MSNBC -Stingy?

MSNBC -

David Shuster, of MSNBC, has joined the ranks of Jan Egeland with his thoughtless comments on the United States contribution to the tsunami victims in Southeast Asia. Shuster claimed this, about a billion dollar donation that he thinks the U.S. should have given, "It would immediately give people across this earth a reason to be thankful for the United States." Where has this guy been for the past 60 years. The United States has always been more than generous when it comes to giving aid to disater victims. Look at Africa. We give 15 billion dollars to fight AIDS in Africa, more than all other nations combined, and this guy has the guts to call us embarassing. On top of that the world still hates us. What's embarassing is Shuster's failed ability to see the big picture. Does he really think the world will stop hating us if we give a billion dollars to tsunami victims? Will the world really be "thankful" for the United States if we give more money? Not likely. Maybe instead of offering a reward for Bin Laden we should offer a billion dollars in aid programs. Then maybe the Islamic terrorist would have a reason to be thankful for the United States. Giving a billion dollars could solve all the U.S. problems. Maybe we could give Paris Hilton a billion dollars and she could go away too!

Throwing gobs of money at a problem seems to be the mantra of the left in this country. It doesn't always solve the problem (I.e. welfare). I would be willing to bet that if we sent a billion dollars to Southeast Asia, a good portion of it would be siphoned off in a sort of "Oil for Tsunami" scandal (probably involving the U.N.) Every news report that I have read still shows the U.S. as giving the most money so far. And on top of cash, we are sending military vehicles and personnel to the region. We don't just write a check and turn our heads away, we send our people in harm's way.

Calling the U.S. stingy looks like another way for the media to criticize President Bush. That may seem far-fetched to some but, my own Star Tribune editorial board had this to say, "The Bush Administration's handling of this crisis has been inept beyond belief." What was the editorial board's solution? You guessed it, Donate a billion dollars! What is it with liberal attack dogs and a billion dollars?

I don't want to seem insensitve to the tragedy but, this whole affair of comparing who gives what (we gave the most in case you hadn't heard) is kind of like watching people put change into a Salvation Army Kettle and complaining when the well dressed people don't put dollar bills in. Lets not forget that this is a donation and therefore voluntary. Every country should be praised for its contribution, not criticized because they have not given enough. Besides I don't remember the French writing us a check when Florida was devastated by four hurricanes. Not many people in Florida died because our government was prepared and, had the proper warning systems. Maybe our country isn't so bad afterall.