Charity - Gift or Legacy

[Dr. Phil]

The terrible floods in Pakistan has once again brought home the hardships suffered by people subjected to what may be called an Act of God, in this case floods.

Pakistan has asked for overseas Aid which is required immediately; I also hear ex-president Clinton complains that the huge offers of Aid promised to Haiti after the earthquake by governments worldwide has not materialised.

Over past years levels of Aid have been off the scale with billions given to corrupt regimes in Afghanistan and elsewhere to effectively buy that which was never, and will never be, for sale.

We now see developing countries threatening to destroy their precious rain forests if the "west" do not pay them their "share" of "global wealth" ie billions of dollars annually in lieu of what they imagine they "would or could" have earned. They believe we want the rain forests more than they do and their mindset has been conditioned by tree-huggers worldwide that it is their right to exploit "their" rain forests and "we" must pay them to do the right thing.

As this era of silly money and unsecured loans ends are we saddled with an untenable legacy? And are we inevitably moving towards a less caring world?

And when a developing country spends billions of scarce dollars developing a nuclear bomb, instead of improving their infrastructure and helping their people, should developed countries give Aid during natural disasters?

Perhaps today, national leaders (not only Dynastic leaders like Zardari and Bush) sack their nations as a matter of course, having passed the responsibility for the welfare of their people to developed nations or foreign banks?

[$Pripps]

Until now I have always contributed with $$ every time there is a catastrophe however after listening to a BBC report from Haiti and how the aid money is being spent I think this time I will pass. There seems to be too many people lining their pockets so that people who actually need it never get it or just a small part.

I also agree with you Dr P that it is quite strange that some countries like India seem to afford nuclear weapons and sending up satellites but have more poor people than Africa.

[Kubes.SG]

Hey Doc. Don't you recall that the SG Govt announced they would become a philanthropy hub taking say 10-20 percent of donations to ensure the funds are honestly spent.
 

[working_mom]

I also agree with you Dr P that it is quite strange that some countries like India seem to afford nuclear weapons and sending up satellites but have more poor people than Africa.

When was the last time you donated $$ for a catastrophe in India. As for helping poor people, we are doing fine, Can do better sure but thank you, we can take care of our own mess. 

[working_mom]

As far as the money/aid to Pakistan goes....Well, all i can say is Americans are paying for their soilders to get killed in Afghanistan. Good going! 

[SA expat]

I also agree with you Dr P that it is quite strange that some countries like India seem to afford nuclear weapons and sending up satellites but have more poor people than Africa.

When was the last time you donated $$ for a catastrophe in India. As for helping poor people, we are doing fine, Can do better sure but thank you, we can take care of our own mess. 

I think this is one of the most ignorant posts I have heard so far Working Mum.  You (who are we?) have nothing and I mean nothing to do with how the money is spent so how can YOU say that 'WE are doing fine and take care of YOUR own mess'.  Be real, India takes in or did until recently 250 mill in aid and what did that do?  I sure as hell do not know where the money went and unless you are in the know you also do not know.   

[working_mom]

I think this is one of the most ignorant posts I have heard so far Working Mum.  You (who are we?) have nothing and I mean nothing to do with how the money is spent so how can YOU say that 'WE are doing fine and take care of YOUR own mess'.  Be real, India takes in or did until recently 250 mill in aid and what did that do?  I sure as hell do not know where the money went and unless you are in the know you also do not know.

India "was" taking aid and all of it was audited and corruption (yes there was). Again, I am not saying we (Indians) are perfect. The bureaucracy is mess in few states. But we have independent agencies auditing every penny govt spends and corruption is widely reported and acted on(unlike some of our well-known neighbours). Corrupt politicians are voted out. I come from a state where I have seen wonderful social schemes implemented. So, yes, I know where my money goes and I know it goes for a good cause.

As far as I can remember, India politely refused oustide aid when Tsunami stuck and offered aid instead for countries like Sri Lanka.  When there was earthquake in Gujarat (that was about 10 years back not sure though) the contribution by working Indians far exceeded expectations and the govt actually refused to accept any more donations. India has large vibrant middle class and mind you it is not restricted to cities. It has trickled down to small towns and villages. So again, if you think that "Your" aid is what makes India run then sorry to say you are the ignorant one here.

[JRG]

I believe in giving and I am a tight arse but giving blindly is what i do not do.

[SA expat]

I think this is one of the most ignorant posts I have heard so far Working Mum.  You (who are we?) have nothing and I mean nothing to do with how the money is spent so how can YOU say that 'WE are doing fine and take care of YOUR own mess'.  Be real, India takes in or did until recently 250 mill in aid and what did that do?  I sure as hell do not know where the money went and unless you are in the know you also do not know.

India "was" taking aid and all of it was audited and corruption (yes there was). Again, I am not saying we (Indians) are perfect. The bureaucracy is mess in few states. But we have independent agencies auditing every penny govt spends and corruption is widely reported and acted on(unlike some of our well-known neighbours). Corrupt politicians are voted out. I come from a state where I have seen wonderful social schemes implemented. So, yes, I know where my money goes and I know it goes for a good cause.

