Trump administration to propose 'dramatic reductions' in foreign aid

Foreign aid, is another name for briberies to foreign countries to accept or change US policies, it doesn't help the people it doesn't help the countries but the governments themselves are the ones pocketing the aid.

When it comes to poverty and hunger the UN with also American funding does all that the, those are different groups that help with that.

Y'all need to know this:

In a national poll on the subject last year, a mere one in 20 [Americans] knew that less than 1 percent of the $4 trillion annual federal budget goes to foreign aid. According to HowMuch.net, the U.S. government provided roughly $35 billion in economic and military aid to more than 140 countries in fiscal 2014.

$35bn.

Less than 1% of the federal budget.

Won't pay for much in the way of military procurement, or Medicare, or whatever you're planning to use it for.

The attendant loss of goodwill, however, will cost America far more than the modest sum of money saved by turning off the aid tap. I'm talking direct costs, such as those related to enhanced security for US political and strategic assets overseas: hard power always costs more.

This is a gesture, nothing more. A feel-good middle finger stuck in the face of the world to make those who are insecure in their own greatness feel great again. Nice symbolism but the practical consequences are going to be expensive.

Still: feel the burn. Enjoy. What good is being king of the world if you can't piss it all away?

This is good.
America is 20 trillion dollars in debt we can`t afford to be the worlds sugar daddy any longer.
if other countries need money let them borrow the money,if other countries want to help the countries that are too poor to get a loan then let them borrow the money and give it away to the poor countries.

People need to understand that the money America gives away isn`t money that America has it`s money that America has to borrow.

It make me so glad to see someone want to stop paying bribes to foreign dictators to fight proxy wars for the usa. That is 99% of what foreign aid is. The hungry stay hungry the poor stay poor cause foreign aid goes to warlords and cronies to make war. So without your foreign aid it will be better in most countries. If Trump wanna save a couple trillion in his 1st 4 years, just stop all the proxy wars usa fight eveywhere on earth. Call back the 100 of 1000 of soldiers. They snyways not welcome where they are in foreign countries. Give them real work back home instead of butchering innocent people in far off countries. Pics and shovels and a bit of manual labour will get america great again.

It is interesting to read - you said usa got 20 trillion in debt and then the next line say let poor countries borrow money. Cause technicaly if say half the countries in the word got 0 usd they still richer than the usa with 20 trillion in debt. Then i think everyone in the west misunderstand what foreign aid is. Foreign aid is a legal term - a loophole - so to dpeak for paying bribes to overthrow goverments and pay the dictators who fought the proxy war on behalve of usa to get him his post. It got nothing to do with helping the poor. It is paing for services rendered. a reply to: Tardacus

First, I worked in international development for a bit. I may go back to it. So this is an area where half of my friends work in it, and not just Americans, but people all over.

What I don't understand about right wingers is that you guys are all for increasing the defense budget, for a foreign policy that is largely destructive and creates hatred of Americans, and increases poverty and insecurity abroad.

But then, you want to cut and attack sustainable development programs abroad which are evidence-based investments proven to improve living conditions, security, peace, and opportunity for all (you know, like education, health care, governance improvement, etc).

Do you guys not get that you are choosing destruction over construction? Hatred of America over peace-building?

There's a domestic parallel where many of you support heavier policing and law and order in the US, but fight evidence-based investments for the poor in health care, education, and economic opportunity...

originally posted by: gortex
a reply to: slider1982

Has there ever been a more wasteful way to p1ss billions up the wall?

Other than the $54 Billion that disappears into the Black Budget hole every year probably not , although at least the money spent on foreign aid is accounted for.

It must make more sense to spend money on killing people rather than keeping them alive , mustn't it ?

Except, international aid generally is not so much for bombs and such, unless you include military aid in foreign aid. In fact, when people mean "aid" they usually mean spending money on investments such as in education or health care programs, to name but a few.

I'm sure it will be fair and even, and Isreael will have its aid reduced as well

I'm sure it won't be a symbolic piker move where he only cuts aid to the nations with the scary muslims

most of the aid goes to afghanistan and Israel. No way the conspiracy nut in chief (unless something goes wrong, then it was someone else's idea) actually cuts aid there

this is anther dog whistle issue designed to make the right wing nut jobs fell better, but won't actually accomplish jack squat

originally posted by: gortex
a reply to: 727Sky

Gotta pay for all those new tanks , bombs and planes somehow I guess.

