Should U.S. taxpayers spend $1 billion to reconstruct Georgia?
A refugee shelter in Tbilisi, Georgia. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Barack Obama wants to give one billion American dollars to the Republic of Georgia for reconstruction efforts. The United States is already providing humanitarian assistance… as it should. This would be extra. The proposal actually came from Senator Joseph Biden, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, who is also rumored to be on Obama's shortlist for V-P.
Biden went to Georgia last week and came back saying the Russian invasion of its neighbor is quote "one of the most significant events to occur in Europe since the end of communism." end quote. Biden's vowing to work with the White House to get legislation passed so that the U.S. can start spending that money as soon as Congress reconvenes.
Hey it's not like we aren't already spending a few bucks overseas. $700 billion a year on imported oil… 200 billion a year on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tens of billions to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure.
Now it's time to start boxing up hundred dollar bills and sending them to Mr. Saakashvili who started this whole dust up with the Russian bear? Give me a break.
We're almost ten trillion dollars in debt… with 63 trillion in unfunded liabilities for our own entitlement programs like medicare and social security… an estimated 500 billion dollar deficit for next year. Our own infrastructure is falling down around our ears… I mean come on… I'm sure the Georgians are very nice people… but we're busted over here.
Here’s my question to you: Should American taxpayers spend $1 billion for reconstruction in the republic of Georgia?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Stephanie from Minneapolis, Minnesota writes:
Are we seriously discussing donating $1 billion to Republic of Georgia when the Gulf Coast STILL lies in ruins from Hurricane Katrina?
Alex from North Carolina writes:
A problem we didn't create is not a problem we should pay for, unless we can borrow it from China. Oh that’s right. We have been there and done that. Obama you have lost a voter!
Billy from Las Vegas writes:
The Russians broke it. Let them pay for it. We have enough problems in our own State of Georgia (and the other 49).
Maybe they can get a loan from the Iraqis? They got $79 BILLION dollars sitting in various banks.
George from Tacoma, Washington writes:
Yes, if we allow the Russians to reassert their control over the region, 1 billion dollars will be nothing compared to what we will spend out of fear. We will spend less than we would later if we bail on them… Stop them now and stop them fast. It's a bargain.
Bill from Tampa, Florida writes:
What would a Billion dollars do to help support our education system? It would do a Hell of a lot! There would be no more schools with Asbestos, no more outdated books. The answer is No Jack!!!!!
Rufus from Twentynine Palms, CA writes:
Jack, you owe me a new keyboard for my computer…I just spat Diet Dr. Pepper all over it when I read this question. It convinced me that you missed your calling as a stand-up comedian. If we have that kind of money to spend cleaning up Russia’s messes, then send me a few billion so I can build that EPIC Jack Cafferty Comedy Club in Branson, Missouri…a monument to the funniest old curmudgeon that ever lived.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
We did not create this mess. Make the Russians cough up for this one.
Bernie
Lowell, MA
Should American taxpayers spend $1 billion for reconstruction in the republic of Georgia?
American's no, McCain yes!
After all McCain all but assured his bud, Mikheil Saakashvili, that the US would come to his aide if those commie Russian's tried anything with his nation.
Maybe "maverick" can ask his moneybags wife to toss a few coins in "Mik's" direction...
Jenna
Roseville CA
Maybe they might think about spending 1 Billion in Georgia... Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, and the other 46 states first before going across the world to give our money away?
I'm sure if John McCain gets elected we'll be spending that much and more. With all of the pro-Georgia lobbiest John McCain surrounds himself with, we will probably become Georgia's free meal ticket for the next 4 years.
At least in Georgia, unlike Iraq, the American taxpayers will be paying to repair the damage done by somebody else.
No. We should spend 1Billion Dollars rebuilding America and let the rest of the world fend for itself. We profit nothing from a democratic Georgia but arms dealers and oilmen (you know, the real government) do. This is exactly why Georgia will get its Billion Dollars and we will not.
This has got to be one of more ridiculous questions you've posed Jack.
Why should we? Jack, do you want to pay for a body work I need done on my car after some guy backed into me at work?
Hell No! We have spent too much already in Iraq.
Yes, we should support Georgian reconstruction, but with strings attached. The Georgians can't pull this John Wayne routine again, no matter how much McCain encourages them. Russia needs to be shown the error of their ways, but Georgia needs learn it's lessons too.
Absolutely not!
no, russia should pay for it seeing they started the conflict
Of course we should.....but before we do maybe we could knock out a couple of small projects at home first:
1) Fixing the economy
2) Reducing our dependence on foreign oil
3) Getting our troops home
4) Securing our borders
5) Giving every citizen affordable healthcare
6) Paying our teachers more
Once we knock those simple ones out, then we can right a check to Georgia. By the way, don't forget to have China or our grandchildren sign it...it's there money we would be sending anyways.
No.
Absolutely not!
Let's invest in the USA for once. I pay taxes to see my money go to thugs in Iraq, rebels in Afganistan, refugees in Africa, and millionaires in the UAI.
If you think Georgia is bad, come to Detroit we could use that money.
how loud can I say NO. I am tired of rebuilding the rest of the world while we still have people homeless in the New Orleans area. We need to take care of our Home first, than we can be helpfull to the rest of the world.
Hell no. My car has to go to the shop because my roads are full of pot holes. My health care sucks, my drugs have increased in prices, my groceries I cannot afford. I guess I should die and then my puny money can rebuild Georgia. When have we become the police and rebuilders of the world? Take care of we Americans first, please.
If Georgia (the country, not the state, Mr. McCain) has enough to spend over $80 million dollars in payments for lobbyists like McCain's chief of staff in his campaign, they have enough to pay for their own cleanup. They started this little fracas with Russia, and between the two of them, they should foot their own bills.
Better to spend $1 billion to help a fledgling ally with a democratically elected government rebuild their nation that was destroyed by an aggressive neighbor's blatant act of aggression and violation of their sovereignty, than to pour 11 times that much each month down the toilet that is also known as Iraq.
In short, you betcha. It's a far better use of my tax money, to be sure. We have always helped our friends, and this is no time to stop. The Georgians have obviously taken an enormous chance by aligning itself with The West and this is one way to let them know that they have made the correct choice..
Right now, we are spending billions of dollars trying to rebuild Iraq. How can we afford to help rebuild Iraq?
