facebook convo regarding Haiti

[HYHYBT]

TBH, in the long run, the USA (and other 'developed' countries) would be much better off helping themselves first - and then turning around to help others in need.. because they'd be in a far better position to do so.

Sure, that sounds good, but where do you draw the line where we should switch between helping ourselves and helping others? If it's "when things are perfect here" then, obviously, it will never happen; if it's "when our country is doing much better than the one we're trying to help" then that's true NOW.

but we need to fix our chronic conditions before we jump in and spend a whole bunch of money elsewhere.

That's the thing about chronic conditions: they CANNOT BE FIXED. They can only be treated and improved. So, again, do you mean that we shouldn't help anyone else unless everything's perfect at home?

[XiaoTortuga]

You forgot elitist.

I don't know why but I've seen it first hand in trips into other countries. I've seen Americans ask the most ignorant questions possible (i.e. On the island of Belize, do you have schools and hospitals? - There should be hand rails on these old (Mayan) ruins.)

To many people, unless it affects them it's not important.

Belize is not an island. The country of Belize does include islands and has ties to the Caribbean, but it is actually bordered by Mexico and Guatemala.

*shrug* or maybe I'm just another ignorant American.

[Slytovhand]

My thought is: we can't help others if we can't even help ourselves. The US needs to back away from helping every country who needs it for one or two years and save some money up to help LEGAL US citizens first.

So, one's nationality is more important than one's humanity?

Actually, the US(A) and other countries in a similar situation, need to look at how they spend their money in general. Bailouts of private companies with public money (especially in a capitalistic nation) is just silly! Every day, such countries waste massive amounts of money - money that would be far better spent elsewhere.

That's the thing about chronic conditions: they CANNOT BE FIXED. They can only be treated and improved.

I disagree. They appear to be a chronic and unfixable condition. It makes for a good political football.

So, to me, it's not about giving aid to the detriment of the giving country, it's why the hell there is a government not doing it's best to fix its own problems.