sycasey said:movielover said:
That's the problem, you prefer funding transgender operas abroad over the deficit, America's drug addicts (homeless), protecting the border, and citizens in Hawaii and Nirth Carolina.
I don't think USAID's budget has been a significant drain on the deficit.
Save that $80 Billion per year and you'll cover the $4.2 Trillion dollar deficit in the new GOP budget proposal in 52.5 years.movielover said:sycasey said:movielover said:
That's the problem, you prefer funding transgender operas abroad over the deficit, America's drug addicts (homeless), protecting the border, and citizens in Hawaii and Nirth Carolina.
I don't think USAID's budget has been a significant drain on the deficit.
$40 Billion here (per year), $40 Billion there, pretty soon you're talking about real money.
This chart from @DOGE is insane pic.twitter.com/gSXjBjcx93
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 13, 2025
🚨EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announces that $20 billion in taxpayer funds were just discovered, laundered into in external financial institutions managed by agents of the Biden Admin to finance left wing NGOs.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 13, 2025
“$7 billion was sent to an entity called the Climate United Fund.”… pic.twitter.com/OkMBTkDHVI
You are all over the place with this. You are trying perpetuate the false narrative that Elon/Doge are in charge of the government and making unilateral decisions as to program cuts. That was your claim.sycasey said:BearGoggles said:Pretty damn funny you would admonish me with "reading comprehension is important" after posting this.sycasey said:My evidence is that the Trump administration has ordered spending freezes across entire departments. This isn't some secret, it's something they openly tout. Multiple organizations reported (for example) that they were unable to access the Medicaid portal immediately after one such order came down, though that was later reversed. AIDS clinics and other medical providers in other countries have reported that they have had to stop services due to the cutoff of funds from USAID. All of this has been posted elsewhere in this thread. Have you not read it?BearGoggles said:
The reference to evidence was to a variety of claims and positions you have taken.
What is your evidence that Elon/DOGE (as opposed to Trump or his agency leads) are "stopping things"?
On the plus side, you did admit that Elon/DOGE stopped nothing and that your rhetoric is just intended to deflect by adopting the Dems false narrative that Elon/DOGE are out of control and making unilateral decisions.
And just for the record, no one at USAID was fired (yet). They were placed on paid administrative leave. Huge difference there. 4 people at FEMA were fired for rank insubordination. Those are the only firings I've read about.
I think that Elon/DOGE are part of the Trump Administration. Are they not?
And your response was to dismiss the USAID $40B budget as not "significant." Why is it ok for any governmental agency to waste even $1? That is taxpayer money. Technically money being borrowed in the name of the taxpayers which makes it even worse.sycasey said:Rushinbear said:Oh, you can't believe that this is a matter of money, can you? USAID has been exposed as a secret implementation force for State, CIA and other clandestine operations. Also, it's a matter of policy - a rogue operation. The deficit is #3 on the list - there will be USAID's before we're through.sycasey said:movielover said:
That's the problem, you prefer funding transgender operas abroad over the deficit, America's drug addicts (homeless), protecting the border, and citizens in Hawaii and Nirth Carolina.
I don't think USAID's budget has been a significant drain on the deficit.
I didn't bring up the deficit until movielover did.
We could say that about virtually everything.sycasey said:movielover said:
That's the problem, you prefer funding transgender operas abroad over the deficit, America's drug addicts (homeless), protecting the border, and citizens in Hawaii and Nirth Carolina.
I don't think USAID's budget has been a significant drain on the deficit.
This is the big one. The NED is THE instrument of foreign interference of the U.S. government.