Jack,
When my neighbors ex-wife broke out all his windows I did not pay for the repairs. But I did give him some advice. Stop making her mad and you will live in peace.
Joe
St Louis, MO
Why not Jack. Whats another Billion? George has got it. Grows it at his money tree orchard in Texas.
Let McCain pay for it with beer money. That way maybe he can help keep us in Iraq for another 100 years for our 'honor'. So how much 'honor' is there worth saving for the worst policy decision in American history?
Jack,
Does the United States have that much money left in it's checking account? If we do can we start paying back the money we owe to the foreign countries we are borrowing from. If we don't start paying back the money we owe we could soon be facing foreclosure proceedings and be evicted from our country. So my answer is no, we should make sure our own house is in order before we start offering to build one for anyone else.
Judie
St. Augustine, Fl
Why is it the United States has to be the general contractor reconstructing was zones? Haven't we learned from the subcontractors in Iraq that fleeced the reconstruction coffers due to unconscionable or nonexistent workmanship attached to inflated private security looking the other way?
Manchaca, Texas
No, I think it will be an insult to the people of New Orleans who are desperately need government funding to rebuild their city, the people who need to have healthcare, school officials who need better school equipment to educate the children, people who need money to pay for excessive gas prices. Overall, this is insult to all americans. Jeff, this is another plain example on how our government abandon its citizens to achieve international power.
Why not? The Federal Reserve has the printing press running at full tilt in its campaign to destroy the dollar. What's an extra billion between friends? Perhaps we should consider sending aid to China as well now that our economy is in the toilet and we can't buy as many cheap imported goods.
No. We're already paying to rebuild two countries. Let Iraq spend the $1 billion.
NO! It's time American money was spent on Americans. Keep the money at home for health care, schools, fixing roads, fighting gasoline prices, developing alternative energy, creating jobs – need I go on?
That's a trick question isn't Jack The U.S. is broke and can't even afford to look after their own citizens.
Your question should have been do you think China would mind lending us an extra billion dollars to send to Georgia!
Yeah sure, why not? We're giving money to be re-paid to China by our children's children to EVERYBODY, why not another US/Isreal puppet regime?
I think the US tax payers should spend $1 billion to reconstruct the US
Georgia attacked South Ossetia, which voted itself independent in 1999, and brutally killed 1500 civilians.
Bush and McCain undoubtedly encouraged Georgia in this military blunder, but I don't want my tax dollars to pay for yet another one of the Republican party's collosol military mistakes, Jack.
That depends on which Georgia you're talking about. If it's the one in conflict with Russia, that would be a resounding NO. We're already up to our eyeballs in debt with the Iraq fiasco, and we can't even take care of our own in the United States, where those other Georgians live. When are we going to stop throwing good money after bad and start considering our own citizens first?
Rebecca in Palm Desert
Hell no, the Russians are the ones that went in their messing everything up let them pay for it! We messed up things in Iraq and we got stuck with the bill, so thats how it works.
It's a shame what happen in Gorgia, but sending a Billion over to rebuild what the Russians did is a Bush move. =NJ
Jack,
What is another billion? Just add it to the deficit or "borow"
again from the Social Security fund.
If the U.S were not so broke, I would say yes. If one of
Mccains close advisors were not a lobbyist for Georgia
I would say yes.
We need any ally we can get, even if that means buying
them. Course, why are we even commenting. The gov
will do what the gov wants to do regardliess of popular
opinion.
How much money was put into re-building New Orleans after Katrina ?
Georgia started this conflict, brought it on themselves, and now we're supposed to pay to repair the damage ?. We have needs in America that need to be met. Sorry, not now, maybe later.
Jack,
We still have unfinished building left to do in the Gulf states, I don't see how we should pay for rebuilding in another country. It would be nice if our government put the American public first for a change.
Robert
Forest, Virginia
Sure why not. Borrow a billion dollars from China and with interest we'll owe them another $1,080,000,000 which we can pay back from my great-great- grandchildren.
Jack,
Instead of cash, why not just send the FEMA Katrina supplies that were (are) hiding in some other warehose somewhere. There are bound to be more supplies that did not reach the REAL people that needed them
The Americans that stick their nose in the business of other countries should cough up the money to "fix" their mess, not the US taxpayers. Just like the ones that want and vote for war should be the first to enlist along with their immediate families. Let's see how many wars of choice our elected idiots start then.
Only if every willing an abled unemployed person in the state of Georgia gets the lucrative contracts associated with the reconstruction projects.
Jack,
Sadly I think we have to depending on what involvement Bush and McCain had in starting this. There is no way that Georgia launched an attack on Ossetia without knowing Russia would retaliate. Someone had to give them the courage to do this.
Dan
Yes, if for nothing more than to make it safe for the oil companies to operate. We know they cannot afford to spend the money. They don't even have the money to drill on all of the land they have already leased. Save the pipelines, save Georgia, save the oil companies. It is a win, win, win situation, for everyone but the American people. But then again, who really cares about them anyway. We could pay for it by adding a dollar or two tax on a gallon of gas. So what if they complain, they're not going to vote.
Somerdale, NJ
At some point you've got to draw the line. We just don't have it to give. This is what 7-1/2 years of poor diplomacy and intelligence will do to a country.
Sure, what the hell. A billion dollars there will certainly go further than here in the U.S. or Iraq or Afghanistan. U.S. politicans perhaps could learn what a billion dollars could purchase. (As long as they aren't no bit contracts)
How about spending a billion dollars to reconstruct New Orleans, or the Mid West? Whatever happened to 'charity begins at home"?
DUH...........Ya Think? Let them work it out with John McCain. I know he wants some of the churches he used to attend from the 4th century to be rebuilt so make him the backer and Project Manager.
Let the UN or someone else pay for it. When I look at the loss count for Iraq and Afganistan, the US casualties are the greatest. Let someone else pay the tab. Let's stop listening to the garbage that Sen. McCain is spewing and let's stand behind Sen. Obama and make America great again. Let's build our economy, our infrastucture, our schools and universities, our jobs, etc.
Hell no. We didn't start it. And we're in a money crunch with two wars going. With all those oil pipelines, someone in that part of the world could afford it far more.
Yes. Let's give Georgia tons of money. Then they can start owning the United States. Then we can give more to China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Mexico....golly, the list is endless.
