ZenArcher
Senior member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2007
- Messages
- 676
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 02/2007
- Country
- US
- State
- PA
- City
- McEwensville
I have to ask forgiveness up front because this post may become somewhat vocal. I read an article today online that well frankly pissed me off. I've since tried to move one but the more I think about it the angrier I get.
The article I'm referring to was in the Washington Post and is titled U.S. to Grant $1 Billion Aid Package to Georgia. I won't get into whether or not the U.S. should aid Georgia but what I will get into is a couple of things this brought to light.
As most of you know our friend from Oklahoma put a hold on the ALS Registry S. 1382 because of the $75 million over 5 years that would increase our deficit even more. Keeping that in mind have a look at this little tidbit:
I will freely admit that foreign affairs is not my strong suit but I'm fairly good at math. Unless my calculator lies we could fully fund 7 registries and still have money left over and that's paying everything up front. Someone please explain to me why we can send all this money to a country that picked a fight with a much bigger opponent and got their a$$ kicked for it but we can't fund a registry that may help people around the world. Explain to me why we as a people haven't gone to D.C. and stuck our boots so far up the Senate's backside that they'll taste shoe leather for years. Explain to me why we can spend over $20 million trying their &%$#(^$ soldiers but we can't fund the registry.
I understand the differences between Democrats and Republicans. I understand the virtues of opposing points of view. I can even understand why that a$$hole from Oklahoma wants to cut spending. What I can't understand is why we stop spending that will help people worldwide and then help a select group. I don't understand why party politics and the price of gas outweigh human lives. I don't understand why every PALS, CALS, friend, family member and advocate isn't screaming so loud that their Senators can't help but listen. You mean to tell me that in the eyes of my own government the economic well being of the people of Georgia outweighs the lives of not only our own veterans and citizens but of people around the world that could benefit from this information. $75 million over 5 years for the Registry or $570 million out of the budget to help Georgia. I just don't get it.
The article I'm referring to was in the Washington Post and is titled U.S. to Grant $1 Billion Aid Package to Georgia. I won't get into whether or not the U.S. should aid Georgia but what I will get into is a couple of things this brought to light.
As most of you know our friend from Oklahoma put a hold on the ALS Registry S. 1382 because of the $75 million over 5 years that would increase our deficit even more. Keeping that in mind have a look at this little tidbit:
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who announced the aid package today at the State Department, said it would be divided into two phases, beginning with $570 million in funds taken from fiscal 2008 and 2009 budgets.
I will freely admit that foreign affairs is not my strong suit but I'm fairly good at math. Unless my calculator lies we could fully fund 7 registries and still have money left over and that's paying everything up front. Someone please explain to me why we can send all this money to a country that picked a fight with a much bigger opponent and got their a$$ kicked for it but we can't fund a registry that may help people around the world. Explain to me why we as a people haven't gone to D.C. and stuck our boots so far up the Senate's backside that they'll taste shoe leather for years. Explain to me why we can spend over $20 million trying their &%$#(^$ soldiers but we can't fund the registry.
The provision of $1 billion of U.S. aid -- some of which must be approved by Congress -- will exponentially increase the level of assistance to Georgia, which totaled about $64 million in fiscal 2008. About a third of that money was spent on training and equipping the Georgian military to meet NATO standards and allow Georgian troops to continue participating in the U.S.-led international coalition force in Iraq.
I understand the differences between Democrats and Republicans. I understand the virtues of opposing points of view. I can even understand why that a$$hole from Oklahoma wants to cut spending. What I can't understand is why we stop spending that will help people worldwide and then help a select group. I don't understand why party politics and the price of gas outweigh human lives. I don't understand why every PALS, CALS, friend, family member and advocate isn't screaming so loud that their Senators can't help but listen. You mean to tell me that in the eyes of my own government the economic well being of the people of Georgia outweighs the lives of not only our own veterans and citizens but of people around the world that could benefit from this information. $75 million over 5 years for the Registry or $570 million out of the budget to help Georgia. I just don't get it.