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) February 13, 2025
I genuinely cannot believe they're retiring it and if it is indeed the case, a strong signal that we may indeed be looking at a U.S. that gives up its pretention of reshaping others in… https://t.co/0cDDU1x2uP
USAID: Former UK Labour MP, David Miliband, is paid $1.3M to run NGO. Instead of taking a pay cut he removed refugee from oxygen to save money resulting in her death. The IRC blamed her death of loss of USAID funds which represent +/- 10% of the NGO's budget. @Oilfield_Rando pic.twitter.com/UvTEKQfQA0
— @amuse (@amuse) February 13, 2025
I think Trump and all of these agencies are basically following Elon's lead here. Do I have any hard proof of that? No, of course not. I'm not in the government. It's just my extrapolation from what I see. No need to get so worked up about it dude.BearGoggles said:You are all over the place with this. You are trying perpetuate the false narrative that Elon/Doge are in charge of the government and making unilateral decisions as to program cuts. That was your claim.sycasey said:BearGoggles said:Pretty damn funny you would admonish me with "reading comprehension is important" after posting this.sycasey said:My evidence is that the Trump administration has ordered spending freezes across entire departments. This isn't some secret, it's something they openly tout. Multiple organizations reported (for example) that they were unable to access the Medicaid portal immediately after one such order came down, though that was later reversed. AIDS clinics and other medical providers in other countries have reported that they have had to stop services due to the cutoff of funds from USAID. All of this has been posted elsewhere in this thread. Have you not read it?BearGoggles said:
The reference to evidence was to a variety of claims and positions you have taken.
What is your evidence that Elon/DOGE (as opposed to Trump or his agency leads) are "stopping things"?
On the plus side, you did admit that Elon/DOGE stopped nothing and that your rhetoric is just intended to deflect by adopting the Dems false narrative that Elon/DOGE are out of control and making unilateral decisions.
And just for the record, no one at USAID was fired (yet). They were placed on paid administrative leave. Huge difference there. 4 people at FEMA were fired for rank insubordination. Those are the only firings I've read about.
I think that Elon/DOGE are part of the Trump Administration. Are they not?
When I called you on it as having no evidence for this, and pointed out that decisions are being made by Trump/Rubio/Agency leads, your response is "Elon/Doge are part of the admin". Completely irrelevant to your original claim.
Yes - Elon/Doge are part of the admin. That doesn't mean they are making unilateral decisions as to what is cut which, again, was part of your original false claim.
Sure, if your only goal is to reduce the budget then you can just cut everywhere. I think they are throwing a lot of babies out with the bathwater here, but there's a reason I'm not a Republican.tequila4kapp said:We could say that about virtually everything.sycasey said:movielover said:
That's the problem, you prefer funding transgender operas abroad over the deficit, America's drug addicts (homeless), protecting the border, and citizens in Hawaii and Nirth Carolina.
I don't think USAID's budget has been a significant drain on the deficit.
So far DOGE has reportedly identified savings of 1 Billion dollars...per day. 352 Billion in savings is fabulous. (side note: that is still only, what, about 17% of our annual deficit).
You have to start somewhere.
I do not necessarily object to slimming down costs. But again: baby, bathwater. It appears to me that Elon just wants to shutter the department and its functions entirely.tequila4kapp said:
I am not an isolationist. Not even close. I'm for the concept of USAID - economic development, humanitarian aid, promoting democracy, etc. The things we are seeing in the news are light years away from those objectives.
- No money should go to NGOs that work domestically in the US.
- No money should go to developed nations that hasn't suffered a natural disaster.
- No money should be spent for ideological issues (liberal or conservative).
Basically, help people in times of need and promote democracy because that is ultimately in our own best interest. After that take a big ol' hatchet to all this aid stuff.
What happened to them?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 13, 2025
pic.twitter.com/M9ER0I8Y34
FREE SPEECH: If your leaders are trying to suppress what you're allowed to discuss on social media you don't live in a free country. President @JMilei knows this, “Thanks to the enormous and courageous work of Elon Musk and the role of 𝕏, information can now flow, politicians… pic.twitter.com/gvqNHvAqXo
— @amuse (@amuse) February 13, 2025
It’s not like these politicians started companies or were NBA All-Stars, so where did they get all the money?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 12, 2025
Does anyone know? https://t.co/hcbkGyWe3l
Anarchistbear said:
Foreign policy and aid is always an extension of interest, it should never be about promoting democracy. We will do business with whoever benefits us. That's always been the truth of it.
We can see how this becomes a waste of money and time by looking at Afghanistan- twenty years promoting the development of "democracy" and "empowerment" but most of the money flows to ngos in Kabul promoting women's cooperatives developing organic naan. Meanwhile the countryside rages and the Taliban rises.
