Bono Pushes U.S. to Increase Aid to Poor

I hope they don't start handing out more of our money to people who say they 'need' it. What's going to happen to me needing my money?

One percent sounds so small... but there's more than 100 things that deserve federal spending, and we can't give 1% to all of them. Now should we decrease the military budget and spend more to help the needy? Probably. I bet that's more likely to bring peace than 1,000 more bombs.

Haha, let's have a caption contest for that photograph:

Bono: "God, he's touching me...am I a sellout for this? Look, don't hate me, guys, please?"
Bush: " ...I wonder why they call them 'pancakes'... "

1/10

Bush to request 70 Billion more for war funding

Priorities?

And, that's a very unmanly handshake Bush is giving.

Bono is relentless in his great cause, its just sad that the world has come to a point where they have to have a rock singer point out the problems in society.

I just hope they listen before it becomes too late.

"What's going to happen to me needing my money?"

You live in America. Get a job, stop living off credit cards, you don't have to drive a lexus or live in a mansion, and learn how to save and live beneath your means. Do those simple things and I guarantee you will never need for money again.

Don't believe me. My wife and I make less then $30000 a year and still are able to put money away into a 401k, roth ira and savings account. And we are in the process of buying our first home. (I'm only 25 and she's 21) both still in college.

How can anyone say no to Bono?

Bush is saying: "Man, I have to touch this freak. Who wears sunglasses inside?"
Bono is saying: "Man, this guy has lovely hands. I wonder if he moisturizes...."

Anyone else notice how this looks sort of photoshopped, as in Bono superimposed next to Bush? Could just be me.

Seriously, if this damn war would end we'd probably get some legitimate recognition (and "gasp* admiration) for being the "largest single source of aid to the rest of the developing world." As it stands now, it just looks like a PR move to off-set our dark-sided foreign policy.

Also, props to neogreat who pointed out Bush's "dead fish" handshake.

Bono...always on front page nowadays.

sig_UVA: I agree with you, we need to get our country back and be leaders for something that would benefit the entire world. This is indeed a PR move but anything to help with the cause Bono is fighting for is worth it!

Interesting that the dead fish handshake is obviously the President's fault. What Bono give a dead fish handshake? Never...

It strangely looks like Bono is photoshopped into that picture...

Is it just me or does that photo look fake?

I guess you've all missed the point. It's about giving less than one percent of federal budget when international agreements say about 7%! And most important, about all the money that is given to big shots of American farmers and that prevent poor countries dedicated to agriculture from accessing international markets. And he also criticises the government and the Pharmaceutical industry for not spending enough money on the research of tropical didease like malaria but instead living comfortably on governmental aids such as medicare.

Josh Read writes:
"Our country gives the poor quite a bit of money when you think about it. I work with homeless people every week and a large majority of them are on Social Security. It's not that hard to get. On SSI an individual receives $600 a month. Each person can always find grocery handouts at just about any church, organization, food bank, etc. There is at least one free meal every day in every city. Healthcare for a homeless person is simply going to the hospital and waiting until a doctor can see them. Prescription drugs is just a corrupt system altogether and I wouldn't particularly blame the government for not looking out for the poor on that one but the people in general.

To say that people in America are without would be an incorrect statement. J"

I just came off three years of unemployment, while trying to support my family of four (my husband is disabled) and go back to school to become a teacher. I live in the suburbs of an affluent city, and spent a HUGE amount of time waiting on line for the "handouts" that you speak of. Have you tried to live anywhere on $600 a month? I don't know what you do for a living, but please don't assume that everyone who is looking for assistance is looking for the easy way out.

And by the way, why is the prescription drug business corrupt? Because lobbyists for the drug companies write the legislation that prohibits Medicare from negotiating with them.

The human race is only as strong as the weakest of us. I really can't stand the attitude that people are poor because of things they have done themselves. That is just pure nonsense.

It must be the coming of the end of the world, though.....my most favorite person and least favorite person in the same picture. Who would have thought!

Chris Meisenzahl writes: this clown must have a real name I assume

His name is Paul Hewson, his wife's name is Ally.

Bono isn't spending your money, by the way. Do you see him strolling through your bank with your banknote? He petitions countries to forgive debt and help distribute medicines to countries who couldn't otherwise afford them due to drug manufacturers outrageous costs.

Someone has to raise the issues. You don't see Eminem or any others use their fame to help people they have never even met. I challenge you to find another celebrity besides Oprah who raises issues to the public's attention in this manner. The truth is you can't . He could be sitting on his bum drinking wine and smoking cigars but he's not. He is out there being active .

You wanna blame anyone for shortcutting public programs, blame the House and Senate for passing cuts at the expense of the poor, or the President for initiating Health savings plans that will put the burden on the sick and elderly.

Lol, friggin' Bono. These rockstars and actors/actresses that try be "political activists" make me laugh.

And what have you done for the world poor Grayson?

Chris:

I think wolfger said it better:
Now should we decrease the military budget and spend more to help the needy? Probably. I bet that's more likely to bring peace than 1,000 more bombs.

Besides, didn't Congress pass you tax cuts, too?

Anyone happen to know what the quotes were from the religious texts?

On another note, I coulda sworn that Bono was holding an iPod in his left hand until I looked at the photo again :O

This campaign reminds me of the food donations to third world countries... Sure you feed them for a month, but they're still screwed afterwards. Nice bit of propaganda here thanks to the Bush marketing machine.

You live in America. Get a job, stop living off credit cards, you don't have to drive a lexus or live in a mansion, and learn how to save and live beneath your means. Do those simple things and I guarantee you will never need for money again.

This is the single most disgusting thing I've ever heard someone say. Besides the fact that your assumptions are baseless, the very thought of someone living beneath their means can only be propagated by someone who sees no value in his own life and takes no pleasure in living it. The only thing that you successfully said is that someone who lives and enjoys it is evil and not worth the air he breathes. I say end the life that you so obviously don't enjoy living.

I do not 'need' money. Money is a means of exchange between individuals towards the ends of living one's life. It is a means to put into a concrete the abstract principle of value, particularly the value of one of the few nonrenewable resources, time.

My initial comment was to address the fact that my money is taken from me at the tip of a gun (immoral laws) and I hate to see this abhorrent process furthered.

Wow, Bush is in a real lose-lose situation here. If he meets with Bono he's grandstanding or issuing propaganda. What if he didn't? He would no doubt be a heartless demon.
As for why the poor are poor, the reasons are endless. They range from complete laziness to just plain bad luck. But the question is who's fault is it and how do we determine what is poor and what is rich. I'm with Chris. I want to see all of these celebrity "do-gooders" empty their own coffers before they come preaching how much I should give.
Not to toot my own horn but last year 20% of my income went to charitable causes. Not to mention time spent in south Mississippi volunteering. That's my choice. I didn't condemn those who had neither the time nor resources or perhaps had no desire. That's their choice not to do. By the way, I'd probably give more of my income away if the government didn't take so much. It's just that they think they can do a better job spending it than me.