I'm going to start teaching my daughter the names of currencies in foreign countries. Since one of them will be defining our economy at some point in her lifetime, I want her to be prepared. She's already taking Spanish in high school. When she asks why she needs to do this, I just tell her, "Because it will soon be our national language!"
Jack it seems funny to me that we are trying our best to create something in Iraq that georgia already has. A Democratic country, a Democracy. So we invade a country to make a democracy but yet we want back Georgia that is already a democracy. I think we should make Iraq with its 70 something billion dollars pay for the recontruction. Isnt that what Democracies do for others. So for Iraq to get a real taste of what a democracy is , Let them pay. Since they are not paying for their own rebuilding.
Not before New Orleans!
Only if you want to bring back the Cold War. That might seem attractive to those who are afraid the war on terrorism isn't scaring people enough to take the attention away from who is really screwing them.
No Jack we should spend any money we have for this country. That's why this country is going down the tubes now ......too much going out and not enough coming in.
no!..we are broke now because of the war!! our economy and healthcare is crumbling through the rocks..we need to focus on our country not russia.
Sure let's pay 'em.
But let's use some of that Iraq surplus cash.
Please. Let that guy that works on Mccain camp give back that 800,000or so dollars, and let John Mccain and his wife kick in a million or so that ought to get it done.
My taxes are going to repair another country? What ever happened to fixing our own country when we have millions of families here who cannot afford to live because the top 20% has all of the money.
Have Irag spend its oil revenues to reconstruct Georgia. I'm tired from borrowing from peter to pay Paul.
No way, even though McCain/Bush might have started it.
Since this was essentially a campaign stunt, let the McCain campaign and the RNC pay for it.
There a time coming when you have to yank the credit card from your ex-wife, sorry the US credit limit is not unlimited.
Regime change please.
What? No. That makes no sense.
Boise, ID
did we damage georgia? i say we adopt a policy of "hey we did not break it, so we will not pay for it".
America should not rebuild Georgia. We can neither be the policeman for the world nor the janitor for the world. Georgia was dumb enough to give a Bronx cheer to Russia and should be responsible for its own actions.
No, we should spend billions reconstructing the United States.
My brain says that we should help Georgia, a young and fledging democracy that helped the US in Iraq, but my heart says let the Russians (the perpetrators of the destruction with their "disproportionate response") foot the bill. At the very least, the US and European countries that belong to the G8 should suspend Russia's membership until they pay up for the damage.
No one listened to Gorbachev on Larry King saying this was all set up by Georgia as a way to get into NATO, and nobody cares that one of McCains' advisors is a lobbiest FOR Georgia, in fact recently recieving 800,000 dollars from that country, and in effect buying said presidential candidate. I'd like to think 'we the people' have a say, but we don't when the press won't responsibly cover the news, and when lobbiests control everything that happens to 'we the people'. Let's take that billion, and give some Americans some health care coverage. I'm an American first, not a Georgian. Is that all John McCain wants to do is be in war? Let's take care of us (US) first!
Sure, as soon as everything that needs to be done here is finished
No jack.McCain spoke on behalf of all Americans last week calling Americans –Georgians-Now let McCain act with Deeds and not Words.Come on John McCain ,Pay the bill.
McCain and his campaign should pay for it. After all, it was a suggestion from one of their surrogates that perhaps a "little" war or conflict would help McCain win. How convenient, isn't it?
Jack, This is one of the BIG REASONS I quit working and paying taxes and contributing. I guess this is the cheapeast and easiest way for the Federal Government to justify their existence and their jobs. Send our tax dollars to another Country to promote World Democracy while enriching themselves. Don't look for the Russians to be pulling out anytime soon. They are waiting for the spoils of war, (American Tax Dollars).
Heck No. As I remember, Georgia is the one that started this conflict. Plus helping one country is a slap in the face to the other one. We should get out of the business of sending aid unless we are sending it the people of the USA.
NO, we are already spending enough in Iraq and they have revenue from oil that is not going towards rebuilding their infrastructure. How thin can we spread ourselves when there is so much need here at home.
...And why no body asks who will pay for the destruction of South Osetia by Georgia
We could use some of that money in Iowa to reconstruct our towns after the flooding here this spring. But we aren't holding our breath, since they haven't even reconstructed New Orleans after Katrina. It would be nice to know the money I pay into taxes actually helped my fellow Americans for a change.
We should always fight to help the good guys. Just tell me who the "good guys" are in this conflict...
The rationale is sketchy, but perhaps Georgia is looking at this as a return on the lobbying funds that have gone to McCain's campaign.
Rockford, IL
Absolutely not!! It is time to look to our own country. As a matter of fact, it is way past that time.
After this administration, we need to rebuild The United States of America.
No one else, nope, no more money spent elsewhere!!
NO NO NO. McCain should pay for it because HE and his advisory talked Georgia into fighting Russia so McCain looked good politically. This is NOT an honest man!!!! McCain has no feelings for humanity and would send his own children to war for his own political gain!!!! NO MCCAIN-–Obama is going to have a lot to clean up after this mess the republicans have created!
I think it is about high time that NATO and some other org. step in. Why is it ALWAYS the USA??? It might be a bit different if e didn't have such a mess with our own country and crazy Iraq war. Like Iraq these countries never stand on the own after they get a taste of never ending American hand outs.
The old saying, "Charity starts at home". How can we be expected to help pull other people out of their mess when we can not take care of our own problems and this country is going under with the lack of jobs giving the country away and borrowing money, and so much more.
we can send them all the USA monopoly money they want just have Hasbro print it up
Hi Jack:
I think we are becomming too involved. We have enough money going to countries. How do we know that Georgia did not initiate the aggression? We don't. And if they did initiate the conflict, they did it without the prospect of victory. They do not have a military force capable of self defense. So they must be assuming the US would get involved. I think we should stay out of it. If they need basic necessities the UN should provide it. The US always goes out on a limb in these situations. Then we end up staying there in a military occupation. This is not Iraq or Kwuait. Russia is a much bigger and weel equiped adversary.
Mr. Obama, mind your business and fix the problems here on our soil.
Ron San Diego
the Russians broke it. let them pay for it. we have enought problems in our own State of Georgia (and the other 49).
maybe they can get a loan from the Iraqis? they got $79 BILLION dollars sitting in various banks.