Pure aid- food, medicines and culture- does have benefits to the recipient and us. It!'s interesting how heartland red states are complaining about the USAID curtailment because a lot of US food is dumped here at a price
Drug cultivation was banned last year by the IEA in #Afghanistan. Recent study shows how poppy fields have been entirely replaced by wheat in #Helmand province. #Afghanistanrising. pic.twitter.com/L4aL36TEXu
— Sangar Paykhar - سنګر پیکار (@paykhar) June 6, 2023
Reuters received far more money than this from US government organizations, but via various subsidiaries and intermediaries to hide how they were getting it.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 13, 2025
This is just what @DOGE has found so far. pic.twitter.com/PXbL1OkEKO
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 13, 2025
DOGE: 70% of the $1 trillion that was stolen from our Covid stimulus programs was sent to our enemies overseas. pic.twitter.com/KCD2MAizSa
— @amuse (@amuse) February 13, 2025
As was pointed out elsewhere, the Reuters contract was signed during Trump's first term. Under Trump's eagle eyes.movielover said:
USAID / DOGE thread.Reuters received far more money than this from US government organizations, but via various subsidiaries and intermediaries to hide how they were getting it.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 13, 2025
This is just what @DOGE has found so far. pic.twitter.com/PXbL1OkEKO
when the tentacles of corrupt bathwater intertwine irretrievably with the baby, it's zero budget time.sycasey said:I do not necessarily object to slimming down costs. But again: baby, bathwater. It appears to me that Elon just wants to shutter the department and its functions entirely.tequila4kapp said:
I am not an isolationist. Not even close. I'm for the concept of USAID - economic development, humanitarian aid, promoting democracy, etc. The things we are seeing in the news are light years away from those objectives.
- No money should go to NGOs that work domestically in the US.
- No money should go to developed nations that hasn't suffered a natural disaster.
- No money should be spent for ideological issues (liberal or conservative).
Basically, help people in times of need and promote democracy because that is ultimately in our own best interest. After that take a big ol' hatchet to all this aid stuff.
Right, so it is about shutting the whole thing down. That's where this discussion always seems to lead.Rushinbear said:when the tentacles of corrupt bathwater intertwine irretrievably with the baby, it's zero budget time.sycasey said:I do not necessarily object to slimming down costs. But again: baby, bathwater. It appears to me that Elon just wants to shutter the department and its functions entirely.tequila4kapp said:
I am not an isolationist. Not even close. I'm for the concept of USAID - economic development, humanitarian aid, promoting democracy, etc. The things we are seeing in the news are light years away from those objectives.
- No money should go to NGOs that work domestically in the US.
- No money should go to developed nations that hasn't suffered a natural disaster.
- No money should be spent for ideological issues (liberal or conservative).
Basically, help people in times of need and promote democracy because that is ultimately in our own best interest. After that take a big ol' hatchet to all this aid stuff.
Yeah, the GOP should go for it. Let them own it. Before long, we'll realize how much we miss the babies but it'll be too late.sycasey said:Right, so it is about shutting the whole thing down. That's where this discussion always seems to lead.Rushinbear said:when the tentacles of corrupt bathwater intertwine irretrievably with the baby, it's zero budget time.sycasey said:I do not necessarily object to slimming down costs. But again: baby, bathwater. It appears to me that Elon just wants to shutter the department and its functions entirely.tequila4kapp said:
I am not an isolationist. Not even close. I'm for the concept of USAID - economic development, humanitarian aid, promoting democracy, etc. The things we are seeing in the news are light years away from those objectives.
- No money should go to NGOs that work domestically in the US.
- No money should go to developed nations that hasn't suffered a natural disaster.
- No money should be spent for ideological issues (liberal or conservative).
Basically, help people in times of need and promote democracy because that is ultimately in our own best interest. After that take a big ol' hatchet to all this aid stuff.
If that's the Republican position these days, then so be it. People can vote accordingly.
when it comes to USAID, yes. and the sifting isn't over.sycasey said:Right, so it is about shutting the whole thing down. That's where this discussion always seems to lead.Rushinbear said:when the tentacles of corrupt bathwater intertwine irretrievably with the baby, it's zero budget time.sycasey said:I do not necessarily object to slimming down costs. But again: baby, bathwater. It appears to me that Elon just wants to shutter the department and its functions entirely.tequila4kapp said:
I am not an isolationist. Not even close. I'm for the concept of USAID - economic development, humanitarian aid, promoting democracy, etc. The things we are seeing in the news are light years away from those objectives.
