October 7, 2008 at 9:01 pm

Dear Mr. Chris Scott,

In view of the recent American tax-payer bail-outs for wall street companies, CEOs, Senior Management and Boards of Directors compensation packages to the tune of 1.2 trillion dollars. The American tax-payer regrets to inform you that we will not be asking our candidates to commit any additional tax-payer funds to causes that does not directly improve the lives of the American middle class and lower income needs.

We the American peoiple therefore respectfully request you seek private donations from the top 5% wage earners of America to fund your worth while project.

We wish all the best and much success in your endeavors, going forward!

Sincerely,

John Q. Public

October 7, 2008 at 9:09 pm

I believe that major tax reform and election reform and progress in reframing the cultural wars wedge issues is needed to stabilize the economy.

As far as tax reform goes, I think a combination of Land Value Tax, Basic Income Guarantee and taxes on nonrenewable energy sources, as well as pollution and $peech. I also think a public mutual fund that is a combo of an index and “old style” hedge fund.

For election reform, my approach is to affirm the existence of two major parties and then incorporate proportional representation into our state legislative elections. This will provide for a host of local-state third parties to be a countervailing influence against the two main parties and K-street.

see more at “A New Kind of Third Party”. I think we need to tend our own garden so as to be able to truly end poverty globally.
dlw

October 7, 2008 at 9:29 pm

Food for Thought:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/161163

October 7, 2008 at 9:55 pm

I am not in favor of any more handouts with our money to anyone who is not a citizen of these United States. We have enough people here who are in need of help. My daughter in laws father has MS and was diagnosed many years ago. Yet he is not able to get help to fix his air conditioner to stay comfortable or put a new roof on his home in order to stop it from leaking. My sons are paying for over $35K in student loans for their college and no one is offering to pay for their tuition. There is a lot more that we can be doing here to help our LEGAL citizens.

October 8, 2008 at 8:50 am

I found your comment ofensive
even do I’m NOT a american citizen i,m been marry to a american for 29 years, suport this country and also i,m a veteran wife of 25 years also paid my taxes just like everybody else
so YES .im not a citizen and but you are not given me a dime

October 8, 2008 at 10:21 am

No one is saying that we should ignore our own people. Our healthcare system desperately needs to take care of all people. No one should lose their life savings or homes for illness.

It’s hard to compare a need for air conditioning or help with repayment of student loans when 3,000 children die everyday because of poverty. When innocents die because the wealthiest lack the will to act, it’s unforgivable, shameful.

October 8, 2008 at 10:40 am

Please keep in mind that the money we spend on global poverty-fighting programs totals less than 1% of the annual US budget, and it goes towards proven, cost-effective solutions including life-saving AIDS medicine to 3 million people, putting 41 million children in school across the developing world, and anti-malarial bed nets across Africa. This stuff makes a real impact, empowering the world’s poorest to build better lives.

It’s not an either/or proposition with helping those in need in the US, because it costs relatively little to do our part internationally. Yet that little we give is crucial.

October 8, 2008 at 11:57 am

As I see it we are in a position to help all those who need it. My personal philosophy is to help those who are unable, until they can help themselves. There will always be those in need.This includes those here in the USA as well as around the world. We cannot be a Leader Nation without the ability to help solve the problem of poverty. Our current financial woes are a glaring example of how funds can be generated for misaguided government bailouts and reckless wars, but let the children die. The United States of American has 6% of the worlds population, but consumes 25% of the worlds resourses. We, not our leaders alone must live with the seeds that we sow. I have three adopted children, I am a teacher and have tried to influence the life’s of those I work with. I am politically active and volunteer in my community. We donate food and money on a regular basis to local services.This is not to boast, but to demonstrate what the will of one family can do. Our ability to give does not have to be financial alone. The majority of government’s spending goes to weapons. We are wrong in that effort.

October 8, 2008 at 2:12 pm

Dear Senators,
Even through the financial crisis is keeping our minds focused domestically, we can’t lose track of those around us that have it even worse. We have the wealthiest people on the planet; the gas station attendant here earns more than most of the world. So we are going to be fine. What I’m trying to say is that it’s not ALL about America…as most of the debate questions and policies are focused. Our often isolated attitudes can be seen around the world and I hope that both of you are committed to changing that. People need our help and we can solve these problems with good planning, funding, and true global efforts with our allies. If it takes more of a domestic approach to explain it to Ameicans, think what truly unselfish objectives could do for our national security. We should be the leader on solving global poverty, pushing better initiates through the UN, and then following through. We need to set the example, and advertise our good intentioned initiatives to the world. But most importantly, there shouldn’t need to be anything in it for us other than lots of new friends. Greed is not good, and like a mountain that needs to be climbed, poverty needs to be alieviated just because it’s there.
Respectfully Yours,
Graham Rogers

October 8, 2008 at 2:46 pm

I really believe we need top think ‘ long-term ‘ in the goals of fighting global poverty. Charitable organizations have been providing much needed assistance for years, but, that kind of support does NOT solve the root cause. In fact it promotes false temporary help and prolongs the envitable agony.

