Asia may be a bigger threat then Iraq

LottomagicZ4941 · Post by **LottomagicZ4941** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 2:54 am

Asia may be a bigger threat then Iraq

We need to save the 40 hour work week.

It would be better for an American to lose his or her life to save the 40 hour work week then to losing his or her life freeing Iraq.

If they want freedom they should earn it like we did.

I am not donating nothing to the victims because my cause is saving the 40 hour work week.

Lotto

http://www.flalottomagic.net/cgi-local/ ... elcome-344

MagicZ4941A

polycarp · Post by **polycarp** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 4:17 am

Hello LottoMagic, Kindly educate me on how a little donation by you, to the unfortunate victims of the Asian Tsunami, can affect the 40 hour week in the US.

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 4:30 am

I agree that Asia may be a bigger threat than Iraq because it may be the final financial straw that breaks our back, and makes us vulnerable. ( Please see

"Youve got to be kidding me) Because I keep asking .... "WHERE ARE THE BILLIONS COMING FROM????????????? To spend there.. when we dont seem to have 5 cents here to spare.. to solve our own problems.

Its like a slow bleed.

None of our children should die in Iraq.

Yes Freedom should be earned.

It is humane, human,good and right to contribute to the tragedy in ASIA

what you can afford to give.

I do not understand the 40 hour work week connection

polycarp · Post by **polycarp** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 4:58 am

Hello Weeder, thanks for your intelligent response. America is the largest economy in the world and also the most powerful. I know most Americans are angry with the rest of the world because of the unappreciative nature of the world towards America's efforts to foster economic and political freedom in the world. First and foremost, I want you to know that America's efforts are appreciated, its just that the enemeis of america (who unfortunately see nothing American as good) have a louder voice that we who are appreciaters of America. Furthermore, I once came across a statisctics on how mush Americans spend a year on alcohol, tobacco and other despensable items. The amount (which unfortunately cannot recollect) was then greater than my nations overall budget. Nobody is saying americans should give more than they can comfortably afford, but take it from me, a few American Dollars could turn many things arround for the Helpless Tsunami victims. Unlike us in the developing world were devaluation makes it impossible for a person to make a reasonable donation to the Tsunami victims. For example, I have a masters degree and have one of the best jobs in my country but when you convert my wage to dollars, a waiter in your part of the world is far better-off. So in the final analysis, we are talking about only a little out of pocket Dollars, not an amount that will affect any person's comfort. Furthermore, donations could come in kind and not necessarily cash.

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 5:35 am

You cannott imagine how your referring to my response as intelligent boosts my confidence. Foolisly in my youth I paid no attention to world affairs, and so my knowledge is very limited. I am however getting quite a delayed education here, on this forum. I have always simply relied on my humanatarian outlook on life to get me through. In these troubled times, a much greater understanding is needed to be a voice at all. I have also said that money is not the only contribution to be made, and that in my simple way of thinking.. in is far more beneficial to give what you can afford, than to handicap yourself , in the event of future crisises. We do squander a lot of money here in the US because at our poorest.. we have so much more than so many others. But again there are so many things that the outside world do not realize. Just as I am begining to realize that I know so little of the plights of the people from other countries. Our teachers here often will moonlight as bartenders or waiters.. because our teachers are so under paid. Fg gave me a New Years resolution. I will begin to educate myself about world affairs, current events, and people from other places.

Because really.. there is no division of the human race. We have divided ourselves into countries, and states. When really we are all just part of this great big world called earth. What effects one of our lands effects us all in the big scheme of things. That is an enlightening thought to live with. It also is a frightening thought. We are all responsible for each other. I think we had better get some unity going here fast.

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 7:02 am

I'm not American but when it comes to looking at salaries and wages in reference to standard of living there is more to consider. Where I live there are city lots that cost $500 000 just for the property then add the house. This is not even one of the nicest areas to live in Vancouver. A $750 000 home can be found for $280 000 in Ontario. This is why my brothers moved back there.

On top of housing cost, food, cars, everyday items...the cost of these things is different in different areas. What I make in Vancouver barely gets me by but I might be fairly well off in Ontario with the same wage. Such big differences just within one country. When you try to compare outside of a country...There is more to look at than just a dollar amount. Not to say that North America is poor (that would be silly) but the wealth of the country is not evenly distributed. Also, we work til June or July just to pay our taxes. (I'm incorporated so I have to guess at this one.)

polycarp · Post by **polycarp** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 9:53 am

Hello Weeder and Coan, First and foremost I am happy by Weeders response and wish to say amen to it. For Coan, you gave a beautiful and convincing analysis, but did not distinctly specify whether you feel Americans should spare some Dollars as aid to the tsunami victims or otherwise? I know you are not an American but we only seek your humble opinion please.

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 1:52 pm

Charity is a muilt million euro business in Ireland. One never hears where all the money goes. And most of them are run by religious.

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 6:47 pm

polycarp wrote: Hello Weeder and Coan, First and foremost I am happy by Weeders response and wish to say amen to it. For Coan, you gave a beautiful and convincing analysis, but did not distinctly specify whether you feel Americans should spare some Dollars as aid to the tsunami victims or otherwise? I know you are not an American but we only seek your humble opinion please.

:wah: Thank you, I wish my opinion was always humble.

I am in agreement that one should give if one can spare. If giving means putting groceries on your credit card than you have given too much. Timing is so important with disasters, they need the help now, but timing is also important when you want to give. I might have extra money three months from now but there is no disaster, in the mean time, such is the life of a contractor that you never know where your next cheque is coming from or when they will feel like paying. Unfortunately I have no one to bail me out if I give and then find myself and my daughter needing.

polycarp · Post by **polycarp** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 5:34 am

Thanks Coan for sharing your opinion, I'm glad we're on the same side. The only thing is that may we all be in a position to spare some bucks whenever there is a genuine SOS message from anywhere.

Another issue I want to stress is that some people don't like giving to charities because they are not sure where the money goes. This makes sense because you never know with people. For example, we in the developing world recieve some aid packages from developed countries, but the truth is we don't know how or where our leaders channel the money. That gives a bad impression to donors, but in the case of the Asian Tsunami, there are quite a number of reputable internatioanal charity and AID organizations that one can channel his or her donations through.

LottomagicZ4941 · Post by **LottomagicZ4941** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 1:54 pm

I posted about not donating in frustration. I am sure the wife will insist that we donate:)

And I am sure many Asians would love a 40 hour work week.

polycarp · Post by **polycarp** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 9:23 am

Hello again, its good to see how the rich nations are responding to the plight of the tsunami victims and the affected countries. With the cancellation of debts owde by the the affected states as well as over 2 billion dollars pledges, I think the most pressing problems would be checked soon. I am equally impressed by the efforts of the United Nations whose role in the world was questionable hither to the Asian tsunami relief operation.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 10:51 am

posted by polycarp

With the cancellation of debts owde by the the affected states as well as over 2 billion dollars pledges,

They're not cancelling the debt only having a moratorium. It's ludicrous when countries pay more in debt interest that they receive in aid, what's the point.

polycarp · Post by **polycarp** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:14 am

Hello GMC, I am glad that you (a westerner) are talking like that. That is the problem we are facing in the developing countries, the debt burden is really weighing us down. For example my country owes her rich creditors about 32 Billion dollars while the original amount collected in the first place is not more than fifteen billion dollars. Worse still, the rapayment we've made over the years far exceeds the initial sum but it seems as if we've not started anything. It is really a yoke that we may carry forever (thanks to compound interest). But for the Tsunami affected countries, it is better than nothing. That is the irony of not being powerful you know.