Originally Posted by Svenskapoika";p=&quot

We're such a bully, even though we give 40% of the humantarian[sic] aid given IN THE WORLD.

When I was in grade school, I dont remember the shoolyard[sic] bully handing out lunch money to those in need, do you?

Svenskapoika

Originally Posted by livefree";p=&quot

When someone who has $1000 donates $10 and someone else who only has $20 donates $5, would you say the first guy is the "greatest" donor. Among the 22 richest countries, the USA ranks last, in terms of the percentage of our GNP, in development aid to poor countries. Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Norway beat us out by far.

http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Debt/USAid.asp
When the world’s governments met at the Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, they adopted a programme for action under the auspices of the United Nations — Agenda 21. Amongst other things, this included an Official Development Assistance (ODA) aid target of 0.7% of gross national product (GNP) for rich nations, roughly 22 members of the OECD, known as the Development Assistance Committee (DAC).
ODA is basically aid from the governments of the wealthy nations... The main objective of ODA is to promote development. It is therefore a kind of measure on the priorities that governments themselves put on such matters.
Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 2001 to 2004
ODA as GNP Percentage

___Country_____ 2001___ 2002__ 2003___ 2004

1.__ Australia____ 0.25___ 0.25___ 0.25___ 0.25
2.__ Austria_____ 0.25___ 0.23___ 0.2____ 0.24
3.__ Belgium_____ 0.37___ 0.42___ 0.61___ 0.41
4.__ Canada_____ 0.23___ 0.28___ 0.26___ 0.26
5.__ Denmark____ 1.01___ 0.96___ 0.84___ 0.84
6.__ Finland______ 0.33___ 0.35___ 0.34___ 0.35
7.__ France______ 0.34___ 0.36___ 0.41___ 0.42
8.__ Germany____ 0.27___ 0.27___ 0.28___ 0.28
9.__ Greece______ 0.19___ 0.22___ 0.21___ 0.23
10._ Ireland______ 0.33___ 0.41___ 0.41___ 0.39
11._ Italy________ 0.14___ 0.2____ 0.16___ 0.15
12._ Japan_______ 0.23___ 0.23___ 0.2____ 0.19
13._ Luxembourg__ 0.8____ 0.78___ 0.8____ 0.85
14._ Netherlands___ 0.82___ 0.82___ 0.81___ 0.74
15._ New Zealand__ 0.25___ 0.23___ 0.23___ 0.23
16._ Norway______ 0.83___ 0.91___ 0.92___ 0.87
17._ Portugal______ 0.25___ 0.24___ 0.21___ 0.63
18._ Spain________ 0.3____ 0.25___ 0.25___ 0.26
19._ Sweden______ 0.76___ 0.74___ 0.7____ 0.77
20._ Switzerland____ 0.34___ 0.32___ 0.38___ 0.37
21._ United Kingdom_ 0.32___ 0.3____ 0.34___ 0.36
22._ United States___ 0.11___ 0.12___ 0.14___ 0.16

Source: OECD Web site

Note: The U.N. ODA agreed target is 0.7 percent of GNP. Most nations do not meet that target.

Originally Posted by Svenskapoika";p=&quot

We're such a bully, even though we give 40% of the humantarian aid given IN THE WORLD.

When I was in grade school, I dont remember the shoolyard bully handing out lunch money to those in need, do you?

Svenskapoika

Originally Posted by hobbie";p=&quot

I'm fed up hearing how hard done by America is.

You are liked on your merits and disliked for your faults. I could go into them here, but won't bother.

But PLEASE stop complaining that the world is unfair to you. If you can't see how you've been a bad schoolyard bully then your head is buried.

Originally Posted by livefree";p=&quot

You're confusing the people of America, many of whom are very good-hearted and give generously to things like Tsunami relief, with the country of America, which has been acting like a bully, and which actually gives very little. Oh, in dollar amounts our 'little' seems large compared to poorer countries but, as I said in another similar discussion:

Originally Posted by odanu";p=&quot

You know...giving money doesn't give a person or a country the right to be abusive. The world perceives many US policies as abuse. While I don't necessarily or always agree, I do understand the resentment at the big thick entangling strings attached to US "friendship".