Billions for economic aid & war; no help for American citizens

[rookie]

Many countries have either sent or arranged to send planes to Thailand to rescue their citizens from the political problems and riots which closed Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports, stopping all flights and stranding hundreds of thousands.

Most have NOT indicated they will requiring their citizens to _pay_ for their rescue.

 

Not so, for the American tourists caught up in the current political problem in Thailand. The US Embassy announced that chartered planes will be sent to assist travelers and take them to another airport in the region. Cost? About $550 each!!

So $550 to get to Singapore, when a a regularly scheduled commercial airline charges as little as $80.

 

This really irritates me... Bush can spend billions on a war, Congress spending billions on economic rescue plans, but no consideration is given to citizens in desperate need of assistance.

 

Another reason why I no longer reside back home in the States!

 

From: "Bangkok ACS" (American Embassy in BKK)

 

Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2008 12:10:30 +0700

Subject: Message to the Americans in Thailand - December 3, 2008

Message to the Americans in Thailand - December 3, 2008

 

The Department of State is evaluating whether to charter aircraft to

facilitate the onward travel of American citizens seeking to depart

Thailand. Americans who would like to take a U.S. government chartered

flight from Bangkok to another airport in the region, such as Singapore,

where they would then make their own arrangements to connect to onward

flights, are requested to read through this message and respond as noted

below.

 

Under U.S. law, an American citizen receiving U.S. government

transportation assistance is required to pay for the cost of travel at

the rate of the most recently available full fare economy ticket.

Therefore, American citizens who choose to fly on this charter must

either pay prior to departure with a personal check or sign a promissory

note (an Emergency Loan Application and Evacuation document

) for the amount

stated and reimburse the U.S. government for the flight within sixty

days. Cash and credit payments can not be handled.

 

American citizens who depart Thailand on a U.S. government charter will

be individually responsible for booking and paying for their onward

travel from the transit point to their final destination. Americans

will also be individually responsible to pay for their own accommodation

at the transit point should an overnight stay be required before

connecting to the onward flight. However, U.S. Embassy officials at

the transit point will be available to provide information about local

hotels and may be able to facilitate onward travel arrangements if

assistance is needed.

 

Commercial flights continue to depart Thailand through airports outside

of Bangkok, although space has been limited. While more commercial

flights will become available as the Bangkok airports reopen, the

backlog of demand may continue to make departure travel arrangements

difficult for the near future.

 

American citizens may choose to wait until regular commercial flights

are available using their already purchased tickets. We anticipate that

the charter flight will cost approximately $550 (though this may change

depending upon the transit point destination).

 

American citizens in Thailand who would like to depart Thailand by

charter should contact the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok immediately to alert

us of your interest. Your response will help us evaluate whether

charters are a viable option and how many charters would be needed.

Please note that at this time no final decision has been made on the use

of charters.

The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy can be reached by

phone at 66-2-205-4049 and by e-mail at ACSBKK@State.gov. If that

number is busy, please call 66-2-205-4000.

[Bangkoktraveler]

$550 - $80 = $470 profit! Our country surely doed know how to fuck thr little guy.

[zzzz]

I just heard on CNN this morning that the US may offer 4.5% financing for mortgages. That would help a lot of ordinary citizens, including me.

[Old Hippie]

So why not help others who have lost pensions and taken pay cuts? why not stop out sourcing jobs over seas? Why not help people who owe too much on credit cards? Why not etc...?

[keekwai]

"American citizens may choose to wait until regular commercial flights are available using their already purchased tickets. We anticipate that the charter flight will cost approximately $550 (though this may change depending upon the transit point destination)."

 

Sounds fair enough to me!

 

The current political problems were going on well before the airports got shut down, tourists had plenty of time to either cancel their trips or leave the country before the airports closed - it was a gamble they took and many lost. We Americans need to learn to take responsibility for our own actions and not always expect the government to come to our aid.

[Flashermac]

What? Do you think the government is supposed to serve the people, and not the other way around?

 

 

 

[bust]

So why not help others who have lost pensions and taken pay cuts? why not stop out sourcing jobs over seas? Why not help people who owe too much on credit cards? Why not etc...?

 

Simple....because that reflects a concept of humanity....something that is in very short supply these days.

[Flashermac]

The Founding Fathers would probably rebel against today's federal government.

 

 

[samak]

US-guys! remember:

Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country!

what you can do is paying full fare so that your country or some of the guys organizing that can make some profits!

so please shut up and stop to complain for paying full fare for your country!

[USVirgin]

But if we falsely admit to a murder crime, our government will fly us home free, business class.