Yes, America is that financially weak. Our government is indebted, and borrows from Communist and Arab countries to cover the debt to run our own current Federal government. And, as you know from current news, American’s aren’t financial savers (mainly because so many live paycheck-to-paycheck, but are also conspicuous consumers), and the U.S. labor and business market has been gutted and off-shored so much that the many “good paying” jobs are gone for good.

And so, what are you doing to help the poor in rural America, in inner-city urban America, in suburban America? Are you also lobbying your government to reduce the amount of monies poured into the Industrial Military Complex, and to have some of those funds re-diverted to keeping people alive in these poor foreign counties rather than killing them with U.S. bombs delivered by some of our our $2-billion+ apiece aircraft? Hmmm? Once you’d completely sustainably solved all of America’s humanitarian woes, then you can begin to help your foreign neighbors.

Oh, by the way, was the Christian thing to do electing a President (GWB) whose literally uses the word “crusade” in public speeches about Islamic fundamentalism?

For every $100 that you pay in taxes, less than 40 cents goes to foreign poverty assistance. That’s actually an excellent investment in our security and standing in the world. We don’t want young men to turn to violent fundamentalists because, besides hateful doctrine, they offer life-sustaining meals. We don’t want an epidemic to come to our shores because it ran unchecked abroad – disease is no respecter of borders. And speaking of our borders, wouldn’t you cross one if your child was in need? Effective aid makes it easier to maintain secure borders.

Christian BythegraceofGod, I’m gladdened by what you wrote about caring for those displaced by Hurricane Ike – and I feel certain that your church doesn’t turn out just when the weather is bad. But does God truly judge us as American and not-American? For those of Judeo-Christian faith, our obligations towards foreigners are clear – consider:

“He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.” Deuteronomy 10:18. And also Deuteronomy 14:28-29, 27:19, Jeremiah 22:16, Matthew 19:21, 25:35, Luke 18:22, to name a few.

I cannot believe the assertion that this nation is not rich enough to help both our own poor and those of the world.

Somewhat OT: As for what the government should and shouldn’t do, I speak as someone who has built a successful business from nothing – and by “successful” I mean that it gainfully employs around 20 people, NOT that it has made me rich by any stretch. You can believe me or not, or maybe you have your own experience, but in mine the government is simply not the biggest problem. (Insofar as it is a problem, the states are a *lot* harder to deal with than the federal gov’t). Providing health care is a MUCH bigger issue. If you want to help small businesses (heck, all businesses), please don’t push the responsibility for health care onto employers!