I hope the US government sends several hundred billion dollars of aid to the country of Georgia so the Russians can haul that back to Russia like they did the Humvees. Maybe a few incumbents might get voted out then.
Of course Jack. It's not like the economy's bad or we're fighting two wars or anything like that.
No way we should stay out of it we have our own economic problems and not to mention we have to rebuild iraq, Since our current president invaded them on LIES sometimes the united states should stay out of other peoples messes and focus more on their own country!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Georgia is a strategic area for us and the rest of the West, so yes, a billion dollars to Georgia probably would be a good idea. See I told you Biden can actually think intelligently.
Geri – Mead, OK
No we should not. We should not be spending money on Iraq either. Of course I do not believe in foriegn aid to any country whether it is food or for repairing their infrastrucure. I believe that if you go to war because you have to with a country do what you have to do to win and let them use their own resources to rebuild their country. I also believe that after a few years of help if you cannot or will not take responsibility and feed yourself : Let nature take its course. The world is better off.
Hmm... so Russia invades a country, ostensibly to free people from the harsh rule of a nutjob leader, to promote it's sphere of influence, as well as gain access to oil infrastructure. For that we should pay some reconstruction costs.
How much has Russia forked over for Iraqi reconstruction?
Harry
Ky.
If Obama wants to do it, then let him use his campaign funds to pay for it. Doesn't he raise that much in a weekend?
No, Why is that americas problem! They should spend money here at home cleaning up after Katrina! The time to help them was before they destroyed themself by attacking Russian forces!
Absolutely NOT! I don't know why we should pay anything to Georgian. Is this item part of McSames foreign policy adviser and Georgian lobbyist.
If America supports democracy then we need to provide some kind of humanitarian assistance. The assistance doesn't have to necessarily be monetary. But if it is monetary, the international community needs to contribute to the cause as well. The U.S. is bogged down in two wars; one which is costing us 10 billion dollars a month. We need to get our house in order first and foremost before we take any further steps. This kind of question makes me ponder why there is even a United Nations or NATO.
Why not. They at least have a pipeline we can use and they seem to want us there.
It's not our responsiblility, Jack. If Georgia needs to be rebuilt either they can do it or get assistance from Russia.
Not until they rebuild American communities hit by weather disasters. Let Russia rebuild what they tore down. Just as the US should rebuild Iraq.
Carol in Oregon
Jack
No we should not spend that money. Were going to need that money saved for the next World War that is coming. Ukraine is probally looking over their shoulder, and Poland does not look very safe. I'm so gratefull that George Bush looked into Putin's eyes, again mission accomplished!
Why do you think we have a spare billion!?
In case you have not checked lately America is $9 trillion in debt and counting!
Wasn't it Joe Biden who suggested that we send Georgia one billion to repair their country? He went there right away and stuck his nose into their business and now he wants us to foot the bill. I am sorry for the losses that Georgia has endured but charity begins at home.
Rose
AZ
This is the paradigm that foreign policy under both the Democrat and Republican party leadership in Washington has brought us to.
They really believe they can just through money and U.S. forces at the worlds problems–and everything will be made better.
Reality is–we need to curtail foreign aid and assert our influence over other wealthy industrial and democratic nations to pull their weight. The worlds a big place–and the American taxpayer shouldn't continue to bear the burden for it's safety.
Libertarians–2008
Had enough? Visit, donate, unleash real change!!
Absolutely not ! We would have to borrow from China to reconstuct what the Russians destroyed....
World Court should take Russia to Court and fine them.
Russia has looked like the Soviet Union of old , sending agents to kill via dangerous agents such as in London (it matters not who else dies in their vengeful quest), killing journalists at will and I"m sure alot actions we don't know about.
Elaine Johnson
Chicago, IL
Well, If Americans have too much cash on their hands, why not? Besides, it's not like that money could be used in a better way like to help Americans who struggle to keep a roof over their heads.
No. Humanitarian help is fine, but they have their own oil money to rebuild with. I can't see us getting involved in that expense.
Only if it is the state of Georgia in the United States. Atlanta, Ga is close to the top of the nation's house foreclosures and probably unemployment. Remember Katrina. We had to absorb many of the residents and the government has yet to reimburse us for any of the money that we gave to help the Katrina victims.
I'm all for it, Jack! Right after we're done in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, all the towns hit by tornados, Veterans Hospitals, the National Park System, Schools...well you get the picture. This administration has ignored our National Interests while claiming to protect them. Much more of this "Protection" and we won't have anything left.
We might as well because if Senator McCain gets in office he will start another war somewhere and we will be spending that and more. It seems to me he is living out his Vietnam days and just wants to fight somebody as payback.
Jack,
I am very sorry that Russia went in and caused damage and heartache to Georgia.
I am also sorry that my friends son took his truck and rolled it into another vehicle causing damage.
I have no intention of paying for either.
Why should we rebuild Georgia when we can't even rebuild New Orleans.
Too much suspicion still exists about who started this flare-up.
Until the suspicion is either removed or confirmed, there shouldn't be consideration for spending one dollar on helping Georgians do any
reconstructing.
There's more than enough need for reconstructing United States
infrastructure at this time. Wouldn't it be wise to see what we're
getting before the money is spent?
The U.S. should pay NOTHING toward the reconstruction of Georgia.
Every single person responding to you today is working very hard to keep their homes, their families together, and trying constantly to adjust to the rising costs of living.
Every day WE, THE PEOPLE, are WORKING to feed and clothe people half way around the world who care little nor know little of Americans.
Remember this: While the other half of the world is sleeping, we're busting our own butts to skrimp and save OURSELVES.
Jack,
Yeah if your talking about Atlanta, Georgia
Karen-Pheonix;;;
McCain has sent his own children to war–as a Senator he approved Bush's authority to invade Afghanistan and Iraq.
But the reason his children chose to serve their nation is because they admired their father and the principles upon which our nation was founded on and prospered by–they felt a responsibility to serve their nation to continue a heritage of service to their ideals.
What kind of legacy of responsibility and patriotism are you leaving your own children when you soil the sacrifices and bloodshed of heroes who chose to serve our country of their free will?
There is NO way the U.S. should pay one thin dime to rebuild Georgia. Russia broke it, let them rebuild. We should tell the 535 Moron's currently impersonating congress to rebuild the U.S.
