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U.S. Should Not Help Tsunami Victims
Ayn Rand Institute ^ | Dec. 30, 2004 | David Holcberg

Posted on 12/30/2004 1:17:50 PM PST by bruinbirdman

Our money is not the government's to give.

As the death toll mounts in the areas hit by Sunday's tsunami in southern Asia, private organizations and individuals are scrambling to send out money and goods to help the victims. Such help may be entirely proper, especially considering that most of those affected by this tragedy are suffering through no fault of their own.

The United States government, however, should not give any money to help the tsunami victims. Why? Because the money is not the government's to give.

Every cent the government spends comes from taxation. Every dollar the government hands out as foreign aid has to be extorted from an American taxpayer first. Year after year, for decades, the government has forced American taxpayers to provide foreign aid to every type of natural or man-made disaster on the face of the earth: from the Marshall Plan to reconstruct a war-ravaged Europe to the $15 billion recently promised to fight AIDS in Africa to the countless amounts spent to help the victims of earthquakes, fires and floods--from South America to Asia. Even the enemies of the United States were given money extorted from American taxpayers: from the billions given away by Clinton to help the starving North Koreans to the billions given away by Bush to help the blood-thirsty Palestinians under Arafat's murderous regime.

The question no one asks about our politicians' "generosity" towards the world's needy is: By what right? By what right do they take our hard-earned money and give it away?

The reason politicians can get away with doling out money that they have no right to and that does not belong to them is that they have the morality of altruism on their side. According to altruism--the morality that most Americans accept and that politicians exploit for all it's worth--those who have more have the moral obligation to help those who have less. This is why Americans--the wealthiest people on earth--are expected to sacrifice (voluntarily or by force) the wealth they have earned to provide for the needs of those who did not earn it. It is Americans' acceptance of altruism that renders them morally impotent to protest against the confiscation and distribution of their wealth. It is past time to question--and to reject--such a vicious morality that demands that we sacrifice our values instead of holding on to them.

Next time a politician gives away money taken from you to show what a good, compassionate altruist he is, ask yourself: By what right?

David Holcberg is a research associate at the Ayn Rand Institute in Irvine, Calif.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: charity; tsunami
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To: Trust but Verify

There is no history of Tsunami's in this area of the Indian Ocean. This has been discussed and discussed and discussed in other threads.


81 posted on 12/30/2004 2:02:05 PM PST by commonguymd
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To: bruinbirdman
"Such help may be entirely proper, especially considering that most of those affected by this tragedy are suffering through no fault of their own."

"May be"? I bet this character is not sending a dime to help the victims. After, altruism is the biggest sin according to true Randroid Church. Selfish bastards the whole lot of them.

82 posted on 12/30/2004 2:02:05 PM PST by Truthsayer20
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To: frizzo426
Randroidism sort of fizzled out 10 years ago. Now it's a just a phase that immature and selfish adolescents hopefully transcend

Hey noob .... shut up. Foreign Aid flies in the face of what this country was founded on.

83 posted on 12/30/2004 2:04:30 PM PST by Centurion2000 (Truth, Justice and the Texan Way)
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To: kidd

bump


84 posted on 12/30/2004 2:05:47 PM PST by cyborg (http://mentalmumblings.blogspot.com/)
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To: bruinbirdman

You don't have to go much further than the Marshall Plan part to see this guy is nuts.


85 posted on 12/30/2004 2:06:04 PM PST by Republican Wildcat
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To: kidd
I pray you are correct about private donations. My husband and I have already contributed to the fund set up by the Salvation Army, but we are the only ones I know who have done so. Many Americans are too self-centered to worry much about people on the other side of the planet.

Those of us who realize the depth of this disaster will have to carry the load for the rest of them. I'm willing.

