So the Democrats take control of both houses and accomplish NOTHING. Now to put the exclamation point on the nothing part they have decided to put a bill up that will require the United States to pay reparations to residents of Guam who suffered at the hands of the Japanese. (h/t Redstate)
That’s a question for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and his eight compatriots, all of whom have co-sponsored a bill that would require that America pay reparations to the people of Guam for – get this – the actions of the Japanese in World War II.
Yes, you read that right. We are going to pay money to those who suffered due to our enemies actions:
SEC. 2. RECOGNITION OF THE SUFFERING AND LOYALTY OF THE RESIDENTS OF GUAM.
(a) Recognition of the Suffering of the Residents of Guam- The United States recognizes that, as described by the Guam War Claims Review Commission, the residents of Guam, on account of their United States nationality, suffered unspeakable harm as a result of the occupation of Guam by Imperial Japanese military forces during World War II, by being subjected to death, rape, severe personal injury, personal injury, forced labor, forced march, or internment.
(b) Recognition of the Loyalty of the Residents of Guam- The United States forever will be grateful to the residents of Guam for their steadfast loyalty to the United States of America, as demonstrated by the countless acts of courage they performed despite the threat of death or great bodily harm they faced at the hands of the Imperial Japanese military forces that occupied Guam during World War II.
SEC. 3. PAYMENTS FOR GUAM WORLD WAR II CLAIMS.
(a) Payments for Death, Personal Injury, Forced Labor, Forced March, and Internment- Subject to section 5, after receipt of certification pursuant to section 4(b)(8) and in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall make payments as follows:
(1) RESIDENTS INJURED- The Secretary shall pay compensable Guam victims who are not deceased before any payments are made to individuals described in paragraphs (2) and (3) as follows:
(A) If the victim has suffered an injury described in subsection (c)(2)(A), $15,000.
(B) If the victim is not described in subparagraph (A) but has suffered an injury described in subsection (c)(2)(B), $12,000.
(C) If the victim is not described in subparagraph (A) or (B) but has suffered an injury described in subsection (c)(2)(C), $10,000.
(2) SURVIVORS OF RESIDENTS WHO DIED IN WAR- In the case of a compensable Guam decedent, the Secretary shall pay $25,000 for distribution to eligible survivors of the decedent as specified in subsection (b). The Secretary shall make payments under this paragraph after payments are made under paragraph (1) and before payments are made under paragraph (3).
(3) SURVIVORS OF DECEASED INJURED RESIDENTS- In the case of a compensable Guam victim who is deceased, the Secretary shall pay $7,000 for distribution to eligible survivors of the victim as specified in subsection (b). The Secretary shall make payments under this paragraph after payments are made under paragraphs (1) and (2).
Nevermind that 3000 American lives were lost taking that island back. Now our tax money is going to pay for those who were hurt by non-Americans. By our enemy at the time. How much money we talking about? Up to 126 million, and 5 million more for grants.
Have these Democrats gone completely off their rocker?
Don’t let this happen. Call 202-224-3121 and ask for your Representative’s office. Tell your Congressman to oppose H.R. 1595.
It was set to go up for a vote today but has been postponed till tomorrow.
UPDATE
I just had to put up a comment left by jpm100
They’re trying to turn back time and surrender to past victories.
So very true!
Other’s Blogging:
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I have worried about this a lot, How much do I get?
They’re trying to turn back time and surrender to past victories.
As for that notion Stupid is as stupid does..
JPM – I had to put that comment of yours up in the post….classic!
Hmmm… Wonder who’s brother-in-law is going to get filthy rich off of this scam? …and the kickbacks. Let’s not forget the obligatory kickbacks that probably go straight back to Washington. I mean, this is so completely ludicrous it has to be some sort of rip-off.
Excellent comment by JPM!
Ya know, here in Ohio our state suffered greatly in the War of 1812 as well as in earlier wars. True, that all happened generations before I was born or before our family even immigrated to the US let alone Ohio, but…I wonder what kind of reparations I can be expected?
What?
No reparations for oppressed Ohioans?!
WHAT?!
You mean Dems are going to ask us to PAY? They’re going to RAISE my taxes to pay for this garbage?
Hmmm, yeah, ok, so which rep benefits from kissin ass in Guam? I’m gonna take a stab and say that it’s a rep who is on the fence re Iraq. Crazy talk I know, but just a guess.
Man, what’s next? OH! I know! Next will be a resolution to change the National Anthem so that it no longer focuses exclusively on the courage of fighting Americans who prevail in battle by standing tough through a fight. Does that Star-Spangled banner yet wave?
Did it stay through the night?
Did it stay through the fight?
Does it still fly over a land of free people who are brave, or has it left a territory unprotected where people will not be free, because people were not brave?
I’m pretty confident that there’ll be a revived movement to make God Bless America the National Anthem. The ode to Old Glory is too martial and embarrassing for defeatists and pandering politicians these days.
Yes, the RATs have gone completely off their rocker. I guess that all the money that we gave them immediately after WWII finally ran out.
Scott, you know that “God Bless America” has no chance of becoming the National Anthem. After all, it mentions the one thing that offends our “friends” on the Left more than either Old Glory or praise of military success.
jpm100, classic comment.
Trackbacked by The Thunder Run – Web Reconnaissance for 05/08/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention.
WHAT????????
NO FRIGGEN WAY AM I PAYING FOR THIS CRAP!