Jack, we have spent enough money in the past liberating kuwait and in our present fighting in iraq and afghanistan. Now it is time for the arab nations in the region to give a small portion of their oil profits to us to be used for reconstruction in Georgia.
How can we now that we are considered a 3rd world country? I hope we won't owe the Chinese ANOTHER billion! Why is it always up to us? Let some other country pitch in this time.
Obama is spending money that we don't have.What charge card is he using ?
Yes Jack! There are a friend and a democracy.
Russia who caused all this destruction should be responsible for Georgia's reconstruction. America keeps borrowing from Peter to take care of Paul. We are now in serious Debt due to the policies of the present administration. We need to use the taxpayers money to rebuild A) roads and bridges B) economy C) the housing market D) unemployment and E) healthcare. Charity begins at HOME!
Georgia started this fiasco.Why should the American public fund another overseas debacle!
Yes, Jack. However, I wish we a fair policy for all nations in need of our help in the world.
Absolutely not! Georga started this mess by giving the finger to Russia in the first place. Let the Chinese do it since we would have to borrow the money from them anyway.
I wish somebody questioned Joe Biden and Bush before giving $10 Billion gift money to Musharraf.
Jack, what's the phrase in Chinese for " Hey! Can I borrow some more money, please?"
Sure, but this time lets negotiate the sole rights to their energy resources in advance.
Oh come on Jack! This should not even be an issue! Of course we should help the Georgians. $1 Billion is a drop in the bucket, especially when you consider we spend that much every couple days on an unjust war supporting an Iraqi government awash in Oil Profits. Get real Jack!
Personally, Jack, thanks to this President of ours, I think with all the money we've been giving to China and all the money we're going to give them in the future, why not let them pay for it?
Seriously, maybe we could stop giving so much money to George the Simple's friends and we might have enough to help them and us.
Hey Jack..I watch you everyday. On the days I leave a comment, I call my buddy in Memphis and tell him, "Jack's gonna read my comment today". So far I'm 0 for a thousand. How about today !!!!
Todays question ?? No way. Lets stop being big brother to everyone in the free world, and solve our own problems. Then again, maybe we don't know how, thats why we try to tell everybody else what to do.
No. Let us take care of America first for a change.
Absolutely not!! Where is all this money going to come from? Let our European friends start chipping in. After all, they are also reaping the benefits of Russia's new found wealth.
Louise IN
It sure beats spending $500 Billion to destroy a country.
Georgia is an ally in trouble and we should support them. And compared to the hundreds and hundreds of billions the Bush/McCain mistake in Iraq has cost us this is just a drop in the bucket. Gos, remember when McCain said we would be greeted as liberators and the the Iraq war would be paid for from that Iraq's oil supply? What a joke!
Jack America has spent more than 5 billion in Georgia since Bush took office. He's been creating "virtual bases" in Georgia in order to have a launching point to attack Iran and to secure the oil pipline that was built to exclude Russia from the oil in the Caspian Sea. Georgia's chamber of Commerce reads like a Who's Who list of former Reagan and Bush 41's former aides, and at the top of that list is Dick Cheney. America is going to be spending more than just $1 billion in Georgia. It does after all have OIL.
Jack; I think we should establish a general fund just for rebuilding
COUNTRIES. Just send me a bill. You do take plastic, don't you?
No, we should force the Georgia government to make reparation payments to the dissidents in South Odesia that they murdered BEFORE the Russian troops intervened.
no money to fix wht the russians broke........we dont have it anymore...................cancan
Jack, my question to you is where is the rest of the developed world, NATO, United Nations and all of the free nations of Europe. we do not have to be the long ranger of the world. if the other countries of the free world want to chip in than we should. as far as our country falling apart or our national debt we only have to look at our leaders (all our leaders) in federal, state and local government and we the voters or all citizens should take the blame because we put them in office.
I say yes, if and only if earmark spending is concurrently eliminated in Congress. I like to help our friends when we can afford it, but am hopeful that the EU will chip in.
No. Georgia started this mess by attacking the Ossetians, knowing that the Ossetians had the support of the Russians. I say that they knew full well what they were getting into and they can take care of themselves. International relief groups can help, but I don't see why WE should pay for Georgia's war-mongering.
I think Scheunemann and McCain should foot the bill. After all, they're the ones that encouraged Georgia to make their disastrous move.
And why, Jack, is there so little in the MSM about what actually happened in Georgia? Based on your question yesterday, it looks like only about 10% of the respondents realize that Georgia was the aggressor in this situation.
This said that Obama wants to give them this money, what's with this we had nothing to do with that mess. Russia can pay, does he want to get out of Iraq and go to Georgia, He does not have a clue.
Please someone stop this maddening, what is wrong with the USA.
No! the US needs to start becomming more fiscally isolationist.
No... Georgie is an lamb that picked a fight with a bear (Russia) becuase it thought a lion with no teeth (US) would come to its rescue.
How much can we give out in rebuilding and helping other nations come back from acts of barbarism before we deplete ourselves to the point that we leave ourselves open to becoming the next victim of the acts of barbarism?
The question isn't whether we should spend money there or on the things we need here - the question is whether we will continue to allow the top one percent of our citizens to have $80,000,000,000 a year in income to throw around on things like gold plated toilet handles and thousand dollar wine goblets, and lobbying for tax breaks, loopholes, shelters, and corporate subsidies for companies that don't need them.
If we stopped giving them so much political power we would have the money to do what we need to do both here and in Georgia. Don't forget who got it into the economic mess we're in - it wasn't Biden and it wasn't Obama.
Tim in Texas
Before helping Georgia should we not resolve some of our own financial issues? People are losing or have lost their homes, their jobs. They can not find jobs or often times can not look for a job due to the gas prices being so inflated. Charity should start at home.
If there is a real strategy for how this money would build stability and peace in the region then I think it is a small price to pay and could easily be funded by diverting money from the Iraq war. What I am afraid of is that this could just be an in-your-face tactic to galvanize the russians. My grandmother lived through two world wars, now I'm afraid that I'm going to live through two cold ones.
One billion dollar is just 0.1% of what is being spent overseas. That should tell us what we should do.
The politicians in America need to realize that we are not the fixer for everyone else's problems. We tried to "help" Iraq with their problams and look where that landed us. It ticks me off that people who are supposed to represent me, and my welfare, want to continue to ship my hard earned money elsewhere. We have enough things that we need to focus on here!
