Missing signature mars launch of war on hunger (Bush Admin refuses to back global tax)

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | September 22, 2004 | Irwin Arieff in New York

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More than 100 countries have endorsed a campaign to raise an additional $US50 billion ($71 billion) a year in development aid to combat global hunger, but the United States has poured cold water on the project.

"The greatest scandal is not that hunger exists but that it persists, even when we have the means to eliminate it. It is time to take action," read a declaration signed by 110 nations and adopted at the close of a summit on hunger on Monday.

It urged governments to consider a report for the conference, setting out a series of options for raising the extra money.

Kofi Annan shakes on the deal with presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, centre, and Jacques Chirac.

These included a global tax on financial transactions, a tax on the sale of heavy arms, an international borrowing facility and a credit cards scheme that would direct a small percentage of transaction charges to the cause.

President Jacques Chirac of France said the report set out technically realistic and economically rational solutions.

However, the leader of the US delegation, the Agriculture Secretary, Ann Veneman, dismissed it. "Economic growth is the long-term solution to hunger and poverty," she told the meeting.

"The report should give more attention to practical steps to sustained growth. There is too much emphasis on schemes such as global taxes to raise external resources. Global taxes are inherently undemocratic. Implementation is impossible."

The US President, George Bush, did not attend the summit although he is due to address the General Assembly today.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, who organised the summit, said after the meeting that Washington had made it clear earlier that it would not participate.

Mr Chirac predicted the US position could change after the November 2 presidential elections. "Let's see when things settle down what their position will be," he said. "However strong the Americans may be, you cannot in the long run emerge victorious by opposing an idea that is backed by 100 countries and which will probably be approved by 150, creating a new political situation."

More than a billion people around the world live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $US1 a day. They include 300 million in sub-Saharan Africa.

At a summit four years ago, United Nations members pledged to halve the number of people in deep poverty by 2015.

"Right now, however, we are falling short," said the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan.

Reuters

[dead]

Well, here’s some absolutely great news that I knew nothing about. Go Bush!

[2banana]

Socialism and Communism have starved more people than the UN could even imagine helping...

[RockinRight]

Bush to UN:

STFU!

[coconutt2000]

A Conservative America will never sign that!!!

That's outrageous! To think that the world leaders think they'll actually collect the money, and a pity that some people think this is anything but a way for corrupt UN officials to replace their cash cow, the Oil for Food program.

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

" 'Economic growth is the long-term solution to hunger and poverty,' she told the meeting."

And so is killing off corrupt leaders who take aid money and use it to buy planes and limousines for themselves.

[dirtboy]

Yeah, the UN did such a great job running Oil For Food, we should just hand them 71 billion a year...

[Excuse_Me]

Oh, the mean President Bush throwing cold water on the U.N. plan to replace the revenue stream they lost from Oil-for-Food when he invaded Iraq. Now, how will the hard-working bureaucrats at the U.N. ever get to be rich?

[SittinYonder]

ping

[ElkGroveDan]

Gee maybe its because we already tried wealth transfers in this country to the tune of over $5 trillion in the so-called war on poverty -- and it hasn't worked.

[Spackidagoosh]

They F'd up trying to feed Iraqi's why the hell would we bank roll that obviously corrupt organization more than we already do.

[Artemis Webb]

The United States gives more food to the 3rd world than all these countries put together. 'nuff said.

[Lizavetta]

Why don't they just abolish dictatorships? That would solve most of the global hunger problem right there.

[Stonedog]

Socialism and Communism have starved more people than the UN could even imagine helping...

Socialism and Communism have starved more people than the UN.

You should have stopped at that.

[Ciexyz]

Go Bush! Don't tax my credit card transactions to give a free ride to some dictator who doesn't care if his people starve.

[Polyxene]

These euro-trash countries are something else (I won't say what -- don't want to get banned!!) They are always whining for the USA to give money, money, money to their schemes and/or to come to the aid of one country or another. Yet, when we need their help, i.e., Iraq, they give us the middle finger salute. I'm tired of it! Good for Bush for standing up to these moochers!

[Shermy]

Sounds like a French agricultural export subsidy scheme.

[ElkGroveDan]

I've got an idea. You guys start. Goa head spend away. If you abolish half the poverty in the world. We'll do the rest. Deal?

[Publius6961]

"The greatest scandal is not that hunger exists but that it persists, even when we have the means to eliminate it. It is time to take action," read a declaration signed by 110 nations and adopted at the close of a summit on hunger on Monday.

Let us compile a list of countries, including these morally smug ones, and the corresponding amount each contributes to world hunger ---- or any humanitarian aid of any type.

Then let's talk again.

Until then, dear Euro-eunuchs, high-horse moralizing twits, buzz off!

[concerned about politics]

Notice how they try to put a pretty face on a fascist take over of Americas economy. "It's for the sake of the poor."

[Shermy]

It's the replacement for Food for Oil. Call it Food for Oil II.

[najida]

I really, Really, REALLY hate the UN!

[Stonedog]

corrupt UN officials to replace their cash cow, the Oil for Food program.

You nailed it. But corrupt UN officials is kind of redundant, eh?

[kenth]

Good job. This is not about feeding the hungry, it's about feeding those hungry for U.N. supremacy and the downfall of the west, specifically America. The rest of the world will stop at nothing to chip away at our sovereignty. Heck, our own dems go willingly.

[gridlock]

Mr Chirac predicted the US position could change after the November 2 presidential elections.

Clearly Mr. Chirac did not see the polling from Ohio today...

