What I like to point out is that the Republican Party made serious efforts to eliminate USAID twice in the past: Nixon in 1970 and Gingerich-Helms in 1997.
Secondly, GOP spinoffs from USAID, OPIC from 1969 and MCC from 2004 (one of Helms's proposals), apparently survive under the latest GOP administration, as parts of one of the proliferation of development-oriented "corporations," the DFC.
Third, tens of millions of Americans hated having USAID around, but a similar number (including almost all those who saw it at work) liked it. Who gets to decide? Answer: Congress. The president's role is to execute Congress's decision. Given how little Trump et al. care about USAID itself, my sense is that Congress is their real target and that USAID was a soft-target test case.
Absolutely Joe. I have said from the beginning that USAID was also a pilot, a test balloon floated up to see how much the executive branch could run over Congress and get away with it.
A great public service to talk about what USAID did for the world and what it did to enhance and enable the US role in international matters. And the observation that USAID was hated most by dictators backed up by facts and compelling stories. I would only add that before USAID was formally created, forerunner agencies began with buying food and life-saving medicines from US providers, and distributing them overseas back as far as 1949. The Congress made USAID a separate institution to keep it above the fray of politics - ie, the State Department and to allow it to focus on its two main objectives: promoting health and welfare of those stuck in poverty or struck by natural (or manmade) disasters, and promoting US business and agricultural interests. USAID has always been closely watched by Congressional watchdogs, and passed its many annual audits with regularity. The savage destruction through lies and hate speech made by the DOGE and the Executive Branch do not address the vital role of USAID - or its predecessors, the will of Congress to create it and fund it annually or the tragic results stemming from these call ous actions. The US budget deficit needle will not be moved even 1% if ALL of USAID were cut, and the efficiency of our remaining assistance will be severely hindered by firing the expert and experienced staff who dedicated their lives to the mission.
One of the key aspects to understand about USAID’s elimination is the Agency’s mission to reduce poverty. There is no sense discernable in the current Administration that poverty reduction is a goal, either internationally or at home. That is, for me, one of the key reasons the Agency was dismantled.
Thank you for this insightful history of which I was unaware. Certainly makes sense that the dismantling of our Democracy would start there in the organization that I presume JFK started?
I see the damage through the eyes of our son & partner who teach in international schools around the world. USAid families have been hit by being fired & their kids torn from schools as well as those kids who had been given scholarships but now can’t afford school. It’s so bloody destructive! A curse on all of the GOP!
The funny thing is the money for every damn thing comes from us, the taxpayers. I don’t remember telling my Congressional people that I wanted any of these cuts, yet it was done! Yet, it was done by Trump and Musk and DOGE and the likes of Bondi, Hegserh, Bessent, Gabbard, Kennedy Jr., etc. etc.
We are living in a severely ignorant society where people think they are remotely entitled to justify bad behavior such as these women. These women should have been a collective “fuck you” to a billionaire assisting is the largest grift of AMERICAN HISTORY. If you justify your use of Amazon - it’s only a matter of time before I insert myself into your loser life and punish you using public opinion. You are all here. You can STFU with your nonsensical drivel or I’ll make an example of you.
A third of the country is running us into the ground intentionally. Their unholy rhetoric is about power. New Apostolic Reformation is the problem. More importantly, you not knowing what that is or who they are, puts us all in ‼️ danger ‼️ These people are unhinged and full of hate. They are well funded and in powerful positions. This is the enemy. These people use their religion as a weapon. This is your biggest enemy and challenge. We must end this madness. They want your children straight, white, armed and angry.
MAGA must Lie, Cheat and Steal! Abortion. Guns. Equality. End Christian nationalism!Maga is the CONFEDERACY!!
Familiarize yourself with this unholy movement! These people took part in the insurrection. They want your children white, ignorant, armed and angry!!
Nice, good job!
What I like to point out is that the Republican Party made serious efforts to eliminate USAID twice in the past: Nixon in 1970 and Gingerich-Helms in 1997.
Secondly, GOP spinoffs from USAID, OPIC from 1969 and MCC from 2004 (one of Helms's proposals), apparently survive under the latest GOP administration, as parts of one of the proliferation of development-oriented "corporations," the DFC.