Why not Jack? We gave billions more to Iraq? and besides we have no real leverage to bark at Russia.. McCain does not like Russia and it's obvious. But for a man as old as he is, should no, stay close to your friends and even closer to your enemies.
I would hate to think that all of this with Georgia and Russia stemmed from turning around the polls for John McCain and giving him nine points over Obama. Is this what the world is turning to in order for the republicans to make any gain on Obama is to start a war knowing that republicans can deal with this? How shameful but in truth understandable. What a deplorable state of affairs!
Jack this is insane. This question has an obvious answer, NO!!! We don't have books for our children. Our infrastructure is collapsing. The fastist growing population in America is the homeless. Unemployment is rising in America. Most Americans can't afford health care or food or gas for their car or heating oil for their homes this winter. The cost of education has most American worried if they can provide a better life for their families. If those that run this country keep this up we won't have to worry about terrorists from abroad. They will be home grown.
No, let's spend some money to help us here at home, plain and simple.
Why Jack, should we waste our money in Georgia rebuilding their nation, when we would be better served wasting our money here at home, rebuilding America? At a cost of 500 million dollars apiece, we could build a total of 20 bridges to nowhere with a billion dollars. Let’s get this straight…we need to prioritize how we waste our tax dollars.
No, Jack. Help yes, reconstruct NO! It's up to the EU and Russia to pay for much of this one. We are currently strapped by picking up the tab in Iraq and most of Afghanistan. How come we never see China's Billions help with any of this? Why is it usually only the English speaking countries which come to aid our fellow countries?
Heck no!!!!
What is he thinking????We don't have enough money to take care of our own people....Bush has already sold our sole to the devel. We need to take care of the USA first and then maybe we can help Georgia. Obama, wake up, smell the roses, you are falling in the polls, You must be tired, get some rest........
Sure Jack, go ahead and rebuild another country shoot go ahead and rebuild the world and let the wealthiest, most sought after country goes down the drain. Give me me a break!! We need to rebuiuld our goverment as voters and stop votting for our friends. you wanna do something great, give a job to somebody who wants to work not just a paycheck, give a tax break a single mom or dad working two jobs to make ends meet, volunteerly give medical insurance to someone who needs serous medical help. That's the america i want
Who's going to rebuild the U.S.A. after we spend all our tax dollars overseas on ill-conceived wars and humanitarian efforts?
Mr. Cafferty,...There are a large number of unemployed, underfunded cities and towns, impoverished families, and elderly people in need of proper health care living in the 'state of Georgia', U.S.A. as well as every other state in the union. Why not start there first and put some of the tax payers money to work at home rather than just giving it to the 'Republic of Georgia.
Yes, as long as the Georgia contains the city of Atlanta! This is the one time when a John McCain geography special would be welcome!
This is going to sound a bit cold. But if the country of Georgia is a beneficial ally to the United States than I don't see why not. The US has few enough friends as is. However if the consequences of helping Georgia is more expensive than the costs of helping Georgia than I would not go beyond minimal humanitarian efforts.
No.
Heck yeah, why not? Go borrow the money from Countrywide – hear they have some good deals!
I like Joe Biden, but this is ridiculous. I have never understood why it's so easy for our government to spend money on foriegn aid and so difficult for them to spend money domestically on the things we really need. Our current spending is unsustainable and the open checkbook needs to be taken away from congress.
Absolutely not. The Russians broke it let them fix it. America is already wasting billions on Iraq and Afghanistan.
Jack, once again, this is another example of our country getting so low. First of all Jack, we are going to waste money, those that say otherwise are morons!! For crying out loud, we are in major debt!! What are we gonna do, huh? Put 3 trillion dollars on red and see if we get lucky?? LOL!!!
The matter of fact is Jack that we have to waste money, even if we feel like we don't have to.
I'm sorry to criticize my country but we're morons!! And let me tell you a secret Jack...........what if I told you that I have evidence at 2003 that I knew about the Iraq war than anything else??? Let's just say that a High-Schooler myself even knew the consequences. Believe it or not, is a journal that I wrote at that time and I still have it...I read it everyday...
That's it Jack!! No more secrets to be revealed! LOL!!!
I have always wondered about this Georgian deal. I think a deal was cut between our administration and the Russians before the invasion began, and this billion dollars is part of it. Why else would we remain so quiet while and quickly offer humanitarian aid. Something very underhanded has gone on and we are a part of it.
no
Of course we should. We lead them to believe we would back them up if they moved on the Russians. They moved, we blinked, case closed. We keep poking Russia with a stick, and the world will pay. Guess the war on terror isn't working for Republicans, so a cold war is the next problem to get us scared and vote Republican.
Michael
Meriden, Ct.
Why should we pay. We wrecked Iraq and are paying, let the Russians pay.
Jack, ol' boy...I can some that up in two works "Hell No"
Georgia was the aggressor. Why should American taxpayers pick up the pieces? If they have the money to lobby mccain and the neocons the way they have, they can pay for their own folly.
Jeez Jack, We are at least a trillion dollars in debt. We have two wars going on, New Orleans still looks like a war zone. Our infastructure is crumbling and our military is crippled. If these politicians want to help pay for the reconstuction, have them cough up the dough. I hear Cindy McCain is worth a cool 100 million. And Obama's books are always best sellers. Have them pony up the dough! Lord knows, we the average peons can't afford it.
Yes Jack. Haliburthon needs another contract to rebuild another country. They are doing such good job rebuilding Iraq squandring billions of dollars of our money.
Have you ever driven in Atlanta or tried to wade through the airport? Of course Georgia could use the money. How about a billion for every state?
Jack, you are right about Georgia starting this and once again the media is failing to effectively investigate.
Even after the blunders in Iraq, the media and people are once again buying what this administration is putting out. So, the billion should be spent on overhauling the media to report not only the good but the very bad and ugly that goes with it.
NO! They brought the destruction on themselves when they sent rockets into a place heavily populated with Russians. Why isn't Georgia's President being held accountable for his actions?
No! I believe NATO, the UN, and the EU along with the weak negotiators and non ezistant enforcers of France should. We are doing what we can honorably let them pay and demand repayment from Russia.
