Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] [POLITICS] Global Warming

[Stephen Montgomery-Smith <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

Hargus, Diana wrote:

> Feeding the poor?  Sounds like  a good idea, but let's start here at
> home first, please?  We spend too much on countries outside our own that
> have no chance at returning on our investment.  Yes, investment.  What
> else would you call it when we send billions in aid to countries that
> then decide to call us capitalist pigs or decadent westerners?  Let our
> charity begin at home, then share in the largesse that comes from it.
> We need to lead by example and to do that we need to regain our
> integrity and honesty.  The disingenuousness is causing us a lot of
> problem with the rest of the world, unlike around WWI and WWII, when we
> defended others and were not the aggressors in the world. 

My point about feeding the poor was not to say we should be doing this - 
although neither am I opposed to it - it just wasn't the point I was 
trying to make.  Rather, it is that people use the excuse - let's spend 
the money on feeding the poor rather than spend it on looking for ways 
to reduce global warming.  I was attacking that excuse, which I think is 
a complete red herring, and is totally irrelevant to the debate.

Actually, I think that you make a lot of good points.  Personally I 
wouldn't stop trying to help other nations just because they hate us, 
but then that probably comes from the Christian notion of turning the 
other cheek.  On the other hand, I have a lot of sympathy for people who 
do feel like you do, and I have absolutely no sympathy for those who say 
we aren't doing enough.  I personally think that the USA is an extremely 
giving and generous nation.  And I can say that without praising myself, 
because I myself am British.  Furthermore, I can tell you that I have 
experienced first hand the anti-Americanism of which you speak, and 
having lived in it, and now being out of it, I can find absolutely no 
rationale for it except jealousy and envy.

Let me get to your other points tonight, because I need to pick up my 
kids from school.

Stephen

--

Stephen Montgomery-Smith
EMAIL:PROTECTED
http://www.math.missouri.edu/~stephen

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