May be he's using the money we didn't need to spend on our own recent and previous flood disasters because of all the aid that came generously flooding in (pun intended) from around the world ;)
This video is about poverty, but more focused on Africa etc, but still thought the first bit was relevant.
Bill Nye, Science Guy, Dispels Poverty Myths ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL4zoo8xijc#ws[/url])
0.8% of America's budget goes to foreign aid, and I would assume it is a similar story for us. Now I'm sorry, are we so focing tight that we would rather watch people die and suffer than give a little money? Yes, we need it here more blah blah blah - that's a load of tosh. What makes us better than these other people? What makes us deserve that 50" tele when others don't even deserve fresh water, a bed to sleep on, access to basic medications? What, because we were fortunate enough to be born in a wealthy country? We could have just as easily been a Chilean, and African, and Australian (sorry, had to get that last one in to try and keep it light hearted).
But yes, if you honestly think we can't afford to help those out in dire need. I mean truly dire, not "we can't afford to go to the pub" dire. If you think we shouldn't help, then you need your head pulling out your arse.
EDIT: I've just checked. Britain spends less than 0.6% of its budget on aid. Foc me, whatever will we do with all that money that's 'leaking out of our precious haven'. Foc me indeed. Un-focing-believable
Well said hightower. Many people who complain about international aid are those who also complain about migration from poor countries. Well if their countries had any money, if there were any opportunities, then they wouldn't be so desperate to get away.
We are like some rich middle ages family, living in a huge castle with all the starving hoards outside. We won't give them money for education or equipment to grow crops, and we object that they try to break into our grounds to take a share of what we have in abundance. We just spend our money on making the walls taller and stronger.
They say that travel broadens the mind, I think that some people have never been beyond Cleethorpes.
bear in mind our lovely country is bursting at the seams with excess cash mountains. NOT !!
So Hightower, Farjo and any others
It's xmas day the oversized turkey is about to come out of the over the spuds and sprouts are ready along with all the other belt busting delights of 1st world greed. WAY too much for your families needs but hey it's Christmas.
You look out of your front window and on the pavement outside is a homeless person sitting there cold and hungry.
Do you
a. Go out invite him in to bathe and sit down for a meal with you at the table
b. Take a meal out for him
As it is Christmas and that time for goodwill to all men
or
c. close the curtains and deny poverty exist in this fine country with an I'm alright Jack
In these situations I often wonder how many UK resident Chileans will be donating from their earnings and savings to help ChilleThere are selfish people in every country!
or how many filipino's sent donations over to philipeans
Surprising how many UK resident Africans keep their money in their pockets when Africa is starving.
So Hightower, Farjo and any othersOf course the answer is C. Naturally if someone was actually outside my window I would ask them in or at least take them some food, but every day of the year people starve and yet I spend money on luxuries. I never said I was perfect.
It's xmas day the oversized turkey is about to come out of the over the spuds and sprouts are ready along with all the other belt busting delights of 1st world greed. WAY too much for your families needs but hey it's Christmas.
You look out of your front window and on the pavement outside is a homeless person sitting there cold and hungry.
Do you
a. Go out invite him in to bathe and sit down for a meal with you at the table
b. Take a meal out for him
As it is Christmas and that time for goodwill to all men
or
c. close the curtains and deny poverty exist in this fine country with an I'm alright Jack
I'm a Christian
I'm not preaching, really.
QuoteI'm not preaching, really.
I rather think you are.
idiotic ignorant short sighted foccers like midden or answer their dumb straw man questions.
Now all we need is for iano to turn up ([url]http://foc-u.co.uk/Smileys/efocicon/lol.gif[/url])
I mentioned I was a Christian as it was relevant to the question at hand.
To call someone dumb
VNA stands for Very Nasty Andy...
Not sure I was giving the attitude of I'll help if he does or why help when they can't help themselves. But it seems to me that this country has been held under a dark cloud of guilt from centuries ago for the slave trade and empire building. Even by those who have benefited from those actionsSo Hightower, Farjo and any others
It's xmas day the oversized turkey is about to come out of the over the spuds and sprouts are ready along with all the other belt busting delights of 1st world greed. WAY too much for your families needs but hey it's Christmas.
You look out of your front window and on the pavement outside is a homeless person sitting there cold and hungry.
Do you
a. Go out invite him in to bathe and sit down for a meal with you at the table
b. Take a meal out for him
As it is Christmas and that time for goodwill to all men
or
c. close the curtains and deny poverty exist in this fine country with an I'm alright Jack
I'm a Christian, so I think you could guess my answer (and no, it's not counting the gold that we've just collected from the service!). I honestly would invite them in. We do a lot of work for the Church, and try to give as much as we can, especially in terms of time.
As for your point about "I wonder how many Chileans living in the UK would donate back" - so what if they do, so what if they don't?! There's too much of that attitude of "I'll help if he does" in this world - if we all thought like that we'd all be sat on our hands waiting for others to act (sound familiar?).
How many times have you seen (even youtube videos) people in trouble, in a city with many people around. How many times do people just watch and wait? It takes one brave person to do something and then suddenly he/she has a dozen helpers - where were those helpers before this brave guy stepped in? Watching, waiting.
I'm not preaching, really. But I believe God left us the ability to make Heaven on this earth. As long as we're looking down our noses at each other coming out with "why should I help when they can't help themselves" then we'll never experience love as it's meant to in this life.
