Am I wrong here.....

[oldksnarc]

Don't get me wrong. I'll be the first one to lend a helping hand. And, I don't have a problem with holding a concert to bring attention to the plight of the world's poor.

However, where the **** do these celebrities get off saying that 8 countries can solve the world's poverty problem.

First off, it's not the leaders of the G-8 who will foot the bill - it's the citizens of those countries that will do so through taxes.

Second, if this issue is so close to the hearts of the celebrities, where's their checkbook?

Third, of the $50 billion in foreign loans forgiven by the G-8 members, what percent of that was U.S. aid compared to that of the French and some of the others?

[fisherguy]

My MSN name for the past three days has been "Bono, please shut the heck up!" It is easy for rich musicians to say forgive debts, but do they understand global economics? There are national budgets, pension plans, investment plans etc. that all rely on these loans and interest payments. Cancelling all of Africa's debts is not just going to suddenly fix everything, it will creat major financial chaos. Also, it may sound harsh, but until people in these countries stop having 10 children that they can't feed giving away money will do nothing.

[stevebeilgard]

world wide welfare....

[johnf]

[ QUOTE ]
My MSN name for the past three days has been "Bono, please shut the heck up!" It is easy for rich musicians to say forgive debts, but do they understand global economics? There are national budgets, pension plans, investment plans etc. that all rely on these loans and interest payments. Cancelling all of Africa's debts is not just going to suddenly fix everything, it will creat major financial chaos. Also, it may sound harsh, but until people in these countries stop having 10 children that they can't feed giving away money will do nothing.

[/ QUOTE ]

Get ready for the rapture guys, it's comming soon. I can tell cause I've agreed with sluggo and fisherguy in the same month.

Two words: Selective sterilization.

[horst]

You know what kills me.All the commercials you see on Tv are of these starving african children or some desiese ridden African villages.What are we doing sending aid to people overseas when we got people in our own country sleeping in cardboard boxes and eating outta dumpsters.Must make people feel better to help out some 3rd world country and ignore the same problem in thier own back yard

[johnf]

My wife worked for 7 years for the Department of Human Services. There are programs for everyone here in the us. People on the street are there because they want to, because they are ignorant of the programs, or because they are too proud or lazy to walk into an office and ask for help.

I've got a friend that I went to HS that recently hurt his back and got on temporary dissability. After his disability check, they get their utilities paid, $517 in cash assistance and $550 a month in food stamps.

He's eating better now than I am.

My point. There is no reason for hunger in America, we are already doing enough here.

[horst]

John, Ive had dealings with the government assistance before.Did you know that some of the programs theres such a thing as not making enough money to qualify.Health cares one instance, my grandmas retired, gets a little tiny SS check every month and about 40$ worth of foodstamps.She had to go in for some sort of hospitalization a couple years ago.Her insurance didnt cover everything, she couldnt make up the difference with her meager income and when she applied for help they told her that her income was to low to qualify for it So whos it there for?

Theyre generous with foodstamps but they dont do you much good without housing.They got programs where the government pays out checks every month but the way theyre set up is a joke, and the checks not big enough to rent anything.

Theres low rent housing but again you gotta be able to pay the rent to get in, and you gotta have a permanent address to get a job.They kinda cancel each other out.

All these programs take time to qualify for, if youve lost everything you own times not a luxury a lotta people have.

It dont have anything to do with being lazy, or ignorant about the programs in some, actually probably a lotta cases.You start dealing with the state and its very screwed up system.Of course you got guys who also look down there noses at those in need of assistance and in the next breath thier talking about how the programs are some kinda great benefit.That kinda stuff also drives a lotta people away from it.

[fisherguy]

[ QUOTE ]
You know what kills me.All the commercials you see on Tv are of these starving african children or some desiese ridden African villages.What are we doing sending aid to people overseas when we got people in our own country sleeping in cardboard boxes and eating outta dumpsters.Must make people feel better to help out some 3rd world country and ignore the same problem in thier own back yard

[/ QUOTE ]
Don't get me started on that! This craze with people adopting foreign infants is driving me nuts! Do these people not realize how many children in their own country are on orphanages, or foster homes and such?

[TreeStandBowHunter]

[ QUOTE ]
You know what kills me.All the commercials you see on Tv are of these starving african children or some desiese ridden African villages.What are we doing sending aid to people overseas when we got people in our own country sleeping in cardboard boxes and eating outta dumpsters.Must make people feel better to help out some 3rd world country and ignore the same problem in thier own back yard

[/ QUOTE ]

Horst, I feel the same way and we will leave it at that

[Swamphunter]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You know what kills me.All the commercials you see on Tv are of these starving african children or some desiese ridden African villages.What are we doing sending aid to people overseas when we got people in our own country sleeping in cardboard boxes and eating outta dumpsters.Must make people feel better to help out some 3rd world country and ignore the same problem in thier own back yard

[/ QUOTE ]

Horst, I feel the same way and we will leave it at that

[/ QUOTE ]

Actors and actresses get much better publicity knowing that when they appear on the news, in another country (probably a vacation), with some less fortunate, they get better media response and coverage, and then the public talks more about it.

