+185 It would take $10 billion to provide clean drinking water for those who need it. Sounds like a lot; but Americans spend $450 billion on Christmas every year. This is a problem, amirite?

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Why is everyone relying on us now? Obama still has to clean up George Bush's mess.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

it doesn't have to be the government. Infact it shouldn't be. There are plenty of international non-profit organizations that provide wells for the thirsty. check out www.water.cc (the organization is Living Water International)

by Anonymous 13 years ago

There are already hundreds of billions of dollars being donated to charity.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Yeah, because Americans are the only people who celebrate holidays...

by Anonymous 12 years ago

"Oh hey, let's get mad at the US for being involved in stuff, and then blame them for all the thirsty people!"

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I don't think they're blaming us, they're just putting up a number for contrast.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Is it really 450 billion on Christmas each year? That's $1500 spent by every person in the United States, which seems like a high estimate to me.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Not when you factor in vacations and food costs for Christmas dinner.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

ah. i was thinking you meant just presents, because people spend money on food and vacations at other points during the year too.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

And that's why America doesn't have all of those issues ourselves. Since we have a decently stable market economy based on consumerism, we don't have to worry about something as simple as where we are going to get clean water. We have businesses that deal with the filtration process and then provide the water to us for a fee. And even if we didn't, we could always trade for the things we needed. It is not America's fault that under-developed countries have poor property rights and inward oriented trade policies that are keeping their people in poverty.

by Anonymous 12 years ago