Sunday - October 28, 2007
Thanks, but Why?
The fires in California have devastated thousands
of people's lives and damaged a lot of property and land. I feel very bad for
the people affected, even more than I felt bad for the people of New Orleans. I
wish them well, my sympathy to them all, especially to those who lost loved ones
to the flames. A horrible
situation.The Iraqis feel terrible
too, but who let them donate
money to California?Their
hearts are in the right place, but realistically, this is hurting them more than
it helps anyone in California.
These wonderful people, and Iraqis that aren't in
the murdering business can be wonderful people, collected $1000.00 to help the
people of California. In Iraq, a thousand dollars is a big deal. It's probably
a year's pay for most Iraqis, or at least a good chunk of a
year.
In California, you can't buy
anything for that money. A thousand dollars, for most Californians, is a few
days of pay. Most of the houses are in the range of a half million dollars.
The labor costs to distribute this donated money would probably exceed the
donation itself.
The people of
California do not need our help. It is the single most wealthy spot on this
Earth. The people all have, or should have fire insurance. The laws in
California have forbidden shake shingles for quite some time and there are
numerous other laws to mitigate fire risk and damage. These fires were much
worse than expected, but there was an awareness of fire danger and anyone who
did not buy insurance has no right to
pity.
That won't stop FEMA from
rewarding those who buy million dollar homes but don't pay for insurance. The
rest of us are required to subsidize their folly. So there is even less reason
for us to feel a personal obligation to contribute to their recovery.
The officers working with those Iraqis
were terribly irresponsible to encourage or abet these poor men giving their
money to such a terrible cause. It's not even very good propaganda because it's
not making it much in the news. It is little more than a futile gesture that
will make their lives harder, and their lives are already too hard. Most Iraqis
can't even dream of the luxury that the poorest in California live
in.
Go Back to the Start, Do Not Collect $200 Send me your two cents
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