- No money should go to NGOs that work domestically in the US.
- No money should go to developed nations that hasn't suffered a natural disaster.
- No money should be spent for ideological issues (liberal or conservative).
Basically, help people in times of need and promote democracy because that is ultimately in our own best interest. After that take a big ol' hatchet to all this aid stuff.
If that's the Republican position these days, then so be it. People can vote accordingly.
sycasey said:
I think Trump and all of these agencies are basically following Elon's lead here. Do I have any hard proof of that? No, of course not.
Since Trump "did it", shouldn't you be opposing it?Eastern Oregon Bear said:As was pointed out elsewhere, the Reuters contract was signed during Trump's first term. Under Trump's eagle eyes.movielover said:
USAID / DOGE thread.Reuters received far more money than this from US government organizations, but via various subsidiaries and intermediaries to hide how they were getting it.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 13, 2025
This is just what @DOGE has found so far. pic.twitter.com/PXbL1OkEKO
I'm just pointing out that Trump is criticizing his own decisions. He should have spent more time reading briefings and doing his job and less time calling in to "Fox and Friends".BearGoggles said:Since Trump "did it", shouldn't you be opposing it?Eastern Oregon Bear said:As was pointed out elsewhere, the Reuters contract was signed during Trump's first term. Under Trump's eagle eyes.movielover said:
USAID / DOGE thread.Reuters received far more money than this from US government organizations, but via various subsidiaries and intermediaries to hide how they were getting it.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 13, 2025
This is just what @DOGE has found so far. pic.twitter.com/PXbL1OkEKO
It is almost certain Trump had no idea about the expenditure. But even if he did, do you dispute its a good thing to reverse?
How many USAID grant documents do you think Biden, Bush 43, Obama, or Bush 41 read or were briefed about? Do you really think any of them know how and to whom these types of awards are made? That is why they typically deliver executive orders/directives as to the policy they want set and expect the agency to follow those.Eastern Oregon Bear said:I'm just pointing out that Trump is criticizing his own decisions. He should have spent more time reading briefings and doing his job and less time calling in to "Fox and Friends".BearGoggles said:Since Trump "did it", shouldn't you be opposing it?Eastern Oregon Bear said:As was pointed out elsewhere, the Reuters contract was signed during Trump's first term. Under Trump's eagle eyes.movielover said:
USAID / DOGE thread.Reuters received far more money than this from US government organizations, but via various subsidiaries and intermediaries to hide how they were getting it.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 13, 2025
This is just what @DOGE has found so far. pic.twitter.com/PXbL1OkEKO
It is almost certain Trump had no idea about the expenditure. But even if he did, do you dispute its a good thing to reverse?
movielover said:
Yes. And Musk is a fascist, racist, Jewish KKK leader. Big Ballz might help.
Man, they really never saw DOGE coming.
— Mike Benz (@MikeBenzCyber) February 13, 2025
If you can point to where I said Trump was a fascist dictator, please do so.bear2034 said:sycasey said:
I think Trump and all of these agencies are basically following Elon's lead here. Do I have any hard proof of that? No, of course not.
Trump is a fascist dictator but Elon controls the presidency?
Eastern Oregon Bear said:I'm just pointing out that Trump is criticizing his own decisions. He should have spent more time reading briefings and doing his job and less time calling in to "Fox and Friends".BearGoggles said:Since Trump "did it", shouldn't you be opposing it?Eastern Oregon Bear said:As was pointed out elsewhere, the Reuters contract was signed during Trump's first term. Under Trump's eagle eyes.movielover said:
USAID / DOGE thread.Reuters received far more money than this from US government organizations, but via various subsidiaries and intermediaries to hide how they were getting it.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 13, 2025
This is just what @DOGE has found so far. pic.twitter.com/PXbL1OkEKO
It is almost certain Trump had no idea about the expenditure. But even if he did, do you dispute its a good thing to reverse?
