NEWS: Vacation to Hell

Sending aid doesn't guarantee that the money will get to the intended recipients. Many of these nations have corrupt governments and bureaucracies who have a history of skimming $$$ from foreign aid. Sometimes, they deny the aid outright. This is the case in Africa. Most of the food and $$$ donated to help feed starving children is diverted to foreign bank accounts and given to those in positions of power and influence.

That's not to say we shouldn't donate food, medicine and $$$ to those who need it, just make certain that reputable charities like the Red Cross get your donations. They know how to deal with the corruption better than the smaller charities.

Still, I prefer supporting the marketplace. It props up the economy and keeps people employed. We really need to worry about the long term economy in places like Thailand, where poor families pimp their 8 year old daughters off as sexual playthings for elderly "tourists".

you know what, in a month from now, after everybody is rescued and things are rebuilt, THEN you can worry about the marketplace...but the marketplace ain't gonna do shit about disease and famine and the people still stranded without food or water...

now's not the time for stupid shit...priority is on life not economy...

i think you guys are missing the fact that the death toll is not done rising, and that while these insensitive "tourists" are relaxing and enjoying life, others are still struggling for it, in the same geographical area, and personally, if i had a flight going over there, and a place to stay, i'd be spending every second of my waking hours trying to contribute to the effort...

an economy can be rebuilt...hundreds of thousands of lives is a loss we can never regain...

According to you, people should quit their jobs (or be fired due to lack of business) and starve to death until the last person from the tsunami dies? Tourists bring money- money that is needed to support a country in need. If you hate economy so much, maybe you should understand that the countries where the most people died, are the poorest ones. Money is the tool of exchange that will keep people healthy and alive during the next few months- it makes no sense whatsoever to condemn it.

Consequently, a flight over there, and a place to stay requires economic means- and therefore an economy. You contradicted yourself by trying to sound humanitarian and condemning economic growth.

Any New Yorkers here who work in the tourist industry? Did you want people to cancel their reservations?

I can't fathom people going over there and working on their tans. Could they be any more dis-respectful? If people already had plans to go over there, thats fine, but they should, in my opinion do all they possibly can to help with relief efforts. It's only the biggest natural disaster we had in.....fuck, a really long time. Almost speechless.