Question: Residents of Hawaii in 1941 who weren’t members of the Armed Forces. Should they have received any federal aid following Pearl Harbor? The difference between Hawaii and Guam in 1941 is negligible since neither was a member of the union, and both islands were used for military purposes. Since FDR provided assitance to residents of Hawaii who were hurt during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and there’s very little historical evidence of the government doing the same for Guam, your points and rantings are at best historically inaccurate, and at worst a sign of a serious lack of education.
And if you’re upset we’re giving, OH MY GOD, $25000 to anyone whose family was hurt during the battle in Guam, I would hope you’re just as angry when we give millions of dollars to other NON-AMERICAN nations who happen to suffer at the hands of another nation.
“They’re trying to turn back time and surrender to past victories.”
Well, for that to be true, they’d have to actually surrender Guam to Japan, not simply give 25k to residents adversely affected by the Second World War. But it makes a good talking point, helping out fellow Americans equals surrender. It must be of the same vein of Christianity which cares more about homosexuals than assisting the poor (you know the one which is completely opposite of anything Christ actually said?). Anyone who thinks the “surrender for past victories” is a great comment either doesn’t have a second grader’s apprehension of English, or is simply so fargone with regards to political ideology that even a bowel movement by the Democrats hurts the War on Terrorism.
Talk about being disingenuous. The difference between Hawaii and Guam is that aid was given immediately AFTER the attack. Not 60 years later when most who were alive at that time are now gone.
Ohhhh, look everybody, the leftist is throwing insults out. Anyone surprised?
Your types typically resort to that tactic when they know they have lost the argument. Why should 25 million dollars be spent to “help out” fellow Americans for something that happened 60+ years ago? How about those Americans during the war of 1812 as Scott commented on? Hell, lets go back to the Revolution. Lets just give it all out and raise our taxes even more. You lefties love that.
If you cannot see how idiotic this friggin idea is then there is no hope for you….begone back to KOS.
This is not a good day for the conservative blogsphere I fear. I am researching this and I think the blogs have got it wrong. This is a pretty complex issue and the Commision that reviewed these claims was bipartisan.
It also appears that this money is really Japanesse money that the Japanese are giving us so we can move troops Okinawai to Guam. That figure in 9 billion. I am still researching this but if this is true then maybe we should see some retractions. Especially since the Guam National Guard is the Horn Of Africa right now serving this country. It appears that in a way the people of Guam have got the reparations from Japan they always wanted.
Also note. The Republicans hold most of the offices on Guam. Anyone think about calling them up to get their take on it?
JH
Louisiana
First off, I think Kos is an idiot.
Well let’s see… I’m fairly certain that the American government provided assistance to people of Ohio who were adversely affected by the British Invasion from Canada during the War of 1812.
The people of Guam who were adversely affected by the Second World War and battle on the island didn’t receive assistance. If the battle on the island decimated the homes, etc. of the families living there, or ruined the land making it less useful for farming, etc. then families are probably still feeling some of the pain. There’s a big difference between sixty years and one hundred ninety years (I won’t do the math for you, but the number has three digits).
By the way, my comment is only insulting if you honestly think that giving money to Americans adversely affected by the Second World War who have been neglected for decades is the equivalent of giving up the entire Island of Guam to Japan.
Curt already hit the nail on the head when he remarked the difference is in the passage of time. It’s in the past. Providing reparations now, 60 plus years later, opens up a whole can of worms. The Philippines were under American authority up until 1946. In the immediate aftermath of WWII, financial aid would make some sense; but now? We had many brave Filipino allies who gave their lives in the fight against Japanese imperialism. But compensation now…for what?! They’ve benefited greatly from America, as has Guam. The very act of fighting the Japanese and liberating them from further suffering under the thumbnails of imperial Japan- at the cost of American soldier lives- should be compensation, in and of itself. Will the inhabitants of Guam provide compensation to the family members of dead American soldiers, who fought and died on their behalf, 60 years after the fact?
Even if Guam were the 51st state of the U.S., I would not support reparations. Should Hawaiians who suffered during Pearl Harbor be receiving financial aid NOW?!! I think everyone’s moved on, already.
The amount of financial aid we give to foreign nations each year- especially to those hostile to the U.S.- leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
If you’re trying to slam the “religious right” or just the religious in general, you might take a look at Arthur Brooks’ research:
If that’s the case, that it’s Japanese money, more power to them. Have they provided compensation to those who suffered at Nanking? Last I heard, they still do not recognize the atrocities that their military committed there. The Japanese don’t even learn about it; I guess they have no Howard Zinn scholar of their own to bash them over the head with such history.
Here’s an interesting personal tidbit: My parent were stationed in Guam for a year. I could call them up, and there was no international long distance charge! Since Guam is considered part of the U.S., it did not affect my phone bill, adversely.
Ok, how about trying this one on: They’re trying to jump ahead in time and surrender future victories.
?
Ok John, obviously your reading comprehension is below average or you would have understood my point by now. IT WAS 60+ YEARS AGO!
Is there no time limit? Should Scott receive money due to the hardships placed upon his family during the war of 1812 also? How about the Civil War?
Word and I agree, I would not support aid going to the families of Pearl Harbor now, that too was 60+ years ago and makes no friggin sense. Immediately after it happened, why sure. But now? No way.
Idiocy.
I just want to know if Nancy Pelosi’s husband has business interests on Guam that will benefit as a result of this late largesse?
Curt, I was wondering if I knew you. I can’t see your profile and am just going on what I read of your beliefs here.
A post by John Campbell at Townhall.com:
If wealth were an infinite well, there are many “feel-good” causes to spend money on. But haven’t so many Bush critics been bellyaching about the federal spending?
Keenan, no idea if you know me. Not sure what you mean about a profile either.