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The Lowest Instincts
Dec. 29th, 2004 12:26 pmThe huge loss of life in South Asia is horrifying, and there's not much else to say about it. I sent money to Oxfam America, which is as effective a response as any.
Many are appalled at Bush's response to the disaster (he's offering less less than he's spending at his inauguration) and over American stinginess in general when it comes to foreign aid. It's worth remembering, though, that it isn't the American people who are stingy, it's the American government. Americans spend a lot on charity. For reasons I don't quite understand, though, US politicians appeal to the lowest voter instincts to a far greater extent than their European brethren (at least since World War II, of course).
It's a pattern I've seen, for example, over the death penalty. According to polls, Europeans are just as enthusiastic for capital punishment as Americans, but Europeans have abolished the practice -- and as far as I know, there's little pressure to resume it -- while we execute people by the hundreds. In a sense, US politicians are more democratic, giving people what they want whether it's disgusting or not. I don't know why, though.
Many are appalled at Bush's response to the disaster (he's offering less less than he's spending at his inauguration) and over American stinginess in general when it comes to foreign aid. It's worth remembering, though, that it isn't the American people who are stingy, it's the American government. Americans spend a lot on charity. For reasons I don't quite understand, though, US politicians appeal to the lowest voter instincts to a far greater extent than their European brethren (at least since World War II, of course).
It's a pattern I've seen, for example, over the death penalty. According to polls, Europeans are just as enthusiastic for capital punishment as Americans, but Europeans have abolished the practice -- and as far as I know, there's little pressure to resume it -- while we execute people by the hundreds. In a sense, US politicians are more democratic, giving people what they want whether it's disgusting or not. I don't know why, though.
