One benefit of the internet is the ability to potentially bore millions with po-faced sanctimony. A better benefit of the infobahn is the ability to reach information and resources quickly and efficiently. Today Mrs The Fyd and I decided we should donate something to the Asian tsunami/earthquake relief efforts. A little googling allowed me to check out the various options. In the end I chose to donate through Mercy Corps, which is Portland-based and about which I've read a great deal in the local paper. So in this case I could have donated to them anyway, having been made aware of their existence outside of the internet. But donating through their website was quick and safe, another benefit.

And this is just one reason why Jan Egeland is a supreme asshat. To continually obsess over ODA, and to harp about foreign aid as solely a government responsiblity to reach a target percentage of GDP is to miss the point. The government certainly can tax its citizens and redirect their wealth abroad. Or the government can allow its citizens to direct that wealth themselves. And since the US population does give enormously and generously to private charitable organizations, this puts the lie to Egeland's accusation of Western "stinginess".