[wtnhunt]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You know what kills me.All the commercials you see on Tv are of these starving african children or some desiese ridden African villages.What are we doing sending aid to people overseas when we got people in our own country sleeping in cardboard boxes and eating outta dumpsters.Must make people feel better to help out some 3rd world country and ignore the same problem in thier own back yard

[/ QUOTE ]

Horst, I feel the same way and we will leave it at that

[/ QUOTE ]

Actors and actresses get much better publicity knowing that when they appear on the news, in another country (probably a vacation), with some less fortunate, they get better media response and coverage, and then the public talks more about it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ken is probably right on track here. All about what gets them the most attention.

[markyj987]

Even if the world could spend a ton of money to bring Africa into the 21st century, it wouldn't matter. With corrupt governments, dictatorships, and warlords running vast expanses of the continent, that money only benefits the wicked if you ask me.

horst, I understand exactly what you're saying about your grandmother's situation. Government programs are supposed to help people like her--and there might be more money for them if we weren't paying to educate illegal aliens, paying for their health care, paying for abortions, giving money to those who really ARE too lazy to work.

These people are the ones who make a well-intentioned system a joke. Unfortunately, though, your grandmother's a minority--most in the system from my observations do indeed abuse it.

[johnf]

[ QUOTE ]
Of course you got guys who also look down there noses at those in need of assistance and in the next breath thier talking about how the programs are some kinda great benefit.That kinda stuff also drives a lotta people away from it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't look down my nose at anyone who needs assistance, I just think it's vastly misused by people who don't need it. You did say something that I didn't think of. The state you live in does have a lot to do with the programs that you can qualify for.

Here in Arkansas your grandmother would qualify for state housing. Most towns here, even very small ones, have housing for the elderly that is based on income, even if it is $0 then she would still qualify. Most of the one's I've seen are very well maintained and close to the center of town, or provide transportation to places around town.

I think it's a shame that your grandmother is in this situation. It sounds to me like your state just doesn't offer as much assistance to the aging than Arkansas. A lot of things also depends on the indiviual case worker that she may have gotten when she applied. My wife's parents are both in their 80's so she has a soft spot for the elderly. When she got someone in her office she made sure that they applied for everything that she thought they would qualify for, and she made sure that thier paperwork was done correctly. Her clients on average got a lot more assistance than the people who went to the girl in the next office who had a different attitude toward the elderly. She didn't care, so her clients often ended up not get much if any assistance.

I know that's not the way it should be, but that's the way it is.

My advice would be to have her try agian, and see what's out there.

[stevebeilgard]

30 years ago, sally struthers (all in the family) made great pleading commercials about how for only 20 cents a day, we could feed a hungry child. i just wonder how many of these starving children were nurtured into good health.... and how many of those once kids are now the thugs who killed our soldiers in samalia. in fact, i haven't heard any of the millions of supposed saved souls sticking up for those who fed them...

[horst]

[ QUOTE ]

I don't look down my nose at anyone who needs assistance, I just think it's vastly misused by people who don't need it. You did say something that I didn't think of. The state you live in does have a lot to do with the programs that you can qualify for.

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Dont get me wrong John, I wasnt even refering to you with that, it was just a general observation about how most people act when discussing welfare.And I agree totally that theres a lotta people that abuse it.

I know a farmer here whos one of the bigger farmers in the area.He farms tons of land, has the latest fanciest equipment, and theyve got bin after bin of corn and beans.But hes in the farming game with his brothers, even though hes got 3/4 of million dollars worth of equipment in his yard its all leased and nothings in his name.The grounds all leased he farms or owned by the family, again nothing in his name.Hes sitting on hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of crops in those bins and drawing food stamps, medical for his whole family,on top of his farming subsidies.hes worth a lotta money, but on paper he can make it look like hes broke without really violating any laws the way its all set up.Hes effectively having all his bills payed by taxpayers and everything he makes off the farm goes for thier own personal use.

I also know people that have two or three kids, both parents work, one or the other holds down two jobs, and they still cant pay thier bills, they also dont qualify for assistance.Its a very screwed up system, those that know how to play it make out very well, and a lotta those that genuinely need it cant get it.

Talking about case workers weve got 2 for this half of the county, theyre so overloaded with people they know nothing about anyones actual situation and only go by what they have on paper.