Washington and the rest of the world must think that the American taxpayers can afford to take care of everyone on the face of the earth. I am here in FL. today watching TS Fay flood our homes and destroy our property-Is anyone in Georgia, Russia or for that matter anywhere else in the world going to send us money to help rebuild our loses?
Where are we going to get the money? Borrow again. No rebuilding. They have enough money of their own from oil sales to rebuild their own country.
IF we can end the war, fix the energy crunch, solve the mortgage crises, create jobs for Americans, make our schools better, and get health care for every American here in the U.S., then yes : )
Where are we going to get the money? Borrow again. No rebuilding. Let them rebuild or try to get the Russians to bebuild. They broke it, they should fix it.
not one red cent. we can not even take care of our own. military aid ships were sent to goergia quicker than aid was sent to new orleans.
How many countries are we going to rebuild?
Lets get the Europeans involved in this one.
By the way,how about we start rebuilding our own country.
No.....that is not our responsibility. We are not financially healthy to help any nation. Let the NATO countries assist them with both financial and reconstruction assistance.
thank you Jack
If you do, have someone in charge other than the guys in charge of the reconstruction of New Orleans or Iraq . Didn't get the job done there. Look for better value for the money.
Only when we have gotten out of Iraq. I do not like the way Russia when into Georgia. It is like Israel going into Syria or the US going into Iraq. Also our new treaty with Poland and going to set up a missile there probably makes Russia a bit concern of the US motives.
You bet. This will keep the fight out of our yard.
If I can get hired to go over there and work for 3 months and make 8 grand a month, tax free...sure. If not...no
I wouldn't be surprised if John McSame as Bush, lobbyist campaign advisor, started the drums for Georgia and Russia.
If this is how he acts before he is elected, then we all better beat a path, to the Democratic booth for "Change"
Georgia wanted to be included in NATO. They were led to believe that this would offer some protection. If we can invade a nation hostile to democracy, isn't it important to give support to an actual fledgling democracy in the form of humanitarian aid?
Yes we should help. And contrary to domestic arguments, this does not cancel out helping American citizens in need of assistance in disasters, but underscores the importance of taking care at home as well. The actions are of one piece.
why should we always be the one dishing out money! Last time i checked we were 9 trillion dollars in debt. I guess at this point Bush wants to ensure himself in the history books as Worst President of the World!
Just like Iraq and other folks, let's just toss them some money and keep them on 'our' side – until these countries decided that US money is not enough to keep their mouths shut. Perfect examples: Iran, Iraq, Pakistan....
Jack,
I am all for it as long as we give the New Orleans area another Two Billion for reconstruction here at home!
Paul
Texas
Are we seriously discussing donating $1 billion to Republic of Georgia when the Gulf Coast STILL lies in ruins from Hurricane Katrina?
Where in the world will the money come from? This country is just about tapped out. Why don't we let China and India do the job for us? We've outsoursed everything else to them.
We better save that money for our state of Georgia because tropical storm Fay is on its way there.
G.
Miami, Florida
whats 1 more billion to our already 9 trillion?
come on Jack, i bet George Bush can say Mission Accomplished once again!
Jack NO!!! I have a hard time understanding why America should send US dollars to rebuild what Russia destroyed. Russia has found great wealth as a result of its oil and willingness to drill for it. So lets send Russia the bill to rerpair and rebuild! How can Obama even sugest we do this – he has been so against the money we have been sending to rebuild Iraq, just another contradiction and again shows his lack of experience. Lets keep that billion dollars here to rebuild our own infrastructure.
Do we really have a choice??? Our politicians will always find a way to spend money. They seem to have the most problem bringing down debt.
Should American taxpayers spend $1 billion for reconstruction in the republic of Georgia?
No - but $1 billion reconstruction for the gulf states USA
I'm sorry for the people in Georgia, however how can the US justify spending even more money on a foreign country when it can't even spend the money to fix this country. My uncle once said we are turning into a third world country. I'm afraid his prophecy is coming true!
Absolutely not. We can't just give away money that our government doesn't have to fix other nation's problems. Tax payer's money should be used on our own country first, if not exclusively! How about a private donation fund? If people really want to help they'll donate.
Wouldn’t that be exactly like the deficit spending that Obama has criticized the Bush administration? I wish we could end the political gangster-ism that has crippled American politic that way it would be more difficult for Politicians to get away with blatant hypocrisy , Bush gave us no child left behind what do you think an Obama administration would call this one. I still favor Senator Obama but just like the poll numbers his lead is slipping in my opinion.
Jack, is the Republican Party , Bush,Cheney, McCain playing the FEAR tactics on the Americans AGAIN? Russia should pay for the damage their military have destroyed. Not America.
Havn't you people noticed that more of our money is spent overseas then spent on our own people? We still have homeless on our streets, kids who dont have healthcare, kids that dont even have enough food on their plates....But sure lets send the rest of our money to rebuild other countries schools, feed their hungry and build themn new hospitals..I'd donate the last 5 cents I have after filling my gas tank up.
I am sure Obama can get the money from big Oil? He seems to believe they are the only deep pockets America needs.
charlotte
Clovis
I'm generally not a big fan of foreign aide, but Georgia is on the border with Russia as are a number of other former Soviet republics... I think we need to show our report for their efforts to stand up to the Russians and build democracies on the Russian border...
This is a trick question, like from the movie "My Cousin Vinnie". The U.S. doesn't HAVE a billion to give away! Let Georgia sue Russia for the damages, and the U.S. could supply the 'publicity hungry' lawyers.
Absolutely not! We have no business of any kind involving ourselves with Georgia. Our oil companies have no busdiness trying to take their oil. Our military industrial complex has no business trying to get Georgia into NATO. Our fool of a president and his toadies should pay to reconstruct Georgia since they're the ones who set them up for this.
Rich Green
San Clemente, Cal.
Why should we pay for it. Russia invaded them. They should pay for the reconstruction just as we are paying for the reconstruction of Iraq after invading them.
Revision:
Uh, no. But I have no problem with our elected leaders passing the hat around the chamber to empty their own pockets.
Where would we get the money? This country is trillions of dollars in debt now. We need help for our own reconstruction.
What do we get out of it? Sorry to sound cold, but with 2 wars and our own economic trouble, either we should contribute some to an international rebuilding effort-or--explain to me why we should give them so much?
