Kyla - > On the one hand, I do agree with you. Looking to the government for a solution is a waste of time. On the other hand I don’t think the government should be let off the hook because of its piss poor management style. That’s the problem, we don’t hold the government accountable.

Charity should not be placed solely on religious institutions. Look at it this way, if the government put the task of getting poor people off of their feet on the churches, it would be putting the future of its financial base in danger. An unemployed person getting three square meals from Calvary Episcopal’s kitchen probably won’t have the means to pay taxes. No taxes, no money for the government. “Charity” from Uncle Sam is not just a leg up, it’s an investment.

Religious institutions have enough trouble keeping the lights on (okay, not all…I’m sure you and I could tour Memphis and find a few churches who could fund a whole bunch of families). But, those types of mega churches are few and far between.

Yep, there was mismangement of the FEMA money…a SMALL portion of the FEMA money. But, that’s the stuff that makes headlines, just like the stars who contribute.

January 2009 can’t come fast enough.
http://endofbush.xerratus.com/

BTW, Anthony Robbins is not a motivational speaker. He’s a guy that cares a lot and puts his energy and his money where it will do the most good for the most people. He’s made his money being a peak performance coach for 3 million people worldwide in live events, and another 130 million people through his audio products, in other words, he’s earned it by adding value to other humans.

It’s not positive thinking bullshit. He doesn’t give a damn what you think, or tell you what to believe. He only cares that you are introduced to the tools to find out for yourself: what is important to you, what you’ve chosen to use as excuses for not living up to your potential, and how to break through and go for the best that you are.

Money that was sent by the federal gov’t to Louisiana for the levees was diverted to other uses. FEMA money has gotten diverted for breast enhancements and stipper tabs. Huge contracts went to Haliburton, with no competitive bids, for road reconstruction, etc. People who lived in Houston tried to line up with Katrina people to scam the gov’t out of emergency relief cash.

When the gov’t is involved the waste factor is often larger than the help that finally gets to the people in need. I helped one family have a place to live. I worked 24/14 treating animals injured by the hurricanes. And then I made a small contribution to an organization that I knew would not divert the money away form those who need the help.

Thank you for contributing in any way that you have.

My opinion is that charity belongs in the realm of the church, and should not be a state sponsored affair. We should pay less taxes, and should tithe to charities that produce good results.

The government’s job is to provide infrastructure, not comfort the needy and provide for the poor. And especially not to siphon off resources meant for levees. They have done a piss poor job on infrastructure, and a piss poor job on disaster relief. Looking to them for solutions is a waste of time, let’s actually help people instead.

If the welfare of our nation is left up to Hollywood stars and motivational speakers, then we’re in trouble.

My hallucination is, many American people think the government should be doing more, and at the same time, feel no personal responsibility to help.

Oprah, Brad Pitt, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and other celebrities are trying to get money into the gulf coast.

The Anthony Robbins Foundation has a matching funds deal with the US gov’t. For every $50,000.00 Anthony raises, he can build 3 houses. http://www.anthonyrobbinsfoundation.com earmark your donation to Katrina relief.

87 cents of every dollar goes directly to direct relief, with 13 cents on the infrastructure to disperse the aid. Not many charities, and damned few foundations have those kind of numbers.

I’ve donated 14 days of my time, a $9,000.00 motorhome (for which I’m still paying) directly to relief efforts and to house one family, and $5,110.83 in cash to the Anthony Robbins Foundation. Why? ‘Cause they are my people.

My wife set up a drive here in Canada for school supply donations and sent 3 UPS trucks full to Baton Rouge where a lot of the inner city kids have relocated. She’s never been to Louisiana or Mississippi, and isn’t even American.

Y’all?