As far as I can remember, India politely refused oustide aid when Tsunami stuck and offered aid instead for countries like Sri Lanka.  When there was earthquake in Gujarat (that was about 10 years back not sure though) the contribution by working Indians far exceeded expectations and the govt actually refused to accept any more donations. India has large vibrant middle class and mind you it is not restricted to cities. It has trickled down to small towns and villages. So again, if you think that "Your" aid is what makes India run then sorry to say you are the ignorant one here.

Sorry I have never given money to India and will not.  I firmly believe that charity begins at home.  I give my time, rather than money, and do a vast amount of volunteer work helping others who need it - I refuse to give money that has to pass through so many corrupt hands before it reaches the people who actually need it. 

[working_mom]

Sorry I have never given money to India and will not.  I firmly believe that charity begins at home.  I give my time, rather than money, and do a vast amount of volunteer work helping others who need it - I refuse to give money that has to pass through so many corrupt hands before it reaches the people who actually need it.

Good! Then you should just bother about the work in your country and leave us to worry about our own mess. How do I put  ???Oh Yeah...Minding your own business 

[$Pripps]

I also agree with you Dr P that it is quite strange that some countries like India seem to afford nuclear weapons and sending up satellites but have more poor people than Africa.

When was the last time you donated $$ for a catastrophe in India. As for helping poor people, we are doing fine, Can do better sure but thank you, we can take care of our own mess. 

Yes exactly my point, I would never donate anything to India.

At the end of the day I agree with the other poster SA Expat that Charity begins at home.

[working_mom]

And the same reply I gave for SA expat holds for you as well

[redacted]

As far as the money/aid to Pakistan goes....Well, all i can say is Americans are paying for their soilders to get killed in Afghanistan. Good going! 

working mum,

Your comments on this post seem bigoted and highly misinformed.

There are a lot of aid agencies in India. Yes, even "Western" ones.

Please take a look at the link below, you might find it interesting.

http://www.usaid.gov/in/

[working_mom]

working mum,

Your comments on this post seem bigoted and highly misinformed.

Is it? how is Pakistan held accountable for all the aid that flows in. Almost all terrorist attack around the world has footprints leading to this country and you say I am bigotted  


http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/10/06/us_aid_to_pakistan_a_shell_game/

There are a lot of aid agencies in India. Yes, even "Western" ones.

Please take a look at the link below, you might find it interesting.

So? Perhaps you should read through their entire website before commenting.
http://www.usaid.gov/in/about_usaid/history.htm


As India became self-sufficient in food production and expanded its industrial capability and infrastructure, the need for U.S. assistance declined.
 
Yes, India needed charity once not anymore. Poverty was a legacy from the years British rule (Thank god they could not uproot the Taj and carry over to Britain for their queen...except that, they have taken almost everything precious  ). Now, India is self sufficient and is the 3rd largest economy in Asia. Yes, we are developing satelites, to ensure that millions of farmers have the latest weather report, to ensure that education reaches remote areas (This is to answer $$Pripps) and Yes, we have an active nuclear program. This is to counter threat from a country which has sworn 1000 years of war against India and whose nuclear weapons are in the danger of falling into war mongering mullah. What do you want India to do? Run to US for help? Sorry, Just as America looks after its own interests, India will do the same as well.

[redacted]

working mum,

Your comments on this post seem bigoted and highly misinformed.

Is it? how is Pakistan held accountable for all the aid that flows in. Almost all terrorist attack around the world has footprints leading to this country and you say I am bigotted  


http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/10/06/us_aid_to_pakistan_a_shell_game/

There are a lot of aid agencies in India. Yes, even "Western" ones.

Please take a look at the link below, you might find it interesting.

So? Perhaps you should read through their entire website before commenting.
http://www.usaid.gov/in/about_usaid/history.htm


As India became self-sufficient in food production and expanded its industrial capability and infrastructure, the need for U.S. assistance declined.
 
Yes, India needed charity once not anymore. Poverty was a legacy from the years British rule (Thank god they could not uproot the Taj and carry over to Britain for their queen...except that, they have taken almost everything precious  ). Now, India is self sufficient and is the 3rd largest economy in Asia. Yes, we are developing satelites, to ensure that millions of farmers have the latest weather report, to ensure that education reaches remote areas (This is to answer $$Pripps) and Yes, we have an active nuclear program. This is to counter threat from a country which has sworn 1000 years of war against India and whose nuclear weapons are in the danger of falling into war mongering mullah. What do you want India to do? Run to US for help? Sorry, Just as America looks after its own interests, India will do the same as well.

Bigoted - blindly and obstinately attached to some creed or opinion and intolerant toward
others.

I'm not about to get into an India vs Pakistan debate. Clearly you have your own view point and nobody is going to change that anytime soon.

Using op-ed pieces as fact is verging on Vulcan territory.

I read though it. Key word is declined. That doesn't mean stopped.

I'll give you a couple more links to see how "self-sufficient" India is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_India

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/09/world/asia/09food.html

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Prices-soar-61000-tonnes-of-foodgrain-rot/articleshow/6221436.cms

Satellites are also used for spying and war.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LA22Df01.html

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-01/india-developing-kill-vehicle-knock-enemy-satellites-out-sky

India had nuclear weapons before Pakistan right? You don't think that didn't play a part in Pakistan's race to acquire them. Is India a part of the NPT?

Just as India fears/hates Pakistan, Pakistan fears/hates India too. Pushing all the blame to one side is to simple.