gruffbrown

You're all heart Rete. I bet if it was you in Lebanon, you'd be at the front of the line at the Embassy demanding your rights as a Citizen.

Ray

I believe State dept advice for the last 20 yars has remained ..travel to Lebanon at your own peril ..

Partystar

To me, this kinda thing reminds me the areas of possible natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, tornadoes etc. People don't have to live in those areas, but choose to, if something were to happen (Katrina), people would hope that the government would help them, isn't it kinda the same thing? People go/live there knowing the dangers, but would like some help should the shit hit the fan. It's not exactly the same thing, but it's close.

gruffbrown

Oh that's OK then, let's just leave them there, their fault. Not our problem.

Ray

But thats not the arguement .. It whether those people who chose to go to an area that their goverment told them was dangerous ..but they went there anyway ..no doubt infused by better pay ....and now they want to be removed for free ... instead of coughing up a minute portion of the cost ...

Yorkieabroad

I was working for an oil major in the far east when the indonesian crisis blew up in the late 90's. We needed to evacuate staff from a couple of chemical plants, so we chartered a ferry to get them and their families out, regardless of nationality - including a few indonesians who didn't work for us, but were concerned about their safety. There was no question of charging them for it - the company put them there, so the company looked after them. As it should be.

dan_alford

Controversial Muslim cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed, who was banned from the UK, has attempted to board a ship evacuating Britons from Lebanon.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5202018.stm

I guess he doesn't fancy the idea of the Israelis coming to pay him a visit. Might have something to do with some words he said about Israel once ....

gruffbrown

Yes Ray, all the US Citizens and their Dependents and Government Employees went to Lebanon because of the higher pay, therefore they can more than afford to pay their Government to Rescue them from a war zone. Because of course the US Military is a privately funded Organisation, which only offers it services for a fee.

Ray

I never knew that .... Bill Gates must fund them.....

gruffbrown

I see Rete has flamed and moved on, never to return, in her own inimitable style.

Ray

Anyway !! when the invasion of NJ happens... you will soon be on the dog for me to come and rescue you ... And I will tell you now .. there will be a charge ... and extra for the cat ...

gruffbrown

That's OK, I'll wait for FEMA

snowbunny

Feline Emergency Monitary Assistance?

gardnma

Perhaps civilized is too strong a word, fair may be better.
Certainly to assist the underpriviliged is not barbaric. To not give a damn under the guise of empowering personal freedom isn't barbaric either - it is callous.
The extreme of your position will foster an environment where the individual is totally left to his own devices to sink or swim. Not everyone is capable of swimming and they need help.
Me, I can swim and have no problem subsidising, with tax money, those who cannot. Those who will not, is another story. As for the example of child subsidy as in the UK, its fully equitable. Those who need it, get it. Those who don't - so what, its a freebie. They can buy a latte on the way to work in the morning.

Sorry if you found my position offensive. At least at the moment we still have a choice.

Partystar

Good post. I like to think of it this way, I would hope that if I feel upon hard times, that I would have a safety net, like unemployment benefit, job seekers allowance etc. I like to help others, I would hope that someone would do the same for me, should I need it, without expecting something in return.