Article

2005-01-09 Southeast Asia

Private US donations to tsunami victims at 337 million dollars

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Posted by Steve White 2005-01-09 11:50:05 PM|| || Front Page|| [7 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 "... let us not get carried away with generosity for rebuilding lands that have been mismanaged since the beginning of time.
If we are going to go further in debt to ease human pain and suffering, here are a few numbers to keep in mind. When one of our young military heroes dies in Iraq or other combat, his or her next of kin get only a $6,000 "death gratuity" (half of which is taxable), up to $1,750 for burial expenses, plus $833 a month for surviving spouse until remarriage and $211 per month per child until 18.
If our soldiers, anticipating dying in the line of duty, want to provide more for their children, they have to pay for such insurance out of their meager wages. There are, apparently, some strict limits to our generosity. "

see: http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/tblankley.htm

Posted by Tomp 2005-01-09 2:39:11 AM|| 2005-01-09 2:39:11 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 just a test

Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2005-01-09 3:53:19 AM|| [http://www.slhess.com] 2005-01-09 3:53:19 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Tomp - every servicemember gets Serviceman's Group Life Insurance [SGLI] unless they take overt action by written request not to have it. When I left 10 years ago, it was around $10 a month and paid out $250K. As for pay, the tables are usually available on line at places like the Army/Navy/Air Force Times. Count the number of servicemembers for twenty years , multiply by the monthly deduction, subtract the payouts for deaths [combat and non-combat] and you'll see a relatively healthy principle still on hand for a while. The military is its own insurance pool. It is not funded by appropriations by Congress. While the VA and other payouts are shameful, the MSM seems to always overlook this bit of $250K information. Also note that all military members have social security deduction also, so children are entitled to the same SS payments anyother citizen's children would receive. The children also receive access to TRICARE, the military HMO system, till they reach 18 or 21 if they attend college. There are other compensations not listed as well.

Posted by Don 2005-01-09 7:40:02 AM|| 2005-01-09 7:40:02 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Old Media still behind the times. Actual donations by private Americans in excess of $456,917,000 and climbing.

See The Stingy List [PDF file] for verification. Also, please note the "vast" number of celebrities who donated millions to defeat George Bush who have also donated to tsunami relief. See Tsunami: Hollywouldn't

Posted by Chuck Simmins 2005-01-09 12:52:25 PM|| [http://blog.simmins.org] 2005-01-09 12:52:25 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Tony Blankley was using outdated numbers. The death benefit was raised to $12,000 and removed from taxable income on November 11, 2003.

In any case, tsunami aid has exactly *nothing* to do with military pay and benefits.

Posted by Seafarious 2005-01-09 12:54:48 PM|| 2005-01-09 12:54:48 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Not wanting to throw cold water on this achievement or malign the personal generosity behind all the donations, but....

I have serous reservations about the ability of the varoius aid organizations to spend the money they are receiving. The logistics of relief suggest there are only so many emergency kits, tarps, blankets, medical supplies, and such available at a moments notice. Which means a lot of the money will be channelled into the upstream supply pipeline. By the time the supply ramps up, the initial emergency will be over, and a lot of money will be left sitting in account. The NGOs go from relief supply to money managers, budgeting priorities, growing management process, and looking for even more money to match their new level of importance. Ultimately it can lead to the type of corruption we now see being uncovered at the UN.

Not to suggest the giving is wrong, just trying to understand the gap between giving and receiving is not necessarily a direct link.

Posted by john 2005-01-09 2:42:10 PM|| 2005-01-09 2:42:10 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 The diplomad has yet another tale of life in the Turd World and observations on how the Indonesians are taking the death of all their fellow citizens. It looks like some of that PEST therapy may not be necessary.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-01-09 2:52:59 PM|| 2005-01-09 2:52:59 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 I've long suspected that the MSM's Private donations total is WAY under what it really is! Heck, today I went to Costco, and they had a huge plexiglass box that was filled with money (not just $1 bills, either). A corporate e-mail was taped on top, which said (it was dated Jan. 7) that Costco employees had donated over $1 million, that Costco shoppers have donated over $2 million and that Costco corporate had donated $1 million. So that's $4 million just from one company and it's shoppers! Just like the Prez said, "The relief we're seeing in America doesn't come from its government, it comes from the goodness of the American people." (my paraphrase).

Posted by BA 2005-01-09 3:42:02 PM|| 2005-01-09 3:42:02 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 BTW, all of Costco's donations are going to the American Red Cross.

Posted by BA 2005-01-09 3:43:14 PM|| 2005-01-09 3:43:14 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 There are many worthy charities out there, and I'm sure a great many of them give a great portion of the receipts to the beneficiaries, but the American Red Cross has a pretty great record in terms of the amount of money that makes it through the organization and the means to get assistance where it needs to go. ICRC, on the other hand... but I don't do IT for them.
Kind of makes me wonder why South Park tagged Sally Struthers and not ICRC.

Posted by Mr. Spock 2005-01-09 7:12:11 PM|| 2005-01-09 7:12:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 Oops, that was me.

Posted by Asedwich 2005-01-09 7:12:55 PM|| 2005-01-09 7:12:55 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 Never explain Asedwich.

Posted by Shipman 2005-01-09 7:45:42 PM|| 2005-01-09 7:45:42 PM|| Front Page Top

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