When things become so complex that the core mission is hard to define and outcomes impossible to measure, the only way to reform is to tear it down and rebuild from the original principles . I do hope the health and welfare programs stay intact and that we get more money as priorities are realigned. Speaking of building things, a few power plants and hospitals may help! The key is find the right people to lead. It’s ugly out there right now. I hope things settle down
My wife recently got diagnosed with Stage 1 kidney cancer. The tumor had invaded over 60% of the kidney and had also caused an immune response that had made her severely anemic. The kidney was killing her and couldn’t be saved, so the surgeon removed the whole thing. With it gone, she began to recover almost immediately. The same with USAID. The need for some of the international support it provides remains, but the cancer that has invaded USAID has become so pervasive and invasive that the entire agency has to go. Taking it down and then replacing its essential functions from the ground up is now the only viable option.
Not quite. The "waste and grift" cited so far by the new admin are a few examples of silly projects or they are incorrect. USAID is probably the most scrutinized agency in the gov. My concerns are not about waste and grift in the specific projects, but inefficiencies in the overall system. We don't need 22 agencies. We do need USAID or something like it.
What you missed in your article is that Hillary also used USAID to fund the Russia Collusion Hoax that tied up the administration of Trump for many months! Also, go through DOGE's findings on foreign aid - it's obscene what they used our tax dollars on for many years. I am disgusted that you and other MSM and Congress itself never bothered to look at the books as spending in the billions went on without accountability or basic auditing of USAID programs. I grew up in Sub Saharan Africa so I know that 99% of the 54 African countries have corrupt governments and outright dictators who rig and violently suppress elections so they obtain the "correct" result. Of course they grab US dollars with glee and squirrel them away in offshore bank ac's by any means necessary courtesy of the IMF and World Bank. Meanwhile the Chinese have their "Belt and Road" projects pumping billions into building infrastructure and mining the minerals that China hopes to monopolize to the detriment of the West.
The US should impose conditions on any aid to Africa (and the rest of the world) including US monitored elections, basic health for their populations, schools, and rebuilding decrepit infrastructure including power generation and distribution, roads, railways, sewage and potable water - the things we take for granted in the "civilized" world. Basically lifting the majority of their populations of short lives of grinding poverty with no electricity or running, clean water. This must be audited or the aid dollars will certainly "disappear".
William, you seem angry -- and misinformed. I don't appreciate the comment that you're disgusted by me for not understanding USAID. This site is for informed debate and discussion. Future comments like this will get you banned from my Substack. If you cannot abide, I invite you to unsubscribe.
I think your example of QDDR proves the reason DOGE is taking a different approach. Many people, including Thomas Sowell, have pointed out agencies don't want to solve problems that will end their agency. Hence, the duplication of agencies. Do we really need ICE, FBI, ATF, etc.? This is why we're $34T in debt. We need to start cutting government spending and USAID is a great place to start. We also need to stop agencies like USDA that killed millions of chickens based on a fear of avian flu. Hence, egg prices shooting up over $10 a dozen. This is due to direct intervention from a government agency. Americans are rightfully sick of it and are demanding change.
Not yet but we will need those functions one way or another. State Dept not built for this work so we will need something, no matter where it's housed.
When things become so complex that the core mission is hard to define and outcomes impossible to measure, the only way to reform is to tear it down and rebuild from the original principles . I do hope the health and welfare programs stay intact and that we get more money as priorities are realigned. Speaking of building things, a few power plants and hospitals may help! The key is find the right people to lead. It’s ugly out there right now. I hope things settle down
My wife recently got diagnosed with Stage 1 kidney cancer. The tumor had invaded over 60% of the kidney and had also caused an immune response that had made her severely anemic. The kidney was killing her and couldn’t be saved, so the surgeon removed the whole thing. With it gone, she began to recover almost immediately. The same with USAID. The need for some of the international support it provides remains, but the cancer that has invaded USAID has become so pervasive and invasive that the entire agency has to go. Taking it down and then replacing its essential functions from the ground up is now the only viable option.
Keep up the good work!
Wishing it hadn't happened isn't much different from endorsing the waste and grift that's been thrown into the spotlight.
Not quite. The "waste and grift" cited so far by the new admin are a few examples of silly projects or they are incorrect. USAID is probably the most scrutinized agency in the gov. My concerns are not about waste and grift in the specific projects, but inefficiencies in the overall system. We don't need 22 agencies. We do need USAID or something like it.
What you missed in your article is that Hillary also used USAID to fund the Russia Collusion Hoax that tied up the administration of Trump for many months! Also, go through DOGE's findings on foreign aid - it's obscene what they used our tax dollars on for many years. I am disgusted that you and other MSM and Congress itself never bothered to look at the books as spending in the billions went on without accountability or basic auditing of USAID programs. I grew up in Sub Saharan Africa so I know that 99% of the 54 African countries have corrupt governments and outright dictators who rig and violently suppress elections so they obtain the "correct" result. Of course they grab US dollars with glee and squirrel them away in offshore bank ac's by any means necessary courtesy of the IMF and World Bank. Meanwhile the Chinese have their "Belt and Road" projects pumping billions into building infrastructure and mining the minerals that China hopes to monopolize to the detriment of the West.
The US should impose conditions on any aid to Africa (and the rest of the world) including US monitored elections, basic health for their populations, schools, and rebuilding decrepit infrastructure including power generation and distribution, roads, railways, sewage and potable water - the things we take for granted in the "civilized" world. Basically lifting the majority of their populations of short lives of grinding poverty with no electricity or running, clean water. This must be audited or the aid dollars will certainly "disappear".
William, you seem angry -- and misinformed. I don't appreciate the comment that you're disgusted by me for not understanding USAID. This site is for informed debate and discussion. Future comments like this will get you banned from my Substack. If you cannot abide, I invite you to unsubscribe.
I think your example of QDDR proves the reason DOGE is taking a different approach. Many people, including Thomas Sowell, have pointed out agencies don't want to solve problems that will end their agency. Hence, the duplication of agencies. Do we really need ICE, FBI, ATF, etc.? This is why we're $34T in debt. We need to start cutting government spending and USAID is a great place to start. We also need to stop agencies like USDA that killed millions of chickens based on a fear of avian flu. Hence, egg prices shooting up over $10 a dozen. This is due to direct intervention from a government agency. Americans are rightfully sick of it and are demanding change.
Refreshing read! Any sources to your confidence that US overseas development funding will be rebuilt?
Not yet but we will need those functions one way or another. State Dept not built for this work so we will need something, no matter where it's housed.