Sequestration

[Bernard_Fokke]

This ought to provide some interesting political fallout for those that we've been helping...


**The State Department will have to stop humanitarian aid to millions of people, cut foreign assistance to Israel, and delay efforts to ramp up diplomatic security abroad after the Sept. 11 attack in Benghazi, if sequestration goes into effect next month, according to Secretary of State John Kerry.

"Here are some specific cuts that Kerry said would be necessary if sequestration happens:
$200 million cut from humanitarian assistance, which would impact millions of disaster-stricken people
$400 million cut from global health funding, hurting efforts to stop HIV/AIDs and child death
$500 million cut from global security accounts
$300 million cut from foreign military financing accounts, which could result in cuts to assistance to Israel, Egypt, and Jordan
$70 million cut from USAID operations accounts"


http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/p...erious_sequestration_cuts_for_state_and_usaid


Lots of other news items that show the affects here at home https://www.google.com/search?q=seq...38,d.aWc&fp=9bc0766084c0a672&biw=1280&bih=607

 

[OldGaffer]

Sad, a country too cheapskate to pay their bills.

 

[connieb]

"our bills" include aid to other countries?

connie

 

[connieb]

Well, I am not a fan of putting our men and women working abroad at risk by not being able to properly defend their consulates and embassys'. So, I think if we have to cut there - then I say we close those in more risky areas and use any surplus that creates to increase security at others.

As far as cutting aid to foreign countries. Go for it. We don't owe them a darn thing... and we are in no place to be giving out charity when our own people here need it too. For a change, allow the rest of the world to pick up the slack. I do not want people to suffer, but may be these countries can go solicit donations from other countries. We certainly aren't the only with money.

connie

 

[GordonGecko]

"our bills" include aid to other countries?

connie

connie, you know who'll be speaking out the LOUDEST about foreign aid to Israel being cut due to sequestration? Guys like Bill Kristol, Joe Lieberman, and Charles Krauthammer.

 

[connieb]

I am sure there are quite a few who will be bemoaning poor Israel. I don't really care. I am not interested in continuing to go into debt so we can finance other country's standard of living.

connie

 

[Corruptbuddha]

Imagine the good that could be done right here at home with the billions we give to other nations each and every year.

 

[connieb]

Indeed.

 

[Bernard_Fokke]

I don't agree with the idea we somehow owe the rest of the world a living when we have our own citizens living in filth, poverty and not able to enjoy the chance of a better like like you have had. Let's spend those dollars at home for a change.

 

[888888]

Imagine the good that could be done right here at home with the billions we give to other nations each and every year.

Right, you want tell us about all that money that would come back to America that would then go to help America to take care of it's own people. You really think the right has a plan that works like that or would allow that to happen?

 

[Corruptbuddha]

It's pretty simple, 8's. If we're not spending it abroad..we could use it to cull the debt.

 

[connieb]

If they are cuts to the money we will spend, then that money hasn't gone anywhere yet. Maybe it will be used in social programs here. Likely not. Either way, we are either spending that money domestically, or we are reducing taxes or paying off our debt. Either way, better use of funds than to prop up foreign governments and the economies of other places.

 

[Bernard_Fokke]

Bingo!

Just imagine what all that money that's been spent (Read as pissed away) in the last say 15 years could have done right here at home, the kid who grew up on the streets of some big town ( Chi town LA, NY you name it ) and subsequently died of one of the many hazards of the Ghetto/Barrio could have gone to school and realized the cure for say cancer or Alzheimer's and helped make the world a better place.

Lets bring home the troops and spend those foreign aid dollars right here at home where they are needed.

But then what the hell do I know eh.

 

[OldGaffer]

 

[Corruptbuddha]

No, no...let's just keep giving hundreds of billions that we don't have to people who hate us anyway.

Winning the hearts and minds, don't you know!

 

[connieb]

The thing is I bet the majority of people in those countries who do benefit from our aid, probably have no idea where it even comes from.

ETA - that is assuming that any of the money actually ends up in the hands of people who need it. And, not just the public coffers which end up enriching the despots that control it.

 

[Bernard_Fokke]

Yep and the rest would fund O'bummer care.

 

[freyasman]

"Foreign Aid" is when you take money from poor people in rich countries and give it to rich people in poor countries.

 

[connieb]

That is a pretty good explanation.

 

[freyasman]

That is a pretty good explanation.

Thanks, but I can't take credit... I read it somewhere.