October 16, 2008 at 12:21 am

Subjugation for the purpose of taxation for relief of the oppressed leads to a nation of depressed and could may possibly result in mass civil disobedience and strife amongst the populace resultant in a breakdown of the government due to civil war. Civil war would destroy our economy. What does One.org think will happen here in America if our taxes get raised to support ideology contrary to that of the American people or if more of our funding gets socialized?

One.org is supporting policies that will harm it’s own ability to reduce global poverty in the long term.

Are there not better ways to address global poverty than to give my money to the UN?

October 16, 2008 at 1:04 am

Good for you in standing up to fight poverty. I just joined online and hope it’ll make a difference. I was in Jamaica last week and as an American I enjoyed all the amenities of a 4 star hotel. But I couldn’t help noticing how poor the people were outside of the resort. I don’t know how widespread AIDS is over there, but it’s certainly global. As Americans we often forget how lucky we are as a nation. Granted, there are plenty of impoverished people here. Hopefully we can all make a difference.

October 16, 2008 at 3:31 am

One.org proposes to fight global poverty on the backs of the U.S. taxpayer. Stand up for American. Stand up for Americans. Call your congressman and let him know that you’ll be outing him or her from his job by supporting any legislation that socializes the U.S. tax dollar.

Global poverty cannot by fought by mandating charity.

October 16, 2008 at 8:02 am

From ONE FAQ’s:

Isn’t our government doing more than anyone else? Don’t Americans give more than other countries?

In 2006, total U.S. funding for foreign assistance was $22 billion. Twenty-two billion dollars sounds like a lot of money, but it represents only 1.2% of the federal budget. That’s 1.2% to fund essential development and humanitarian programs that foster economic prosperity, strengthen our national security and reinforce our commitment to humanitarian values.

October 16, 2008 at 1:40 pm

I understand the concerns mentioned, and I would hope that without charity being mandated, this country could make a difference in global poverty. But most of us haven’t addressed the problem out of our own charitable conscience. Why is that? How is helping struggling nations contrary to American ideology? Maybe we need to think about the people around the world who are in poverty as our family–because truly, that’s what they are. If someone in our family were struggling financially or even starving, we’d be hard pressed to ignore it. I’m increasingly aware of the individualistic mindset that Americans often fall into. I’d like to see that replaced by an obsession with equality, a preoccupation with justice. I’m sure I’ll be perceived by some people as promoting a socialist illuminati agenda, but I hope that as unpractical as it may seem, compassion and justice will be the deciding factors in how we respond to global poverty.

October 16, 2008 at 2:17 pm

Are there no bright ideas to lessen poverty without redistributing wealth by force?

Just to be clear – Are “equality” and “justice” only reached when everyone on Earth has the same amount of resources?

I want clean water, air, food, abundant opportunities, healthcare, justice, fraternity, equality, liberty for everyone, too. But forcibly taking from one person to give to another is not “charitable.”

I have found Americans to be very charitable and generous (even if we have among our hundreds of millions some traits and practices that are not virtuous). But, our Congress actually does not even have the Constitutional authority to collect and disperse taxes from citizens in order to make charitable donations.

In any event, when you calculate the percent of U.S. giving, be sure to include those of non-government, private, independent, religious and other sources.

We definitely must end IMF, World Bank and other organizations from using debt to rob and ruin peoples and countries. (Read “Confessions of An Economic Hit Man,” for starters. Try “The Creature From Jekyll Island” next.)

In summary, yes, let’s help people in need, our brothers and sisters wherever they are, but let’s not rob by force from one person to “end poverty.” Do you not believe in the goodness of humankind enough to think we can do well and do better without the threat of force?

October 16, 2008 at 3:27 pm

Here is U.S. Defense.Secretary Robert Gates talking about the STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE of allocating some of the U.S. federal budget to poverty alleviation in our world as part of our national defense strategy.

http://www.borgenproject.org/Robert_Gates_Poverty_Speech.html

I’m sure the negativists in our midst will find some way to discredit this. (lol)

October 16, 2008 at 9:21 pm

For Debbie K on quoting the mantra of One.org -

You failed to post up the part that says that we already give the most of any country. What you are saying is that as a country, you and One.org believe that we don’t give enough and you support ideology that wants to take the rest of my money by force. This is theft. We’ve had this discussion. It seems that you are ok with theft. You might as well spit in my eye when you say that it is “just”.

Many Americans have been pushed far enough. Congress has something like an 8% approval rating if i remember correctly. We are angry. At boh parties. We are tired of the theft and dishonesty among other things.

I want you to remembe this Debbie, when someone who has less than you breaks into your home to make you and him/her equal, that you have failed in your support of One.org and your ideology. You won’t have done enough. Are you willing to seriously alter the way that you live in order follow your highly touted beliefs? Have you donated nearly everything that you have? How’s your car? Do you still own it? I can see that you still have an internet connection. How are you paying for that? I think that’s extra money tha you can afford to donate. Please donate it today to One.org in support of your cause(s). You’ll need to shut down your computer, but that’s ok….you see, you need to do more.

October 16, 2008 at 9:58 pm

Thank you for your comment A.B.

I’m glad that you feel that you understand. Maybe you do and are ok with what that. It is for certain that you and I hold different values as to what is important. I too would hope that global poverty could be dealt with without socializing my money. Alas, it cannot. Herein lies the issue. You believe that we don’t give enough, that we should give more, and that we should do with less. So much so in fact that you are willing to support an organization such as One.org which would make sure that for certain, I had less that others could have more. Not by charity, but by law. Do you really think that forced charity is charity and that it is just? Is not taking something from me without my express permission theft?

One of the mantras repeated around here is that I’ve given myself too much, which is often repeated as “look where that has gotten us”, when in relation to where we stand in the world as a country and in our current economic situation and is no more than logical fallacy. What you know all too well is that “what is mine is mine”. You can say any manner of thing that you would like, but in the end, you still have to admit that what you don’t have isn’t yours. It’s mine. Not yours. Mine. In an effort to remove from me that which is mine, you will tell me that I am greedy, that others need it, and that I don’t deserve it. But that will change nothing. My stuff is simply that. My stuff. Who do you believe that you are that you can tell me what I should do with my stuff? However, if you still feel the need, go ahead and tell me that I don’t need what is mine, that I shouldn’t have it. You will, however, need to keep in mind that your idealistic notion of what is “just” will come back to bite you in the butt. Some one will liberate you from your things. You will have no choice but to proclaim it as “just”, or risk shattering the fragile cognitive dissonance that gives you the ability to call what is mine someone elses and not hold yourself to the same standards to which you hold others.

…and yes. You are a socialist. If you want to be a socialist, feel free. That is your right. I might also add that this country wasn’t formed on socialistic principles. I’d prefer that you don’t drag me down with you.

October 16, 2008 at 10:04 pm

Debbie K -

As for your quote and link concerning U.S. Defense.Secretary Robert Gates, have you more “Red Herring”? Please discuss the issues in the thread. I’m not sure why you bother. Granted it’s a free(for now…) country and you have the right…but don’t you know that I’m going to be in nearly every thread that you are and will call you out on your faulty logic and empty rhetoric?

I really like you and as such, would hate to see you be confused about the purpose of this post. Consider your previous post entirely discredited. Please insert another quarter and push the start button again.

October 16, 2008 at 10:21 pm

Sir, I wish you well.

October 16, 2008 at 11:41 pm

Your too kind. Until the next quarter then?