Earthquake in the Indian sub-continent

[kate_schaefer]

Before breakfast this morning, I sent the following email message to my two senators, Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray:

I awoke this morning to the news that President Bush has promised $100,000 in aid to the victims of the earthquake in Kashmir, Pakistan, and India. One hundred thousand dollars! Perhaps I have misheard. Perhaps there is a misplaced decimal point.

Is not Pakistan our most significant ally in that region? Won't this completely inadequate response to a major tragedy make us again look like bankrupt pikers, as did our response to the tsunami last December? Isn't it time to rescind the ridiculous tax cuts for the rich so that our country is not stretched too thin by war, and welfare for the wealthy, to be able to respond to changing situations as they occur?

Thank you for your representation. I don't always agree with what you do in the Senate, but you take principled stands, you put serious thought into how you vote, and it seems to me you do a good job of representing the people of Washington.

Anyone else?

Comments

[scottscidmore.livejournal.com]

Might be just the early response, see what a day brings. But if he keeps it that small for days, it will make him look indecisive once again

INTERNATIONAL AID
EU: $3.6m
Australia: $380,000
UK: $177,000 and 60-strong team
US: $100,000
China: 49 rescuers, dogs, 17 tons of equipment
Japan: 50 rescue workers
Turkey: five teams of rescuers and 11 tonnes of aid
Russia: 30 rescuers, sniffer dogs, special equipment
Germany: $60,000

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4324014.stm

[eleanor.livejournal.com]

Quite frankly, that wouldn't even be a generous personal check, at least not from the income bracket that benefits from upper income tax breaks.

[scottscidmore.livejournal.com]

The very 1st response is often using monies from funds that the president/prime minister has access to without seeking approval. What's more important is what is offered a day or so later, and what is finally delivered.

Closer to home

[scottscidmore.livejournal.com]

Mexico May Spend $463 Mln to Repair Storm Damage, Fox Says

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

Well, the private sector will pick up the slack. I hear bin Laden's pretty generous in some parts of the world.

[kate-schaefer.livejournal.com]

As Scott surmised, it was just the early response. By yesterday afternoon, the US had pledged $50 million, which seems much more proportionate.