While I understand that bridges are needed to gap the present situation to the future solution, the longer the world puts off igniting the solution the more suffering continues in the long run.

There are several fundamental issues at play in Africa:

1. Inability to sustain local food sources.

2. Growing threat of a lack of water for hydration and irrigation to grow crops.

3. Complex lack of infrastructure to promote econoimic and social progress.

Personally, I believe issue number 2 will become the dominant issue in the near future. The best way to help is for the United States and other tier 1 countries is to turn Africa into a green technology experiemental project and begin utilizing energy efficient technologies to understand how to turn unsustainable geographical regions into viableenvironments. We see this happening already in the Middle East. Where oil producing countries concerned that the need for alternative energy sources is a reality of the desert.

Doing activities that put Africans to work on de-salination plants to create sustaInable fresh water for drinking and crop irrigation will have a far greater effect that a couple of food air-drops. It will create jobs and give a sense of long-term hope for a better future.

Utilizing solar and wind energy to power dark villages will introduce modern technology where it was once in practical to facilitate. Empowering both children and adults to learn new ways of self-sufficiency. Imaqgine not having power for lighting, computors or any modern convenience for basic necessities. How is a culture, a people or a nation to evolve without it?

At the sametime, if we deliver green tecxhnology for Africa, imagine what it would do at home or exported abroad to other developing countries?

It is time to modernize organizations like the peace corps and other entities to undertake the missions of the 21st century, instead of using 20th century solutions to fix the probelms of the futrure.

My 2 cents…

October 8, 2008 at 3:16 pm

In last night’s debate, I heard a whole lot of tough talk on how to deal with terrorism. I wonder- How about compassionate diplomacy and international trade policies founded in justice? If we have to have a “WAR on Something,” how about a “War on Abject Poverty?” How about a “War against Odious Debt?” How about a “War on Curable, Preventable Diseases” that senselessly take the lives of millions of people every year? Tending to our moral obligation to the world’s poorest people is not only the right thing to do- it is a national security issue, an environmental issue, an economic issue, a health issue, an immigration issue that impacts and benefits us all.

Meeting our obligation to the world’s poor is not a matter of charity. It is a matter of justice. As Dr. King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” It is a matter of political will. It is a matter of putting the screws to the IMF and Workld Bank, and holding the G8 to the commitments already made to address extreme poverty and disease.

To find out how this WON’T cost the American tax payers $700 billion, read more at ONE.org, or JubileeUSA.org, or Worldvision.org, or many many other sites.

October 8, 2008 at 6:36 pm

We of course need to help people in need in our own country first. Can someone provide a record of how much aid is sent to us by other countries? Also, as far as helping people in our own country, I believe it should be reserved for those who truly need it…not those that are living off of the tax paying public in this country who just want to take further advantage of the socialistic policies that are created by some of our liberal politicians. Thank you for your time and attention.

October 8, 2008 at 8:08 pm

Keep Our Commitments

Even in tough economic times, we want to make sure the next president, no matter who that is, keeps his commitment to fighting global poverty.

The total spent on all poverty-fighting programs make up less than one percent of the entire U.S. budget, yet we are saving millions of lives and helping the world’s poorest people break free from crippling poverty. These efforts will be even more critical as the effects of any global economic slowdown are magnified in already struggling countries.

I just took action with ONE to tell my leaders to keep their promises to the world’s poor, and you can too, here:

http://www.one.org/keepourcommitments/?rc=koctaf

October 8, 2008 at 10:55 pm

To ask a cadidate if they will help fight poverty is throwing them a political softball. Of course a cadidate like McCain or Obama will state that they will help fight poverty. They’re just going to tell you what you want to hear. Do you really expect McCain or Obama to go on record stating that they don’t want to help the poor and hungry?!? Asking such a simplistic question only allows a politician to manipulate you with vague and empty promises. A better question will be to challenge the candidates on their stated economic or foreign policy platforms–particularly the ones that would undermine efforts to help the poor. Keep in mind, however, that the United States already does more to help the poor and hungry and disease affected of the world than any other country! We have very generous citizens and a very generous administration.

David Reid
Denver, CO

October 9, 2008 at 5:51 am

New Begining

Let’s hope that inspite
of all wrong we’ll do right\
and when our judgement takes flight
we’ll have a plan that’s so right
that from morning day will be night
with a day another win another fight
and a hopeful new begining in sight
towards the horizon something awaits
getting there will come to date
and all the hope will take shape
at the horizon a brightness escapes
to shine some light on our fate
before our hope falls and breaks
when problems are too much to take
so please for GOD and Heavens’ sake
let us not make the mistake
of achieving this new begining too late
let this hopeful day come to and make
a fire that will forever partake
and put hope for centuries in place
in every new day and new face
let’s pass the hope and embrace
a new start
and let others follow the trace

October 9, 2008 at 10:35 pm

Let’s fix Our problems first before we spend any money on other countries woes! Never was there a worse time for these One.org commercials and petition.