Let the starving poor of the world starve , making Murica Great and tax cuts for the rich must come first.

Mulvaney said the Trump administration will release its budget proposal on March 16. Reuters has reported the administration planssignificant proposed cuts in many other domestic programs.

No doubt domestic programs targeted at helping the poor of the US , Bombs and tax cuts for the rich must come first.

Aid never reaches the intended populace anyways. The roves of gangs and corrupt governments get first dibs on that stuff.

originally posted by: Cygnis
Show me where the money we have given to these foreign nations has actually made it to the poor and destitute?

I am betting 10 to 1 odds the money never left the leaderships hands, or the hands of the cronies it has been given to for "administrative purposes".

Foreign aid is hogwash, and bribery.

Do you realize the destitute on Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) (SSI is around $560/mo) get $1100/mo in this country, and haven't seen a reasonable cost of living increase in a long, long time. ($1,100/mo, mind you, not every 2 weeks). ($1,100/mo = $6.87/hr on the avg 40hr work week)

Take the Foreign aid and give it to those on disability, at least it would be better spent. They might get to eat something more then raman, peanut butter and jelly, and stale bread from the discount bin at the local grocer.

I get your arguments. But, there are all kinds of programs abroad where the money is spent on real programs for the poor. I know, I've worked on such programs in Bangladesh, China, and the Dominican Republic. I have friends in Africa working for USAID and the UN. I have friends working in similar NGOs in Latin America.

You guys need to stop having such a simplistic and hateful view of "aid." It's called international development, and "aid" is only a part of that framework.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask away.

originally posted by: marg6043
Foreign aid, is another name for briberies to foreign countries to accept or change US policies, it doesn't help the people it doesn't help the countries but the governments themselves are the ones pocketing the aid.

When it comes to poverty and hunger the UN with also American funding does all that the, those are different groups that help with that.

actually all you have to do is google foreign aid to learn about it. it took me about 90 seconds.

is actually a lot of things

originally posted by: iTruthSeeker

originally posted by: gortex
a reply to: 727Sky

Gotta pay for all those new tanks , bombs and planes somehow I guess.

Let the starving poor of the world starve , making Murica Great and tax cuts for the rich must come first.

Mulvaney said the Trump administration will release its budget proposal on March 16. Reuters has reported the administration planssignificant proposed cuts in many other domestic programs.

No doubt domestic programs targeted at helping the poor of the US , Bombs and tax cuts for the rich must come first.

Aid never reaches the intended populace anyways. The roves of gangs and corrupt governments get first dibs on that stuff.

harsh words for Israel and the US forces in Afghanistan

Right, this stuff is intellectually dishonest.

Many claim they are against "aid," and want to cut anti-poverty or sustainable development programs abroad, but then will accept continuing military aid programs to places like Israel.

originally posted by: iTruthSeeker

originally posted by: gortex
a reply to: 727Sky

Gotta pay for all those new tanks , bombs and planes somehow I guess.

Let the starving poor of the world starve , making Murica Great and tax cuts for the rich must come first.

Mulvaney said the Trump administration will release its budget proposal on March 16. Reuters has reported the administration planssignificant proposed cuts in many other domestic programs.

No doubt domestic programs targeted at helping the poor of the US , Bombs and tax cuts for the rich must come first.

Aid never reaches the intended populace anyways. The roves of gangs and corrupt governments get first dibs on that stuff.

Corruption is a problem, and there are programs within "aid" or development that specifically address this.

However, there ARE tons of programs that still reach the population in given countries.

a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14
Some of the things that are going on bother me to no end. The new hawkish stance with Russia and the failed UN resolution to place new sanctions on Syria are just the latest. Unfortunately many of the rumors about a semi powerless POTUS as far as stopping wars (can always start one though) may have more truth than we want to admit.
russia-insider.com...