[applpie]

Bush should have said, "Hey, Chirac, wha'dya do with the rest of the billions we already gave ya? Spend that!"

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

How will the UN line its pockets now that they've burned through the profits skimmed off the Oil for Food program?!

[APFel]

"Mr Chirac predicted the US position could change after the November 2 presidential elections. "Let's see when things settle down what their position will be," he said. "However strong the Americans may be, you cannot in the long run emerge victorious by opposing an idea that is backed by 100 countries and which will probably be approved by 150, creating a new political situation.' "


Pay for it yourself, jerky. 150 nations should be good for the dough. (Curious... How many of the 150 would be beneficiaries; IE on the non-giving receiving end?)

APf

[Bigh4u2]

We had a revolution over 'taxation without representation'.

And we'll do it again. Against the U.N.

[Publius6961]

Yeah, the UN did such a great job running Oil For Food, we should just hand them 71 billion a year...

Great idea!.

I will write the UN and remind them that, if they recover all the money stolen by the oil-for-food program, by the UN, their hangers-on and the corrupt scam artists they dealt with, it should cover most of the $70 billion they so adamantly are trying to extort from us.

[Taxbilly]

So why don't you guys do something about the starving? Americans gives billions to the starving around the world every year, how about France? Once you tax American citizens will you put the money with the oil for food program? Oh sorry you lost that scam didn't you, is this to replace it?

[cryptical]

More than a billion people around the world live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $US1 a day. They include 300 million in sub-Saharan Africa.

The money raised by these new "taxes" will undoubtably be stolen by despotic rulers like Mugabe in Zimbabwe and their ilk. Better to spend the money on overthrowing the Marxist regimes in that part of the world, so they can make their own way.

This is the problem with the UN. There's no check on the "tyranny of the majority" that support these foolish schemes.

[gridlock]

If current economic trends continue, France will be eligible to receive payments under this program by 2020.

[aft_lizard]

Here Ithought the one world govt was a rumor, truly if the UN is given taxing authority the world would be doomed.

[wideawake]

If you want to end hunger, abolish socialism.

[Conservative4Ever]

The Food for Oil scandal isn't enough? Now these clowns want to scam another cause? Puh Leeeeeeeze. The UN is a joke. Go Bush, indeed!

Red

[JoeBob255]

It's the replacement for Food for Oil. Call it Food for Oil II.

Kofi's bank checking account must be running a little low.

[Travis McGee]

President Kerry will trip over himself to get to the table to sign a global UN tax.

[concerned about politics]

Mr Chirac predicted the US position could change after the November 2 presidential elections.

In other words, they'll get Kerry to ignore the Constitution, and sell the American people out. Yep. That sounds exactly like what Kerry would do. He'd turn on the American people in a heart beat if he thought it would make him more important in the world. Why, an opportunist like Kerry may even see visions of the U.N. presidency!

[KarlInOhio]

If everyone on this thread chipped in a penny, we could buy a bullet for Mugabe and solve starvation in Zimbabwe.

[JayNorth]

It's the replacement for Food for Oil. Call it Food for Oil II.

Since it involves Jacques ChIRAQ, shouldn't that be "Food for Oil - Part Deux"?

[Fiddlstix]

[longtermmemmory]

And in what currency will this "tax" be assesed?

Euros? France would be happy with that. It would mean every citizen out have to buy euros to pay the global tax.

The UN is seeking a source of money. They have lost money from the oil for food program now they seek to "help the poor".

They should call this what it really is: "Tax america into submission to the UN plan."

[Publius6961]

Personally, I would attack the "leaders" of any "starving" country which imposed import duties or taxes of any kind on food or humanitarian supplies being brought into their country for free distribution.
Ditto, any suggestion that the existing corrupt government have anything to do with distribution, or get within 10 miles of any supplies. Their populace can tear them limb from limb first.

[RGSpincich]

Kofi Babba and the 100 thieves.

[Syncro]

Paging Kofi's Son...Paging Kofi's Son...Paging Kofi's Son...

Please pick up the White Absence of Color Courtesy Phone. Money making opportunity for him...

You know Kofi could give back all of the money the UN stole from the Oil for Food program and this would more than cover what this tax would bring in.

[longtermmemmory]

Actually a direct yes or no answer from Kerry on this tax would be useful information.

[Syncro]

The UN is seeking a source of money. They have lost money from the oil for food program now they seek to "help the poor".

Kofi's son stole millions from the OfF program.

The UN wastes money worse than any governmental agency and the Elites steal the rest.

[Skooz]

That picture on the poster looks creepy, in an Orwellian way.

That's the kind of graphic the lefties and euro-socialists would plaster everywhere to calm down the children as they herd us into the camps.

It will probably be on their armbands.

[zlala]

However strong the Americans may be, you cannot in the long run emerge victorious by opposing an idea that is backed by 100 countries

If 100 million people say a stupid thing, it still is a stupid thing. Seems to fit here....

This will certainly turn into a "food for oil" debacle.

[Soul Seeker]

Mr Chirac predicted the US position could change after the November 2 presidential elections. "Let's see when things settle down what their position will be," he said. "However strong the Americans may be, you cannot in the long run emerge victorious by opposing an idea that is backed by 100 countries and which will probably be approved by 150, creating a new political situation."

Chirac predicts Kerry will be President and vulnerable to any demand.

Chirac, you wanna place a bet an whether we can indefinitely oppose you? LOL!! So long as we elect leaders like G.W. you won't get a dime. Take your hats and appeal to your own citizens for the cash.