Tsunami - numbers affected are mind boggling

A truly sad story indeed... each morning I'm greeted with the headlines telling me how much the death toll has risen. With regard to what you feel are pultry numbers in terms of monetary aid, I will not say that i agree or disagree with you. I can say that I will make my contribution, that which I see fit. However, its easy to be torn between where I should send a blanket, where I should donate canned foods, and where I should send a check. I live in the metro-DC area, and while walking in the District recently, I saw a man sleeping on a subway vent, using old newspapers as a blanket. My heart goes out to him as well. There will always be another disaster; another hungry mouth to feed...another day that makes me feel fortunate for simply having a roof over my head (not to mention the computer I'm sitting in front of to write this, or the car I use to drive to work).

liberalist whiney sect.......not sure who they are but I am of a left wing bent BUT I am also not a radical left wing socialist pinko.

I do how ever feel that the numbers and devestation that occoured do require more of an effort by the governments. I think what they have done is a GREAT starting point but.......

As far as I am aware the man sleeping on the vent does not HAVE to sleep there. My understanding is that there are shelters, social security, churches etc who could give this man care, blankets, food etc. (ignoring other issues such as mental health, drugs etc). I may be mistaken about the social security system in the US so I apologise if I am misled.
The problem in relation to these counties that have been affected by the devestation are that in general they have no social security and there was wide spread poverty to start with.

Also did not the US ask for aid when they had some natural disasters....maybe not in money,blankets but defenitly in manpower. My uncle is a rural fire fighter who went to the US (calafornia??) to help with the huge fires you guys had. What one country needs in man power another needs in money.

My post is just a reminder to help (IN YOUR OWN WAY) these people who are in a very vulnerable position.

"In two days private American citizens have given more than $1 million to the relief efforts for World Vision".....considering that there over 300 million american citizens that is ....hmmmmmmm....I think I had better stop now as I do not want this to turn into a who is better than who and whos politics are better than who's.....You will note I have said that even my own country is letting the team down as well so do not feel i am picking on the US because I am not.

not saying it is not good........it is a great starting point.......

And now we're bashing whiny liberals? Dear God, WHAT NEXT?! ;-) (just kidding)

Can you hear that? That's the sound of me clapping. Couldn't agree with you more. w00t w00t. Now if only we could get rid of the existing government charity programs called Social Security, Unemployment, Welfare, Medicare, etc... Is there a government program that can call itself a success?

Liberal, conservative, whatever. . . "If you take a stand you create an opposite" (I think Mother Teresa said this). . .make some effort for good whether it is getting your crabby, whiney butt on a bike or writing a check to some charity that has a positive record, go do it.

Did it this am - both check and crabby butt

I'm envious of the ride part. I'm stuck in the rain

Don't be too impressed, it was a friends stationary bike while channel surfing and some backwards pushups on his coffee table. I'm in Alaska for the holidays and running or biking is possible but would have to be on ice and snow. My efforts for good are most often minimal.

Oops, didn't mean to highjack the thread here.

A social scientist who studies these things and a Quaker friend of mine both recommended Catholic Relief Services for donations, so my check went to Catholic Relief Services. A cousin, who worked all around that area, recommended giving to CARE. Also I saw that Habitat is doing something and Doctors Without Borders always seem good.

I'm always hesitant to give money without knowing much about the organization. I'm afraid it just gets sucked into a red tape quagmire without doing much good but felt I had to at least try.

Actually helping in these situations sounds like an amazingly complicated proceedure.