I can't think of anything worse than being stuck in poverty, with no hope, no light at the end of the tunnel, no way out. And there's all these people with money who just stand and judge. Behind each and everyone is a heart, a person, a soul. And we just toss them to one side with things like "why should we help, we didn't have an earthquake". I sincerely pray that none of you ever have to experience poverty like some of these countries.
QuoteI'm a Christian
Oh Christ!QuoteI'm not preaching, really.
I rather think you are.
But seriously, you, I or anybody else does not need to justify ourselves to idiotic ignorant short sighted foccers like midden or answer their dumb straw man questions.
Foc em, yes Foc em,,all of them ,, and you lot too,,Foc U
Foc em, yes Foc em,,all of them ,, and you lot too,,Foc U
I was waiting for you to come along and bring us back to the mad house this forum is! That was far too serious for a minute, I thought it was all over for FOC-U. :lol
and he has a whale tank to fill. Oh no I don't suppose your water is metred.
I have to bathe in the kitchen sink with the plastic knife and forks ;)
and he has a whale tank to fill. Oh no I don't suppose your water is metred.
I have to bathe in the kitchen sink with the plastic knife and forks ;)
Haha,,quite the opposite,,funny the things you dont notice when looking around a property,,,the bath is smart,roll top.fancy legs,,buttttt,,when i had my first bath here,,,i could only just get in it,,it is only about 4 1/2 foot long,,cant straighten your legs when sat down,, :lol ,, a water saving bath,,oh and yes we are on a meter.. :eek
I did give a friend some pounds the other week, she has been on a visit to Tanzania,,,thats it for this year :)
But it seems to me that this country has been held under a dark cloud of guilt from centuries ago for the slave trade and empire building. Even by those who have benefited from those actions
I actually don't mind the aide being given and I do also think that's why in part we are greater than others.
Well perhaps we could start with some simple things;Everyone pays their fair share of tax has to include those one man builders window cleaners dole boys working on the side. They often get missed out of the argument in favour of the big corporations, as u just have. Remember it's the pennies which we need to look after not the pounds. But you won't have to worry about that come September ey?
Here at home make sure that everybody pays their fair share of tax. ie Lets make sure that those missing billions upon billions of tax that is not paid each year gets paid by the big tax dodging corporations.
Lets switch from 'free trade' to 'fair trade'. We need fair international trading standards working conditions that apply to all.
Lets stop dumping our subsidised excess produce in the third world, as it's wrecking their economies.
Stop tying AID to economic reforms that allow the west to exploit, asset strip, and utterly wreck third world economies.
The problem with our foreign policy, aside from the millions upon millions that have have lost their lives, and the many millions more that have been displaced and/or held in abject poverty, is that surprise surprise the world is becoming an ever increasingly dangerous place. We are reaping the harvest of the seeds we have sown in that respect.
Oh where to start.
Anyway hopefully after September the 18th this year, the UK can do as it bloody well pleases, with a little luck I'll no longer be part of it. Bye bye UK, and good riddance. :D
Everyone pays their fair share of tax has to include those one man builders window cleaners dole boys working on the side. They often get missed out of the argument in favour of the big corporations, as u just have. Remember it's the pennies which we need to look after not the pounds. But you won't have to worry about that come September ey?
Oh yes but of course it would seem that Scotland (who begged to be part of the UK originally) want their 'freedom back but want/need to keep the strength of the Pound sterling.
After all how will they be invited in to Europe with out it
Interesting questions ([url]http://foc-u.co.uk/Smileys/efocicon/smile.gif[/url]) Not sure what you mean by "they are the richest country on earth in real terms". They have the second biggest economy (to the USA) however there are a billion of them to share that money aruond, and given that some regions are richer than others it means that the other regions are still very very poor.
QuoteEveryone pays their fair share of tax has to include those one man builders window cleaners dole boys working on the side. They often get missed out of the argument in favour of the big corporations, as u just have. Remember it's the pennies which we need to look after not the pounds. But you won't have to worry about that come September ey?
I rather think you need to look after the pounds, the billions upon billions of missing pounds from the UK tax revenues. I'm afraid you ain't gonna pay off the deficit with pennies.
Equality can't exist by ignoring some but not all. Start with the small and work up After all that one man band probably doesn't contribute to the country to the extent those big corps do. In fact if percentages were calculated I'm sure the one man band takes more than gives. just a guessQuoteOh yes but of course it would seem that Scotland (who begged to be part of the UK originally) want their 'freedom back but want/need to keep the strength of the Pound sterling.
This will be the first time that people in Scotland will have been asked if they wish to be part of the UK.
Of course we want to keep the pound, it's as much our currency as it is England's, Wales or Northern Ireland's.
And in any case come a yes vote, Westminster will be suddenly keen on a currency union. Unless that is that England really wants to bite off it's nose to spite it's face.
Since it was a representitive of the Scottish people who asked William (who didn't ask the people for opinion) for the Union perhaps it's time the English were asked if they actually want Scotland in their gangQuoteAfter all how will they be invited in to Europe with out it
Scotland is already part of the EU. Which is another reason why many Scots will vote YES. If we stay with the UK we could be dragged out of Europe by the fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists doon south. Most people in Scotland want to remain in the EU.