October 10, 2008 at 9:50 am

lol… we’re in this mess b/c we spent too much money on ourselves

October 10, 2008 at 12:52 pm

Those of you who state that we shouldn’t donate to lend a hand to those in need simply on the premise that we, the American people haven’t received anything is cold-hearted and close-minded. Furthermore, those of you who feel it is wrong to ask us to contribute to the aid of foreign countries due to our own “financial/economical hardships” I ask you this question. What exactly are they? You are under the impression that having a temporary lack of air conditioning, being in debt due to excessive loans are hardships? To whom? There are people out there that go days without food and water. There are children that waste away due to preventable disease and malnutrition right in front of their parents eyes because they don’t have the means to help them. Think about that those of you who are typing that you don’t want to give “handouts” to others because you have your own “problems” while you’re sitting in an air conditioned room in clean clothing, probably sipping on a nice cool glass of water. Have some compassion and realize how good you have it before you start spewing nonsense about your own hardships.

October 13, 2008 at 11:06 pm

Well hello my fellow Americans i think if we are ever going to get out of this mess they need to follow the constitution &the declaration of independence lets help our nation come out of poverty before we help any one else. We need to get rid of these corrupt officials that are supposed to be public servants and be for the people get the debate club to allow all presidential candidates to join not this unfair non democratic and against our founding foundation and this money problem should be resolved our currency should be issued by the people not the private reserve a private company they need to out law all these lobbyist i can keep going peace to the world and god bless America. P.S. WAKE UP AMERICA

October 15, 2008 at 5:07 pm

Ignorance is bliss and the two so called candidates ignore the 50 million illegals in this country, counting their childtren, and yet both make promises that there is absolutely no way they can keep. I am disabled and live on a fixed income that continues to decline in a real sense as the price of everything I buy continues to climb. Prostitue so called American corporations which contributed to creating this mess, such as Wal Mart, do not see their profits decline as the so called representative government of the United States continues to allow more and more of these only game in town corporations. It is way past time fot the idiots elected to the US Congress to stop kissing the rear of every corporation which hires illegal Mexicans and it is also time to put Americans first. Obama promises Americans tax cuts out of one side of his mouth while promises to legalize every Mexican who runs across the border before he is sworn in. McCain sold out to large US corporations years agao and tried to bum rush Teddy Kennedy when he thought their legalize every illegal who haws stolen an American job was going to pass. The situation and quality of the two candidates is enough to make you vomit. Apparently the illegal Mexican contributing to the blog do not understand that contrary to what they here from Bush, Kennedy, Obama, Reid, Pelosi, Durbin and McCain this is still a sovereign nation and like it or not it is time for them to leave!

October 15, 2008 at 6:19 pm

i know it is hard for the general public to focus on foreign development aid when we face so many problems here at home, from floods and hurricanes to a faltering economy. That is why i made a fuss about foreign development aid when we were doing better, a year ago., during the primary/caucus run-up in Iowa. I talked to every Democratic Presidential candidate who came to Iowa and one Republican candidate. They were all supportive and most were very knowledgable.

Now it occurs to me that many parts of foreign development aid are actually national security expenditures in the long run. So, let’s put it into the defense budget.

Thanks to the Jubilee Act, we can make our foreign aid dollars go farther and do more. Oversight and organization will help us stretch what we CAN give.

I have heard Joe Biden say we may not be able to reach the goal of doubling our foreign aid next year. That is actually a bitter pill for him to swallow and I admire him for talking about the elephant in the room. He is one of the best supporters of the Millennium Development Goals. We couldn’t wish for a better VP on that score. And Obama said, “The MDG are AMERICA’S goals.”

I was not able to talk to McCain, he didn’t come to my part of the state, but I know he was photographed with white ONE armbands at numerous stops.

I don’t think this is the time to push candidates on the MDG. They will do more with the issue after the election, and promises made while campaigning may backfire on them and on those of use who support the issue.

-McTwirly

October 15, 2008 at 7:18 pm

As Dr. Martin Luther King was advocating just before he was shot: it’s time for a Guaranteed Livable Income! There are movements advocating that idea now all over the world, including in Africa and North America:

http://www.livableincome.org/links.htm

It’s also time to adopt a proportional representation voting system, so that the least popular candidate can’t win because the opposition vote has been split among several better candidates.

Lastly, we need to reform the monetary system:
http://www.comer.org

All that, in addition to dealing with climate chaos, whether human-caused or natural!

October 16, 2008 at 8:17 am

While few people are very rich and some are comfortable with their lives, most are living in poverty. Perhaps, it’s not wrong to be rich or comfortable in life, but to have so much without sharing a small part of it with those who don’t have is.

While we may not be able to solve this socio-economic disparity, our government can at least seek the help of rich people towards improving the lives of poor peoples.

Now, the crumbling financial system is bringing us all down. But if we will work together, we can solve this problem.

Government policy should have to adapt to the demands of the time and help companies which are labor extensive in order to revitalize the economy.

Alternative energy sources should be pursued and implemented in order to unburden the country from fossil fuel dependence, and recycling must be encouraged.