Oh, it's this again.....

[dalegg 143]

U.S. support for AIDS work and food for regufees, among others withou basic clean water and sanitation I think is comendable and necessary regardless of whether or not the U.S. will benefit from it economically or politically down the line.

Even Bush wants $770 million for global food aid

Bus wants $770 million more for global food aid

We don't care about the size of your bank account, just the size of your heart; and we don't care where you are today, just where you dream you want to be tomorrow.

[Heracles 417]

Besides, if its a problem for us in terms of protecting our borders, then it IS our problem. Not to mention our benefit from the present day relationship we carry with those friend nations, and the greater benefit we'd enjoy as a region in being able to TRULY have free trade zones that benefit all member nations. Want progressive, forward-moving economics? Invest then.

Invest where, in Mexico? You are joking right. PH is is another one with these crazy ideas. Ideas which confuse legal and illegal immigration. The US's economy is being hit hard. This is the time when people should be saying time to go back home. Not debating how to give them amnesty again; considering it worked so well last time.

You have a nice office / lab job which is protected because you know that an illegal immigrant will never take it. What about everyone else in America who does not have a degree? What about the 45,000,000 Americans living in poverty? What about the African Americans living in ghettos without jobs? Shouldn't they also have an opportunity to progress. What about all of the illegal immigrants being exploited for a few dollars yet being made to work long hours without any healthcare, retirement fund, safety standards to work under etc..

You guys are not the first nor the only country to face illegal immigration. The only difference, a huge difference, between the US and everyone else is that they actually enforce the laws on all levels. Whereas cities like San Fransisco not only turn a blind eye but actually slap other Americans in the face by openly welcoming illegal immigrants to their city.

Edited May 2, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[Niels Bohr 72]

We worry too much about feeding our dogs, than to help people. If you goto their country, you'll see they have illegals, and see how they treat illegals. Not the same way we do.

We, as Americans, are very selfish. We want others to share, but, when we share, forget it!

[DeadPoolX 9]

I just had a "crazy idea" on how to deal with the illegal immigration problem. Here it is:

1. Since it seems a large number of illegal aliens come to the U.S. with the idea of having children here ("anchor babies"), I think we should repeal the law stating that any child born within the U.S. is automatically an American citizen. Yes, that might make it more difficult for some families who aren't illegal, but in the end, I'm sure this would decrease some of the overall incentive for foreign-born individuals to come here illegally and have children.

2. If an illegal alien is caught in the U.S. and wishes to remain (i.e. he or she doesn't want to get deported back to their home country), then they are automatically signed up for a tour of duty in the military and shipped off to Iraq. Provided they survive and they remained in "good standing" with their commanding officer, they will be given their green card upon returning to the United States. I figure if an illegal wants to be in the U.S. bad enough -- and they refuse to go through the arduous immigration process we all have to suffer through -- then fighting in our military (instead of an American citizen) would be a good way for them to earn their green card. None of this would be forced on them, however. They would always have the options of declining military service and being deported home.

[dalegg 143]

We worry too much about feeding our dogs, than to help people. If you goto their country, you'll see they have illegals, and see how they treat illegals. Not the same way we do.

We, as Americans, are very selfish. We want others to share, but, when we share, forget it!

When you say "their country", which country do you mean? Not all countries that have illegals treat illegals the same way, so which country should we examine?

We as Americans are very selfish??? This is a joke, right?

Most Charitable Nations

• 1. United States, 1.67 percent of GDP

• 2. United Kingdom, 0.73

• 3. Canada, 0.72

• 4. Australia, 0.69

• 5. South Africa, 0.64

• 6. Ireland, 0.47

• 7. Netherlands, 0.45

• 8. Singapore, 0.29

• 9. New Zealand, 0.29

• 10. Turkey, 0.23

Americans give record $295B to charity

America, the Most Charitable Nation in the World

* The American private citizens gave 1.78 billion dollars in relief when a terrible tsunami hit Asia. This giving was above and beyond what the United States Government gave in aid. Bringing relief to the suffering is in the very fabric of the American psyche. The Citizens of the US don't just give lip service to helping they reach out with their pocketbooks and with themselves in volunteerism. The very size of the dollars given dwarfs what any other developed nation could contribute.

* In a few short months after the devastating Asian tsunami a major earthquake hit Pakistan causing great devastation there. The American people stepped up and gave 78 million dollars to aid the suffering there.

You've been attending too many Reverand Wright sermons.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

We worry too much about feeding our dogs, than to help people. If you goto their country, you'll see they have illegals, and see how they treat illegals. Not the same way we do.

We, as Americans, are very selfish. We want others to share, but, when we share, forget it!

When you say "their country", which country do you mean? Not all countries that have illegals treat illegals the same way, so which country should we examine?

We as Americans are very selfish??? This is a joke, right?

Most Charitable Nations

• 1. United States, 1.67 percent of GDP

• 2. United Kingdom, 0.73

• 3. Canada, 0.72

• 4. Australia, 0.69

• 5. South Africa, 0.64

• 6. Ireland, 0.47

• 7. Netherlands, 0.45

• 8. Singapore, 0.29

• 9. New Zealand, 0.29

• 10. Turkey, 0.23

Americans give record $295B to charity

America, the Most Charitable Nation in the World

* The American private citizens gave 1.78 billion dollars in relief when a terrible tsunami hit Asia. This giving was above and beyond what the United States Government gave in aid. Bringing relief to the suffering is in the very fabric of the American psyche. The Citizens of the US don't just give lip service to helping they reach out with their pocketbooks and with themselves in volunteerism. The very size of the dollars given dwarfs what any other developed nation could contribute.

