Sorry snori, Your little chart is a FAIL. The simple and plane fact is the US has contributed more than all of those others on that list, COMBINED.
"According to the OECD, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the US gave between $6 and $15 billion in foreign aid in the period between 1995 and 1999. In absolute terms, Japan gives more than the US, between $9 and $15"
So, not really it seems.
porkenbeans wrote:Icould be wrong, but, I think this chart shows the amount of "Government" charity, NOT charity among individuals.
You are wrong, and you could've checked the link I provided if you don't want to sound ignorant.
It combines both government and individual charity.
The countries at the top of this list are naturally going to be those that are more, er, shall I say "Socialists".
My guess is that, of individuals giving to charities around the world, The people of the US would top the list.
Certainly both true. However, don't forget that Americans pay far less in taxes than those European Nations. If you pay half in taxes what someone in Sweden does it should be of no suprise that you have more money to give to charity. (And also don't forget that invididuals in the USA make more money than people in Europe, so naturally in terms of total aid given per person they would be on top even if they might give a smaller percentage.)
Yes, Americans are overal generous people.
But they have more money to be generous with
and their government gives so much less that as a percentage of it's total GDP it looks horrible.
Woodruff wrote:EDIT: According to that website, it is aid given by corporations and individuals. HOWEVER, it also does not include "charity given within it's own country"...well what the hell? As far as I'm personally concerned, that invalidates the chart entirely. It is a useless addition to the thread, Snorri.
It's not only aid given by corporations and individuals, but also the government. (without the government it would actually not mean much, we're talking about nations here)
And no charity given within it's own country does in fact make it perfectly viable and actually worse for European nations because they spend a lot more money on the poor in their own country. (due to them being welfare states)
Read the whole thing, it's interesting. It mentions that the USA also "ties" it's aid which means the money they give must be spent on American products and services. Which is kinda harsh.
Also it mentions the USA gives more to allies like Israel than other poor countries.