Third, tens of millions of Americans hated having USAID around, but a similar number (including almost all those who saw it at work) liked it. Who gets to decide? Answer: Congress. The president's role is to execute Congress's decision. Given how little Trump et al. care about USAID itself, my sense is that Congress is their real target and that USAID was a soft-target test case.
Absolutely Joe. I have said from the beginning that USAID was also a pilot, a test balloon floated up to see how much the executive branch could run over Congress and get away with it.
Let’s Get it back up and running these damn criminals don’t even know what they’re doing!! Take our Shit back!!!
A great public service to talk about what USAID did for the world and what it did to enhance and enable the US role in international matters. And the observation that USAID was hated most by dictators backed up by facts and compelling stories. I would only add that before USAID was formally created, forerunner agencies began with buying food and life-saving medicines from US providers, and distributing them overseas back as far as 1949. The Congress made USAID a separate institution to keep it above the fray of politics - ie, the State Department and to allow it to focus on its two main objectives: promoting health and welfare of those stuck in poverty or struck by natural (or manmade) disasters, and promoting US business and agricultural interests. USAID has always been closely watched by Congressional watchdogs, and passed its many annual audits with regularity. The savage destruction through lies and hate speech made by the DOGE and the Executive Branch do not address the vital role of USAID - or its predecessors, the will of Congress to create it and fund it annually or the tragic results stemming from these call ous actions. The US budget deficit needle will not be moved even 1% if ALL of USAID were cut, and the efficiency of our remaining assistance will be severely hindered by firing the expert and experienced staff who dedicated their lives to the mission.
Well said Chris.
One of the key aspects to understand about USAID’s elimination is the Agency’s mission to reduce poverty. There is no sense discernable in the current Administration that poverty reduction is a goal, either internationally or at home. That is, for me, one of the key reasons the Agency was dismantled.
Thank you for this insightful history of which I was unaware. Certainly makes sense that the dismantling of our Democracy would start there in the organization that I presume JFK started?
I absolutely f’ing hate this monster in our White House
That tracks! 🎯
I see the damage through the eyes of our son & partner who teach in international schools around the world. USAid families have been hit by being fired & their kids torn from schools as well as those kids who had been given scholarships but now can’t afford school. It’s so bloody destructive! A curse on all of the GOP!
The funny thing is the money for every damn thing comes from us, the taxpayers. I don’t remember telling my Congressional people that I wanted any of these cuts, yet it was done! Yet, it was done by Trump and Musk and DOGE and the likes of Bondi, Hegserh, Bessent, Gabbard, Kennedy Jr., etc. etc.
Putin and Xi would love to take over the role of the USA for AIDS, until they were popular enough to take over the whole continent!
Because he doesn’t believe in helping any but the rich.
Unintelligent President, how long will his mind last!! He showing his language is weak.
It's beginning to look a lot like genocide!
https://substack.com/@lincolnsquare/note/c-108809241?r=c334y
We are living in a severely ignorant society where people think they are remotely entitled to justify bad behavior such as these women. These women should have been a collective “fuck you” to a billionaire assisting is the largest grift of AMERICAN HISTORY. If you justify your use of Amazon - it’s only a matter of time before I insert myself into your loser life and punish you using public opinion. You are all here. You can STFU with your nonsensical drivel or I’ll make an example of you.
A third of the country is running us into the ground intentionally. Their unholy rhetoric is about power. New Apostolic Reformation is the problem. More importantly, you not knowing what that is or who they are, puts us all in ‼️ danger ‼️ These people are unhinged and full of hate. They are well funded and in powerful positions. This is the enemy. These people use their religion as a weapon. This is your biggest enemy and challenge. We must end this madness. They want your children straight, white, armed and angry.
MAGA must Lie, Cheat and Steal! Abortion. Guns. Equality. End Christian nationalism!Maga is the CONFEDERACY!!
Familiarize yourself with this unholy movement! These people took part in the insurrection. They want your children white, ignorant, armed and angry!!
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/10/new-apostolic-reformation-christian-nationalism/
https://apple.news/AjPQKjZw_SJKSQOHU8oWJSw
Of course they do. He’s helping his friends who want to keep Africa on its back. White men, the same people who caused all the trouble in Africa.
There’s far more Africans in Africa than there are whites.
If they decided to take their revenge like you did on them, you would have a real big problem.
Thank goodness they don’t really want that going on in their country. Unlike people in our country which is supposed to be a democracy.
But the British were supposed to be a democracy too, and we know how that story ended