* In a few short months after the devastating Asian tsunami a major earthquake hit Pakistan causing great devastation there. The American people stepped up and gave 78 million dollars to aid the suffering there.

You've been attending too many Reverand Wright sermons.

And yet so many Americans' position on, say, a universal health care scheme is something like, "I don't want to pay for other people's health care."

I wouldn't say that "bringing relief to the suffering is in the very fabric of the American psyche." If it were, we wouldn't have disgraceful poverty levels.

There are lots of generous Americans, certainly. But we also have more philanthropy generally in the U.S. because the social safety net is so much weaker than in other developed nations. If you look at the major charities, they provide services that are provided by taxpayer-funded programs in other industrialized nations. Europeans don't have the same concept of an American charity hospital, for example. Food banks as we know them don't exist in Japan. Social supports are much stronger in pretty much all other developed nations, so charitable giving has a different focus in those countries.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Now, how is charity linked to illegal immigrations? I don't seem to understand the link. Everyone can give charitable donation.

You don't know. The US secretly bombed an independent nation during the Vietnam War killing several hundred thousand civilians. Don't justify it as it's for the greater cause. There are still undetonated bombs that are live within the country to today.

Illegal Immigration is a different story. Illegal Immigration isn't charity. Charity is understandable not selfish, but, oppressing nations for their own benefit is.

[Heracles 417]

The US secretly bombed an independent nation during the Vietnam War killing several hundred thousand civilians. Don't justify it as it's for the greater cause. There are still undetonated bombs that are live within the country to today.

Who was that?

[Heracles 417]

And yet so many Americans' position on, say, a universal health care scheme is something like, "I don't want to pay for other people's health care."

I wouldn't say that "bringing relief to the suffering is in the very fabric of the American psyche." If it were, we wouldn't have disgraceful poverty levels.

There are lots of generous Americans, certainly. But we also have more philanthropy generally in the U.S. because the social safety net is so much weaker than in other developed nations. If you look at the major charities, they provide services that are provided by taxpayer-funded programs in other industrialized nations. Europeans don't have the same concept of an American charity hospital, for example. Food banks as we know them don't exist in Japan. Social supports are much stronger in pretty much all other developed nations, so charitable giving has a different focus in those countries.

I do find it interesting that Americans donate so much abroad yet seem to have a real issue when it comes to helping their own. Whenever there is an African charity drive, Americans are there. But what about all of the African Americans living in poverty in your own country. Then it becomes a different story. This is not a republican or democrat thing either. Republicans feel they need to pull up their bootstraps and soldier on. Democrats talk a big game and seem to believe that protesting or demanding the government take care of the poor here is the way to go. Job done on their behalf per say; rather than them actually getting out in the community and doing something for their fellow citizens.

This is why nothing has changed in terms of crime and poverty over the past 30 years here.

Edited May 2, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[Sister Fracas 5]

You know BY, you DO criticize everyone for what you perceive they don't do well enough, or with misplaced intentions, etc. What is it exactly that YOU do to help people in need?

Edited May 2, 2008 by Sister Fracas

[Heracles 417]

You know BY, you DO criticize everyone for what you perceive they don't do well enough, or with misplaced intentions, etc. What is it exactly that YOU do to help people in need?

In America, nothing. I have grasped the 1960's, no war, liberal hippie way. Each to their own that is. And take lots of drugs yet claim to be smarter than everyone else. Freedom of Speech maaaaaaaaan!! Cowabunga dude!!!

Then as a resident, not a citizen, I probably don't have to help. You live here, I just s##t here..

PS We did donate a used car to charity which helps people with disabilities. It was auctioned off for about $3,200.

Edited May 2, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I wonder whether anyone is asking whether any of the current crop of presidential candidates is promising anything substantial in regard to immigration reform...

All well and good blaming the illegal immigrants, but surely as "personal responsibility" goes we should be blaming ourselves for electing and supporting people who aren't representing our interests.

[Heracles 417]

I wonder whether anyone is asking whether any of the current crop of presidential candidates is promising anything substantial in regard to immigration reform...

All well and good blaming the illegal immigrants, but surely as "personal responsibility" goes we should be blaming ourselves for electing and supporting people who aren't representing our interests.

You are spot on there #6, for a change. I don't blame the illegal immigrants for trying to come here. I blame the congress / federal government for turning a blind eye and basically sweeping the issue under the rug. The UK, for example, seems to review and strengthen their illegal immigration laws every year or so. Whereas here nothing is done until the problem reaches flash point. Then these same clowniticians come out pretending to save the day by proposing some reactive half baked solutions.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I wonder whether anyone is asking whether any of the current crop of presidential candidates is promising anything substantial in regard to immigration reform...

All well and good blaming the illegal immigrants, but surely as "personal responsibility" goes we should be blaming ourselves for electing and supporting people who aren't representing our interests.

You are spot on there #6, for a change. I don't blame the illegal immigrants for trying to come here. I blame the congress / federal government for turning a blind eye and basically sweeping the issue under the rug. The UK, for example, seems to review and strengthen their illegal immigration laws every year or so. Whereas here nothing is done until the problem reaches flash point. Then these same clowniticians come out pretending to save the day by proposing some reactive half baked solutions.

Aha "for a change". Nice backhanded compliment there

For clarification - UK illegal immigration policy is shite as well.

[Heracles 417]

For clarification - UK illegal immigration policy is shite as well.

At least they are trying. The UK does not seem to have 12,000,000 to 20,000,000 illegal immigrants roaming freely. Plus I saw how hard it is, even for a legal immigrant, to open accounts etc there..

Look at the recent fines and penalties they passed to address hiring illegal immigrants there.

Edited May 2, 2008 by Boo-Yah!