tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029159028015312900.post3264935997932490290..comments2024-03-27T17:44:45.197-08:00Comments on Gullible's Travels: Thoughts on a Saturday afternoon as cable TV news provides background motivation.Gulliblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01757448241656853571noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029159028015312900.post-63495616866342458412011-01-31T11:10:24.464-09:002011-01-31T11:10:24.464-09:00i certainly do agrte we spend way to much money on...i certainly do agrte we spend way to much money on foreign aid that could be better used for education and domestic programs. Why sould we give Isreal money to build houses on the West Bank when we can't build houses for our own people (like New Orleans)jinxxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13458068913358882032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029159028015312900.post-7711021269310502752011-01-30T13:38:31.503-09:002011-01-30T13:38:31.503-09:00Agreed, FigMince. I'm also aware that countri...Agreed, FigMince. I'm also aware that countries buy "friendship" through the guise of foreign aid. And, in many cases, those countries go along to get along, but hate us while extending their hands for the aid.<br /><br />Three years ago I had occasion to have a very nice dinner with a New Zealand couple in their home. There was a long discussion about politics, with the host eventually saying "the world" thinks the US should clean up its own back yard before it imposes its beliefs on other countries. I agree.Gulliblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01757448241656853571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029159028015312900.post-10111301469428090572011-01-30T13:29:07.277-09:002011-01-30T13:29:07.277-09:00It seems to me, Gully, that governments (whether n...It seems to me, Gully, that governments (whether national, state, or local) have forgotten what they are and what they're there for. As representatives of the collective us, surely their role is to protect us from crime/invasion; build essential infrastructure; educate our youth; ensure access to medical services; and provide basic levels of fallback for those unable to look after themselves.<br /><br />Here in Australia, governments fund things like football stadiums so that team owners can make huge profits by using them maybe a dozen times a year. They fund symphony orchestras and opera and theatre (which I love) and ballet and art galleries (which I don't), but cut back on essential health services etc.<br /><br />And of course, even little Australia spends money contributing to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and 'defending' us from something nobody ever seems to be able to enunciate beyond the word 'terror'. <br /><br />I don't think it's 'isolationist' to want the collective 'us' to look after 'our' needs and leave others to deal with theirs. I think it's what Mr Jefferson et al were all about when they created an extraordinary-for-its-time concept of government.<br /><br />It's a pity that it's got so complex and cynical.Allan Lloydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11841668091720591745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029159028015312900.post-77742386304975094912011-01-29T16:48:44.393-09:002011-01-29T16:48:44.393-09:00I usually get frustrated at the amount money we se...I usually get frustrated at the amount money we send to other countries. I know there's plenty that I don't understand regarding why we do this because I don't take the time to be informed and even if I did, I probably wouldn't "get it." <br /><br />It's interesting to read your thoughts.Cheryl Petershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09064303602761860569noreply@blogger.com