AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums About Belize Nation Belize's tussle with USA

Ah, ok, thx. If you don't know Chris, I'm not tellin' but I'll give you a hint, it's not tradewinds, or that I'm aware of...

Probably 99% of the world population doesn't know or care were Belize is. 99% of Belizeans, Canadians, Americans don't have any idea were Burkina Faso with a population of over 13,000,000 is either. So what's the point?

By the way Simon, were do you think the huge majority of world wide humanitarian aide and funding comes from. More comes from U.S. NGOs and pvt. sources than the rest of the world put together. Look it up.

The point is that with an attitude of who gives "f.c.!" It's no wonder the world is in the mess it is these days. And it's no wonder that the level of animosity exists towards the US throughout the world even among its allies. It didn't used to be so, the US used to be looked up to. What happened?

BTW, US foreign aid is around .01% of GDP, the majority of other developed nations run at .8% to 1%. The US may admirably contribute the most funds but not as a percentage of their GDP.

I'm with Simon on this one.
We Americans are quite the do-gooders. Americans represent 3% of the world's population and consume 25% of the world's resources. (Guess that's our contribution to helping the other 97% stay on the path to spiritual health.)
America produces 25% of the world's greenhouse gasses. (Guess that's our contribution to providing all that carbon dioxide plants and trees need - besides, who needs Winter?)
America does do its part to appear altruistic as the United States gives more money in foreign aid than any other nation. Of course, the reality is that the United States contributes .15% of its national income, a percentage significantly lower than at least twenty other countries. No real sacrifice here but man do we look good bragging about all we do!
Oh, and let's talk a little about how well we do for our own. As the wealthiest nation in the world, the United States still permits a significant number of its citizens to suffer homelessness, poverty and inadequate medical treatment so that the top 1% of its population can live in luxury. The United States has continued to cut programs which benefit the poor, minorities, consumers, education, and working people in order to spend incredible sums to its military. America is the arms dealer to the world, with its weapons manufacturers realizing huge fortunes.
And don't even get me started on how the United States has ignored international law in the recent past. And of course, we can't leave out the U.S.'s wonderful "free trade" policies. Huge boons for powerful American corporations at the expense of the resources of poorer and weaker countries who have little choice in accepting the paltry wages offered by U.S. corporations. (Who really needs a "minimum wage"?)

Look, I feel very fortunate to live in the United States; but let's face it, it was merely an accident of birth. I'm no more entitled to what the world has to give than the people of the rest of the world. And to live in complicity with a government that engages in the practices our government does makes me at least partly responsible for the negative impact those policies have on the rest of the world. America does some good, but it does a great deal of harm. And my experience has been that most citizens of the United States couldn't care less what happens to the rest of the world as long as they get what they want.
Guess I was feeling overdue for a rant.

I was just pointing out a fact as it relates to Belize. Obviously, cracked up is right about other places. We all only see what we can see and, in most cases, our own lives and concerns are far more important to us than other folks' problems.

It really doesn't matter how much people give to others, it's never enough. Am I wrong?

And I, like many, don't depend on any governments to do "what's right" for any given people. Like me, many individuals have given pretty freely to those who we think have a need. I think the Saga Society and SPSC/Calendar Girls would have to agree with that.

Depending on governments to correctly or compassionately distribute wealth has always been folly. The US is big and a big target but, like many developing nations, BZ has a huge log in its government's eye when it comes to ethically spending what they have. It's easy to place blame and point fingers but it's more productive to put your money (time and talents) where your mouth is, IMO.

CatMo, I agree; however, we live in a democracy which means WE are the government. I agree people are responsible first for their own actions, but in a democracy we are also responsible for the actions of our representative government. It's a little different in a system that is not democratic. And even personal responsibility is complicated. It's much bigger than charitable contributions. Americans wander in to their local Wal-Mart to do serious damage with their credit cards (let's hear it for play now/pay later!) and are overjoyed to save a few bucks without giving any thought to the Chinese (or whoever) who suffered deplorable working conditions to manufacture the goods the Americans now purchase at such great discount prices. They head for the checkout line completely indifferent to the poverty level wages made by the clerk who rings them up. And it's not just Wal-Mart, it's becoming increasingly difficult to shop and invest responsibly. All I'm saying is the fact that it's difficult doesn't excuse the responsibility and most Americans never even get to the point where they acknowledge that responsibility to start with. But they still want to brag about how great we are as a nation and how much we do for the rest of the world. It all seems just a bit disingenuous to me.

Maybe I'm being verbose, as I certainly don't want to ruffle any feathers.

All I can do is what I do; and it's hard for me to get my head around being responsible for our elected leaders. I'm of the opinion that no one worthy of their jobs wants them. I certainly wouldn't.

I can't control anyone else either. I just hope we all do what we feel is right in their own hearts/minds. Personal responsiblity, ya know?

That's a start most haven't made - I'd settle for it!

Law, Iam not very smart at all the government workinds but I do think this country is a republic not a democracy. We say the republic on which it stands not the democracy on which it stands. Just my thought. As I said not real good at politics.

In the strictest sense the United States is a Republic - rather than vote on every little issue, we elect representatives to vote for us. The US has often been referred to as a "democratic republic." In view of colloquial use, the difference is now primarily semantic and does not make any difference in terms of my comments above. We elect our government and bear responsibility for its actions.