Your comments are offensive to all Americans! You have no idea what “A REAL AMERICAN IS”. Further, your twisting of facts to your own ends. Really, just shows you bias against the United States. More than likely to your own short comings? Regardless, I am not going to continue this debate with some adolescent that knows little about his own world let alone mine. With respect to my fellow Forum Member I aplogize for being a party to this farce………… 😮

Mmm, I see you have switched to sound arguments….

Look, I honestly don’t know why you are so upset. I have not said anything bad about Americans or the United States. I did point out some realities with respect to aid (development or humanitarian) in global perspective and I documented them. I’m sorry if that hurts your pride.

We compare nation’s defence spending in both absolute and relative terms. I don’t see why it should be any different for aid. When you do, the results are as indicated in previous posts.

That maybe true and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it was. The US of course gives Direct Goverment Aid and Private Charities also give a large share. Yet, that is only a tip of the iceberg. I’ll give you a few example of other forms of aid………….

Billions are sent directly overseas to family members in mainly third world countries. For example Detroit, Michigan has a large Arab population and many send money to the Middle East. Down here in Tampa, Florida we have a (very) large population from South America. They all send money directly to there families in there respect of Countries. Personally, I know many that send money on a weekly basis and I am not talking small change either. This hidden money supports many poor countries……..(How much does the Netherlands send per person overseas to family members?) This is all done on a very large scale………..

Another which some here have discount is the US Military. They provide Medical Care, Transportation, Reconstruction, Security, Temporary Housing, to name just a few…………….

How about debt relief! Many poor countries are given low interst loans and/or loan guarentees. Sometimes debts are forgiven altogether.

I agree these are also sources of assistance. However, why would one assume that for example the large populations in the Netherlands that are from Surinam and the Dutch Antilles in South America, Indonesia in Asia and various meditarranean countries (notably Morocco and Turkey) do not send substantial amounts of money back to friends and relatives back in their home countries. I would think it is much the same for the UK with a large populatoin from India and Pakistan and other part of the Commonwealth, or for France with populations from (North) Africa and Asia. Likewise, although the Dutch armed forces are small (a Navy of fewer than less than 20 major ships for example) they do also engage in the activities you mention. The Dutch military as well appreciated in international humanitarian contexts because of their organization and consensus building skills. Likewise debt relief, this too it not a uniquely US activity. Coming back to sending money privatley to originating developing world, this is done by the immigrants and their off spring. A valid case could be made that at least a portion of the money sent does not originate with by “real Americans” (i.e. comes from 1st generation immigrants, who are not yet greencarded or naturalized) and so does not quality as American generosity.

I’ve lived in the US for many years and know that the American people can be very generous. This has never been my point. I’m saying that the efforts of other countries shouldn’t be disregarded just because they are not as big as the US, just because their populations or national economies are smaller. Doing so is one of the reasons some accuse the US of arrogance (and sometimes ignorance e.g. of other people’s efforts). There are good reasons why one should look BOTH at absolute and relative measures.

I’ve taken my medication now …. :p

I mite add that the US gives more Aid to Humanitary Causes than all of Europe Combined.

Could you give a source of data supporting this statement if you have it?

Show us a dollar value. It doesn’t matter if $100 million is NINTY percent of someone’s GNP it still won’t do as much good as $110 million that happens to be 0.0001 percent of somebody else’s.

U asked for it….

I think you know both absolute and relative measures are needed for comparisons. Absolutes to reflect differences in SCALE and relatives to reflect differences in EFFORT.

Source: http://www.oecd.org/dac/stats/dac/dcrannex

Table 1: Table 1. DAC Members’ Net Official Development Assistance in 2003
ODA ODA/GNI
USD million (% )
current
Australia 1 219 (0,25)
Austria 505 (0,20)
Belgium 1 853 (0,60)
Canada 2 031 (0,24)
Denmark 1 748 (0,84)
Finland 558 (0,35)
France 7 253 (0,41)
Germany 6 784 (0,28)
Greece 362 (0,21)
Ireland 504 (0,39)
Italy 2 433 (0,17)
Japan 8 880 (0,20)
Luxembourg 194 (0,81)
Netherlands 3 981 (0,80)
New Zealand 165 (0,23)
Norway 2 042 (0,92)
Portugal 320 (0,22)
Spain 1 961 (0,23)
Sweden 2 400 (0,79)
Switzerland 1 299 (0,39)
United Kingdom 6 282 (0,34)
United States 16 254 (0,15)

TOTAL DAC 69 029 (0,25)

Average Country Effort (0,41)

Memo Items:
EC 7 173
EU countries combined 37 139 (0,35)
G7 countries 49 917 (0,21)
Non-G7 countries 19 112 (0,46)

Considering the Netherlands has only 16 million people and the USA about 296 million people, I think the Dutch 3981 million USD compares rather well with the US’s 16 254. $248 versus $55 per capita. Netherlands is 5th largest spender out of the list of 22 major spenders on development. Half the EC developmant aid is Dutch. Over 10% of the EU development aid is Dutch.

Check Table 35e for a comparison of economic indicators for the above countries.
Netherlands per capita GDP: 30 700 Growth: -0,9 Inflation: 3,0
United States per capita GDP: 37 700 Growth: 3,0 Inflation: 1,8

Table 28e tells you where these moneys go (regionel distribution)
Netherlands 2003
49,4% South of Sahara
15,2% South & Central Asia
10,2% Other Asia and Oceania (doubled from previous year)
7,3% Middle East and North Africa
7,6% Europe
10,3% Latin America and Caribbean (halved from previous year)

United States 2003
35,9% South of Sahara
14,4% South & Central Asia
7,4% Other Asia and Oceania
21,4% Middle East and North Africa
7,7% Europe
13,2% Latin America and Caribbean
(no major changes from previous year)

Why don’t you show us (with some REAL sources) how China puts forth more aid than the US. I don’t seem to recall the Chinese Navy coming to the aid of those effected by the tsunami.

18/5/2001
The Netherlands Ranks Fifth In The World As Aid Donor

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Netherlands was the world’s fifth largest development assistance donor last year. In relation to its national income the Netherlands was actually the world’s largest donor after Denmark. In 2000 the Netherlands spent 0.82% of its gross national product on development aid.

The country is one of only four that meet the UN aid target of 0.7 per cent of GNP – the others are all European – Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The average for developed countries is around 0.25 per cent.

http://www.europaworld.org/Issue35/thenetherlandsranksfifth18501.htm

the United States is still a long way from that goal, providing the smallest amount of development aid from the world’s 22 wealthy nations — approximately 15 cents per day per American, officials say, or less than $55 per person annually for aid to help the rest of the world.

“It’s the equivalent of going to Starbucks twice a month,”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10692-2005Jan14.html

in 2002, each person in the NETHERLANDS gave US$209 or 222 Euros
http://www.realityofaid.org/roareport.php?table=roa2004&id=85

In a simple word No, because of the whole Iran thing Congress under the Regan Adm. passed a law that excluded certain Weapon system including the F-14 to never be made avaible to Foreign Countrys.

RER

But selling F15s is ok… 😀