If these recalcitrant Cold Warriors in America’s “power ministries” remain untouched, they will be in a position to create provocations at any time of their choosing to override Trump’s planned détente policies. And that would be child’s play, given the close proximity of US and Russian forces in Ukraine, in Syria, in the Baltic States, on the Baltic Sea and on the Black Sea. Given the poor state of relations and the minimal trust between Russia and the US-led West, any accident in these areas could quickly escalate. And then we might see the side of Donald Trump’s personality that his Democratic opponents warned us about, his short temper and alpha male nature bring us into an armed clash the outcome of which is unforeseeable, but not likely to be good.

There is another issue which cannot be postponed, but must be faced squarely very early on: Trump’s public remarks these past two days on his budget and how he envisions re-equipping the U.S. military. He spoke about financing a $54 billion increase on men and materiel by cuts in other departments. There has not been a word to suggest he is considering restructuring the $600 billion of military appropriations, for example by cutting the military bases abroad. These bases are configured to support precisely the global hegemony and American imperialism that he has denounced. What is at issue is not only realizing the tens of billions of dollars in savings that would come from repatriation, but also removing an American presence from countries where it only serves to foster anti-Americanism and to embroil us either in defending hated regimes or intervening in regional conflicts where we have no vital interests.

In a word, without restructuring our military spending we are condemned to a never-ending succession of wars abroad and Trump's entire plan of investment in America is doomed to failure.

a reply to: slider1982

You are responsible for being a leader country, so this responsibility comes with a lot of spending.

Convert your attentive America into an indifferent country and you will pay with your life.

a reply to: surnamename57

Why are we responsible for giving other countries free money?

why would we pay with our life if we stop the gravy train?

originally posted by: 727Sky
a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14
Some of the things that are going on bother me to no end. The new hawkish stance with Russia and the failed UN resolution to place new sanctions on Syria are just the latest. Unfortunately many of the rumors about a semi powerless POTUS as far as stopping wars (can always start one though) may have more truth than we want to admit.
russia-insider.com...

If these recalcitrant Cold Warriors in America’s “power ministries” remain untouched, they will be in a position to create provocations at any time of their choosing to override Trump’s planned détente policies. And that would be child’s play, given the close proximity of US and Russian forces in Ukraine, in Syria, in the Baltic States, on the Baltic Sea and on the Black Sea. Given the poor state of relations and the minimal trust between Russia and the US-led West, any accident in these areas could quickly escalate. And then we might see the side of Donald Trump’s personality that his Democratic opponents warned us about, his short temper and alpha male nature bring us into an armed clash the outcome of which is unforeseeable, but not likely to be good.

There is another issue which cannot be postponed, but must be faced squarely very early on: Trump’s public remarks these past two days on his budget and how he envisions re-equipping the U.S. military. He spoke about financing a $54 billion increase on men and materiel by cuts in other departments. There has not been a word to suggest he is considering restructuring the $600 billion of military appropriations, for example by cutting the military bases abroad. These bases are configured to support precisely the global hegemony and American imperialism that he has denounced. What is at issue is not only realizing the tens of billions of dollars in savings that would come from repatriation, but also removing an American presence from countries where it only serves to foster anti-Americanism and to embroil us either in defending hated regimes or intervening in regional conflicts where we have no vital interests.

In a word, without restructuring our military spending we are condemned to a never-ending succession of wars abroad and Trump's entire plan of investment in America is doomed to failure.

Are you for more power abroad or less? Just asking for clarification.

But I would agree that our interventionist foreign policy and military spending need to be reigned in, and have needed to be so since the 50's. This is what should be cut first, not constructive international development aid, which actually helps everybody when done right.

originally posted by: OccamsRazor04
a reply to: surnamename57

Why are we responsible for giving other countries free money?

why would we pay with our life if we stop the gravy train?

Not intended to be cynical, but it's not fre money. It's money to make more money.

Are you willing to let North Korea or Iran change the world?

a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14

Are you for more power abroad or less? Just asking for clarification.

I do not believe we need all the overseas bases that is for darn sure.

Some of the stuff Trump said on the campaign trail was music to my ears.. as it was to others, therefore he is now POTUS.
I made a vow to myself I would wait 6 months before I started into the thinking we have been duped and betrayed by false political promises .. I will hold with that promise for it takes time to change course of this huge ship of state.. However, some of what I am seeing, as far as foreign entanglements, is "steady as she goes" on a course of more war with all the attending problems such polices create.. This course can not be changed fast enough for me, for sure.