Jenn, Hadley MA
I speculate that Russia's invasion of Georgia will somehow be proven to be the brain child of the Bush Administration and the Republicans who are desperate to keep control of the White House and all of the money that flows from the American taxpayers ultimately into the pockets of big oil and Bush and Cheney! Bush probably promised to rebuilt all of the destruction if Georgia would participate in this second scam!
Sure. In fact, what we should do is offer to pay for Georgia if the Russians pay off our war debt to China. That sounds fair, doesn't it?
pat swords
Naperville Illinois
How about Europe chip in leadership & bucks for this?
I think this is a conflict where we should not be taking sides. Both the Georgians and Russian have blood on their hands here. The only innocents were the people in the states of Abkhazia and South Ossetia who wanted their independence against the will of the Georgian government.
The brutal crackdown by Georgia on the independence movement of its own state shows the Georgian government cannot be trusted with reconstruction money, as it certainly would not be put into South Ossetia where it is needed most, as Georgia is responsible for destroying much of what needs to be rebuilt there.
Let's give away all of our money to foreigners. Foreign democracy, Foreign oil, Foreign lead paint and tainted Chinese dogfood. If we keep these dollars in the United States, we won't be able to print more money. Then we'd have to live under a budget. That's much too hard. Print Print Drill!
Dear Jack,
Over the last 8 years the Republicans have been going around the world creating a mess, reducing the US to a moral midged status in the process, but enabling them to eternally play the nationalistic card and say "hey, we are the tough ones fit to solve these problems".
We live again in historic times and the next few months i feel will prove that, meaning that Russia's actions will speak louder than the US expects, damaging Russia indeed, but also ensuring another win for the Republicans. In the end we all get what we deserve!
Whether Obama pays up to the US puppet or shuts up makes no difference. As your recent debate proved the game's rules cannot be the same for naive Barrack as for the protectors of the establishment.
Pandora's box is open and God help us all.
Respectfully,
Kyriacos
From Europe with Love
Jack, you owe me a new keyboard for my computer…I just spat Diet Dr. Pepper all over it when I read this question. It convinced me that you missed your calling as a stand-up comedian. If we have that kind of money to spend cleaning up Russia’s messes, then send me a few billion so I can build that EPIC Jack Cafferty Comedy Club in Branson, Missouri…a monument to the funniest old curmudgeon that ever lived.
Enough already will this foreign spending. Iraq got Georgia's share and all the other countries the Russian plan to overrun!
Sure, why not? But which countries are going to send us the billions of dollars we need to reconstruct our country. Any of the countries we buy oil from? Any of the countries we've sent billions to in the past to reconstruct their problem? Whatever... Do we ever have a choice?
No way Jose!!!
That is the exact reason after a lifetime in politics I switched to the Libertarian Party.
We need to secure and provide for our own citizens in need first–then look around the world where we can place a specific amount of foreign aid. Watching these Bozo's you'd think the voters gave them a blank check when it comes to foreign aid!!!
I'm sorry, but our elected officials need to learn the four words that you hear around our house these days ... we can't afford it.
No, America has it own internal problems. That money should be spent here in America. The money can be spent here in Atlanta. Not long ago, a fire station was closed down due to what Atlanta Mayor called lack of fund."only a fool is thirsty in the abundance of water" If America has $1billion to spend in Georgia, It should be spent in Georgia here in the USA , not in another Georgia. I am sure that money could be spent somewhere here in the USA. What's wrong with the so called American foreign policy. We should all remember what the Bible says, about removing speck in other peoples eyes.
This is between Russia and Georgia, let Russia send them cash.
Hey Jack I have a better idea instead of reconstructing georgian and finacially sound iraq how about we reconstruct our schools, healthcare system and economy... opps look like we went to vacation on that one too huh congress
Dear Jack Cafferty,
Ronald Reagan always claimed he had bankrupted the USSR and defeated Communism. Did he think Russia would just go away and sulk? What's going on in Georgia? did Communism come back. It looks like Reagan was wrong.
To answer your question, no we should not send Georgia $1 billion. But when you claim to be the savior of the world, then that's a cost of doing business.
Joe Sharp/Orange, Virginia
We should not pay 1 billion dollars to Georgia. Russia should pay!
Sorry – we didn't even spend 1 Billion dollars to rebuild cities in the USA after disasters – sorry we need to think of our people who have lost their home to disasters and also to foreclosures!
Help all our millions of homeless right here in our country first before we stick our nose into saving other countries!
Jack,
We must help rebuild Georgia, otherwise let the dominos fall where they may.
Rick, Waukesha, WI
If we send Georgia a billion dollars, the Georgians will get a heck of a return on the investment paid to their US lobbyist. Maybe they will pay Hillary Clinton's campaign debt.
Do we have a billion dollars of our own or will we have to borrow it from China?
why should we spend anything They knew they would face Russia when they started and if they have to put up for themselves maybe they would be more realistic and thoughtful before they take on a force they can't beat.
Jack, We are in a recession and can not care for our troops. Hell no, we shouldn't rebulid Georgia. We haven't even rebulit New Orleans.
We need to focus on fixing the country we already have. Our government (without much consent from the people.) has already taken on too much outside of our borders for it to adequately handle. We can't be everybody's big brother.
It's either we put up the money to help Georgia or we shut up and I think it's too late for the latter.
Just trowing an idea out ther why no reconstruct I dont know umm
NEW ORLEANS we need that billion dollars here in the homeland
We better Georgia was one of our original states!
No, Not until we get out of Iraq, and Afghanistan. We are in debt up to our necks. Let other NATO nations help.
NO NO NO
We already helped Georgia to create this mess. There are 2 sides to this story and the involvement of the USA prior to the invasion.
The truth please.
The United States' economy is in shambles; due to the mismanagement of the Bush Administration.
Borrowing from China is not a good idea....we need to clear our debts rather than increase them.
The U S is not the only country in the world capable of rendering aid (albeit with borrowed funds); what about the rest of Europe?
Charity begins at home. During Katrina, our country projected like a third world country... around the world..
US Economy
Education
Jobs
Alternate Energy Sources
Reparation of Infrastructure
Fair Tax Laws and Practices
Habeas Corpus
Its humanitarian to look out for one's neighbors; but charity begins at home!
NO! but hell no! We nead to take care of our people here at home.They picked the fight let them pay for it!