If you grew up in the 70s and 80s like I did, you might remember a television ad promoting regular changes of Fram oil filters. Their campaign argument was that you can replace the $4 dollar oil filters regularly, ….. or face a major engine overhaul costing hundreds of dollars. You choose. Pay me now, or pay me later!
USAID and Foreign Aid
USAID, or the United States Agency for International Development, is the government agency that handles foreign aid and development. President Kennedy established USAID in 1961, and since then it’s been working in over 100 countries to support economic growth, healthcare, education, democracy, and disaster relief. In FY 2023, USAID administered more than 40 billion dollars in programs designed to build stronger communities and align with U.S. foreign policy goals. USAID has missions in many of the US Embassies and carries out projects across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Now, Trump will eliminate USAID and cut 10,000 workers, leaving 300 souls that will join the US State Department to manage US aid collaboration with other countries (I guess that is what the 300 people will do?).
Will the elimination of USAID improve the security of the United States? What is your opinion? After we ditch our former partners, are they going to stand by wringing their hands and khashing their teeth? Or after we leave, … will China or Russia step in to fill the empty void created by Trump?
Bombs or Butter?
Nation States such as the United States, China, or Russia each have global and national security and economic interests. Each country develops their own economic and military alliances to ensure security and prosperity. And there are two ways that the countries can influence other nation states.
- Bombs: By using military threats and dropping bombs on other countries to make them collaborate in a way that is beneficial to the security of the United States. Or
- Butter: By providing development assistance to improve agriculture, health care, education etc in each country, fomenting long term, mutually beneficial alliances.
Which strategy costs more? Let me see? The budget for USAID in 2023 was 40 billion while military expenditures in the US rose to approximately $900 billion (statista.com).
Which strategy offers better long term results for the money spent? Is it better to buy more bombs and bullets and encourage collaboration by destroying other people’s home and community if they don’t cooperate? Or is it better to invest in other countries economy and health care, along with fostering better education for children?
Of course it is a combination of both,….normally.
USAID is the oil filter. And Trump and the military establishment don’t have time for changing oil filters. They will climb in their clown car completely full of fools, and push the pedal to the metal, until the engine rods start knocking and a full engine overhaul is required (ie military intervention and/or dropped bombs and rockets). Maybe Trump will start with Canada – his enemy to the north?
As a result of Trump’s many inept and blundering executive orders, I believe the US economy will fall behind China in the next decade. Already the BRIC countries, which represent 40% of the world’s population, are forming into an important economic and political alliance. Our own NATO alliance represents approximately 12% of the world’s population. If we are not actively cultivating world wide partners, the United States will get their ass in a crack fairly quickly.
But Trump won’t care at that point (or any point really). He and other “world people” will be stretched out on folding chairs in the new Gaza Riviera, sipping martinis.
Anyone else have an opinion on Trump’s move to eliminate USAID?
High Desert Explorations 