86 posted on 12/30/2004 2:06:27 PM PST by Trust but Verify (Their candidate uses rock stars to attract crowds. Ours IS a rock star!)
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To: sinkspur

Sink, one or the other (or both) of us must be getting old. More and more often, I find myself agreeing with you... '-}


87 posted on 12/30/2004 2:06:43 PM PST by TXnMA (Attention, ACLU: There is no constitutionally protected right to NOT be offended -- Shove It!)
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To: MrLee

So let's see, the government of the most prosperous nation on the planet cannot give aid to the nations hit by this catastrophe - that also means no logistical support (since it would cost money), no military cargo planes to deliver supplies, etc. Well, some of the planes can stop by for a few minutes to rescue any Americans that happen to be there - oh wait, that wouldn't be OK either, since it would violate the Constitution, right?
So, our fleet and planes just cruise by the islands, snap some photos and say: "good luck, we're all pulling for you! Real soon now every American will be sending you some money, blankets, Beanie Babies for the kids - well, at least those of you that survive the next couple of weeks will benefit from the generous relief of private American citizens."
Hogwash! I'm ashamed that some of you consider yourselves part of the American Conservative movement. Some of you need to get your heads on straight.
So tell me - should we be spending money to rebuild Iraq? Where in the Constitution does it say that spending money in that manner is OK? By your absurd theory, the U.S. government could NEVER spend one cent to provide foreign aid? That is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard.


88 posted on 12/30/2004 2:07:57 PM PST by The Noodle
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To: Republican Wildcat

bump


89 posted on 12/30/2004 2:08:12 PM PST by cyborg (http://mentalmumblings.blogspot.com/)
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To: Trust but Verify

I think people really get their hackles up when they think about the government using our money and then the Euroweenies making us feel cheap because it's not enough.

Seems to me there are two trains of thought....those of us who would prefer lower taxes and more freedom in spending our money thus allowing more to be donated to charity at our discretion. These folks simply want to state their opinions here.

Then there are those who want our goverment to use our tax money for good. These people believe that our goverment can do greater good on larger scales.


Both are correct.


90 posted on 12/30/2004 2:10:34 PM PST by RushCrush (It's called Free Speech, and it's what we do.)
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To: RushCrush

Let me add a big "IMO" (In my opinion) to that last post.


91 posted on 12/30/2004 2:11:38 PM PST by RushCrush (It's called Free Speech, and it's what we do.)
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To: Windsong
"When you failed to do it for the least of these here brethren of mine..you failed to do it for me"

Then you do it. Or do you think the government is you?

92 posted on 12/30/2004 2:14:14 PM PST by Allan
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To: bruinbirdman
I don't agree with our government handing my money to another government's grasping bureaucrats.

OTOH, there are things our government can do that I can't. (...as in send in C-130s.)

For example, I wouldn't protest at all if our govt sent in a few UAVs to help assess the damage/need in some of those remote areas; that's way beyond my capability. I'd vote for that sort of use of my tax dollars. BUT -- I vehemently protest simply handing out my money (as in most "foreign aid").

93 posted on 12/30/2004 2:16:04 PM PST by TXnMA (Attention, ACLU: There is no constitutionally protected right to NOT be offended -- Shove It!)
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To: The Noodle

I'll stick with the Constitution as far as controls on government spending are concerned. As an individual I do and will donate to causes and charities I feel worthwhile.
Btw, I don't think the writers of the Constitution were dumb, sorry you do.


94 posted on 12/30/2004 2:16:09 PM PST by MrLee
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To: bruinbirdman

What a sick thread.

What else do you expect from Ayn Rand and her objectivists, though?


95 posted on 12/30/2004 2:17:49 PM PST by rwfromkansas ("War is an ugly thing, but...the decayed feeling...which thinks nothing worth war, is worse." -Mill)
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To: coloradan
This is a very interesting read that goes along those lines. It's long but WELL worth it.

Davy Crokett - Sockdolager

96 posted on 12/30/2004 2:18:47 PM PST by T.Smith
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To: feinswinesuksass
You should have the Admin Moderator delete that pic,Getty Images are Forbidden .
97 posted on 12/30/2004 2:19:09 PM PST by cmsgop (When The Cracker Gets Old, Get Off Your A$$ and Buy a New Box........)
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Comment #98 Removed by Moderator

To: Admin Moderator

Objectivist, selfish philosophy does not belong on FR.

Get rid of this sick post.


99 posted on 12/30/2004 2:19:58 PM PST by rwfromkansas ("War is an ugly thing, but...the decayed feeling...which thinks nothing worth war, is worse." -Mill)
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To: TXnMA

Well, I know I'm gettin' old. Thanks for the post.


100 posted on 12/30/2004 2:20:17 PM PST by sinkspur ("How dare you presume to tell God what He cannot do" God Himself)
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