the Red Cross, Oxfam and Save the Children, and to Catholic Relief Services. [0th of 37]
Tsunami - Total aid package: $1,003,000,000 [2nd of 37]
(per $ GDP): $85361.70 per $1 billion [27th of 36]
(per capita): $3.39 per person [23rd of 37]
Now I am sure the people affected appreciate the $66 million given by your government more so than any per capita figures thrown around.Quote:
North America: Canada: Disasters
View this page with sources or definitions listed for each statistic.
Tsunami - Foreign tourists missing: 13 [26th of 37]
Tsunami - Foreigners death toll: 4 [24th of 35]
Tsunami - Funds pledged: $344,960,000 [5th of 38]
(per $ GDP): $337204.30 per $1 billion [9th of 36]
(per capita): $10.51 per person [10th of 37]
Tsunami - Funds pledged by NGOs and public: $143,470,000 [6th of 24]
(per $ GDP): $140244.37 per $1 billion [13th of 24]
(per capita): $4.37 per person [12th of 24]
Tsunami - International aid packages: Given $66m in government donations, plus at least $29m raised in private donations with a government commitment to match every dollar donated by the public. Ottawa has already placed a moratorium on debt from the affected countries. It is also deploying its highly-specialised Disaster Assistance Response Team to Sri Lanka.
Tsunami - Total aid package: $500,450,000 [4th of 37]
(per $ GDP): $489198.43 per $1 billion [12th of 36]
(per capita): $15.25 per person [12th of 37]
So what does this all mean. Uhm, I guess there are governments and people around the world willing to help people in need.
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/...ot_aid_pac_cap
Sorry to hijack this thread, but we have seen figures thrown around that can be used by both sides of a debate(discussion).
In the immediate aftermath of a disaster like the tsunami, money is not that important.
What is required is immediate medical and logistical support because the entire infrastructure has been destroyed. Money is actually useless, because there is nothing to buy with it ;)
Money becomes important when it comes to reconstruction, and it is the guys who are in for the long haul who make the difference.
I honestly do not think that you can produce any really meaningful financial statistics this soon after the event.
:)
This is the first light hearted story regarding the disaster I've read so I thought I'd link to it.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4221838.stm
The UK has sent out 500k of British army emergency ration packs. These used to be quite nasty (apart from the chocolate) but now those refugee will be getting some good wholesome British traditional cooking like Chicken Tikka.
Aparently they're not bad. I've only eaten the old style rations and the big tinned ration packs which were quite good if you didn't look too hard.