[BXP Scrub]

The thing is, if you help someone in trouble they'll remember you when they're in more trouble.

I could understand if they had a natural disaster or something but i believe people should stick to their own bases instead of telling the others how to build theirs.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by BXP Scrub

The thing is, if you help someone in trouble they'll remember you when they're in more trouble.

I could understand if they had a natural disaster or something but i believe people should stick to their own bases instead of telling the others how to build theirs.

Well then don't just give them handouts, but say in Africa, you can help build infrastructure to create industries and agriculture so they can start sustaining themselves, instead of just scraping by.

[Travis]

Originally Posted by Thor

Since this argument is completely one sided

I was just going to say it.

Well, I would not see it as our lives being more important but it is a long process to help a country recover from whatever problems they are having. The way I see it, we can help other countries but we shouldn't right now so much.
It's like a poor person giving money to a homeless man. There is nothing wrong with it but ultimately, the poor person would be able to offer much more help and be more generous if he fixed his own financial issues first.

[Dutch OG]

Originally Posted by Thor

Since this argument is completely one sided, let me play the devil's hand. The United States and European countries have very developed infrastructures, nothing like what is in Africa. Here in the United States people fall on hard times, maybe have to sacrifice amenities, even go homeless, but you barely ever, extremely rarely have people starving to death, and you certainly don't have warlords ravaging the street (I'm not talking about Kony, there are more). In Africa and third world countries you don't have any infrastructure at all, and no ability to, they're stuck in the circle of poverty with no escape in sight. Does that mean we should let them die when we have the ability to help them, even if we are in a recession? Why do our lives matter more than others?

It's not that our lives matter more, but instead that we put ourselves first. I'm sure if the tables were turned they would put themselves first, as well.

Originally Posted by Chuck Testa

It's like a poor person giving money to a homeless man. There is nothing wrong with it but ultimately, the poor person would be able to offer much more help and be more generous if he fixed his own financial issues first.

Also, this.^

[Thor]

Comparing a poor man to the US and third world countries to homeless man is a gross over exaggeration. Try upper middle class (hell probably the 1%) giving a homeless person money.

GDP (nominal) per capita
Canada 50,436
United States 48,387
Ghana 1,529
Nigeria 1,490
Haiti 738
Zimbabwe 741

[maxpwns]

Our country shouldnt stop helping other countries, we founded the United Nations for a reason, because we wanted to stop future wars. Sure we had 3 major wars since then, but come on, think of how many wars there were between 1900-1945 throughout the globe. What we are doing seems meaningless to us Americans and the world, but if you look at the facts, they show, the UN has created more peace and helped developing countries control themselves.

As for out country, Jobs are an issue, but its an issue that can be fixed but nothings being done to do it. Obama has preached job creation, but ive barely seen any improvement. Since the recession, businesses havent gotten back on their feet, thus not stimulating the job market or the economy, Americans are lazy its a fact, we expect to much from our government nowadays. This new generation of americans expects everything to be served to them on a silver platter, and its ridiculous. The students coming out of college that expect jobs to be handed to them deserve to be turned away. You have to work to get a job, stop sitting outside of wall street complaining about it, you wont get anything because the government realizes how ridiculous it is. Secondly dont earn a degree with a 5% job placement and expect a sure job right out of college. I mean sure if you wanna live on the street with thousands of dollars in debt, ya pick that job, i mean engineers at my university have a 90% job placement rating, you dont see them complaining do you?

Health care is another stupid issue, the health care system we've had has always worked, so what we're gonna start shoveling more money that we dont have into better health equipment so that the elderly can stay alive even longer? I mean it sounds sick, but everyones gonna die eventually, stop trying to avoid it. And besides, we run a laissez faire economy, we dont enact socialist organizations for a reason, we believe you earn your right to pay for the best doctor in the country. I believe in Darwinism, and a lot of people out there believe it too, so why would you want this?

Homeless people are a result of no jobs, they could get jobs. I was listening to a radio broadcast the other night(cant remember who it was, it was on AM radio) but some guy called up and asked what to do, he didnt have a home and no job. So the guy on the radio said have you tried local fast food places? No, Have you tried local stores? Yes Have you tried going door to door to possibly do some landscaping? No. I mean how can you complain about not having a home when you try 1 out of 3 possible options? It's called effort

As for taxes i dont feel its necessary to tax the rich, but taxation is a problem no one will ever solve, theres just no right way, some ways work some ways dont and in both situations someone is always unhappy. There's honestly no solution so just keep it the same as its been

[Mets08123]

Well, if you are in trouble and need some help, don't you want the help?
Being selfish is something some countries cannot afford. Because what happens when they need help, if they didn't help anyone else out, why should others help them? A country can balance assistance within it's own country and assistance with others. There's nothing wrong with a helping hand. Now, that being said, there can be a point where a country could be helping too much and should mind their business.

[Tucker]

Originally Posted by Thor

Since this argument is completely one sided, let me play the devil's hand. The United States and European countries have very developed infrastructures, nothing like what is in Africa. Here in the United States people fall on hard times, maybe have to sacrifice amenities, even go homeless, but you barely ever, extremely rarely have people starving to death, and you certainly don't have warlords ravaging the street (I'm not talking about Kony, there are more). In Africa and third world countries you don't have any infrastructure at all, and no ability to, they're stuck in the circle of poverty with no escape in sight. Does that mean we should let them die when we have the ability to help them, even if we are in a recession? Why do our lives matter more than others?

Once again this will sound harsh but it is survival of the fittest and apart of evolution. You don't get to the top of the food chain by hand outs. I personally don't think we could truly ever help Africa or other third world countries.

Unless we plan to castrate every rapist and limit birth (I think this is the main problem for ineffective aid besides funding) the population will keep growing and our aid will keep becoming less effective whist we get further into debt.

I've donated to a third world charity before but personally, now, I think it's a lost cause. I would much rather fund cancer or alzheimer's research ect...

[Travis]

Originally Posted by Thor

Comparing a poor man to the US and third world countries to homeless man is a gross over exaggeration. Try upper middle class (hell probably the 1%) giving a homeless person money.

GDP (nominal) per capita
Canada 50,436
United States 48,387
Ghana 1,529
Nigeria 1,490
Haiti 738
Zimbabwe 741

I wasn't saying we are poor. I just didn't know how else to word it. Either way, we are still in financial trouble and when you are in financial trouble, donating money is generally not the first thing you do to fix it.

[Cody]

Well, if you want to look at this logically it's pretty dumb we're helping others right.
I'm not saying we shouldn't help others because as Americans that's what we do. But, we're setting ourselves up for a downfall. The poverty rate in America is ridiculous, how about focusing on fixing whats left of America then worry about others. This country has kids and adults that don't have a meal every night, a home to live in, or clothes to wear. How they got in that position is debatable, but we should help our fellow neighbor before others.

Remember how the Roman Empire collapsed? They rose into power, and started to spread themselves too thin, and that's what they did. History does repeat itself.