hokiewolf said:

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caryking said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Civilized said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Maybe the beans aren't magic.

“Why aren’t you cheering Trump & DOGE? I thought you wanted spending and deficit cuts!"

Because I’ve been doing this for 25 years and can’t be tricked by gimmicky nonsense. Trump’s first term added $8 trillion in enacted spending hikes and tax cuts to the deficit - half of…

— Brian Riedl 🧀 🇺🇦 (@Brian_Riedl) February 4, 2025

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I saw that last night and was going to post it today.

Probably the most detailed indictment of the current strategy, but also most detailed suggestion for how to trend hard in the right direction fiscally, that I've seen.

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The sad part is no one cares. If they did, they would look for serious solutions instead of nickels in the couch cushions. And don't get me wrong. I'm still good with figuring out which govt programs work and which don't, and finding efficiencies to reduce waste, but the hard stuff will never be discussed.

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The reality is… if we don't have the will to cut the small things, then the big things are completely off the table.

All the people bringing up history, well, please include the massive failures on the establishment politicians. They kept the spending going. Trump should have had this same mission, in his last term. He didn't and things/spending spiraled out of control. At least I'm consistent in my complaints. Biden didn't create the disaster that we had, all by himself, the last four years. It took Congress and a willing administrative environment, as much as Biden.

So, for all the liberals, including Hokie (who isn't a liberal; rather a misguided Republican) please recognize your complaints are truly hollow.

Consider the following: with the type of ridiculous spending we've seen in a small department like theUSAID, imagine how much is actually in the bigger programs. I'm sure we will only hear the cry's like we saw from the Democrats yesterday, on their bullhorns, when Trumps team starts on the bigger programs. It really is disgusting.

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The reality is that USAID was cut because of political retribution, not fiscal responsibility. As I have stated repeatedly, and this has been ignored for years here, because everyone just dismisses my thoughts because I don't like Trump. I disagree

I'm happy we found an eliminated waste in USAID. I hope we find and eliminate waste elsewhere in the government. Agree

I hope that we stop treating the IRS like some sort of pariah and give them the money and people they need to update their computer systems, improve their customer service, and yes, enforce the tax code as it is written. Disagree. Simplify the Tax system and get rid of more people.

I hope we don't do stupid **** like design custom mail delivery vehicles for the post office when there are plenty of delivery vehicles that would work perfectly for them that are on the market and much cheaper. Agree. Low-hanging fruit

I hope we utilize the space that the US Government has efficiently and disposes of leases that are no longer needed. Agree. Cut employees and sell buildings

I hope we get rid of stupid protectionist laws like the Jones Act. Still don't understand this one being on your list

I hope that we start producing budgets every year for approval instead of continuing resolutions and use a bi-partisan effort to come up with a budget that works in all the years where growth isn't 3% of GDP. Agree

I hope that we have a bi-partisan effort to address Social Security, Medicare, Medicad, Defense, and Service on the Debt, because that's the only way that work is going to get done. It can't be done in a vacuum of one party. It will never happen if that's the case. Agree. Also, I hope we dig into those programs and find all that crap that was in USAID. I'll bet its massive.

I hope that Trump doesn't ruin the economy with tariffs and government spending, but it's looking like that is going to be the case, at least in my eyes. You might be right, we will see...

All of the above are doable, but there is more interest in bomb throwing and retribution against the other party, and stupid purity tests to get people elected. Its who we are now... We elect republicans who sound great but have no business being in government, that do not have any interest in actual governing. We elect democrats who sound great, but have no business being in government, that do not have any interest in actual governing. That is very True!!

So Cary, I am slightly offended your are grouping me into a category of hollow complaints. I have posted many topics here and on other threads, and shared opinions that no one here cares to respond to because that's not what many of you want out of your government. Fair enough

You want to find the imaginary bogey men and kill them off. Then you want to create a utopia that can't exist without doing some very hard work legislatively to get the federal budget back to something that is manageable with respect to GDP. Magic tariff beans aren't the solution. We will see... You guys have been gorging on Trump branded Candy, and Bident branded Candy, and Obama branded candy for too long. It's time to eat spinach.

Cut spending, don't buy the snake oil that tariffs will make us rich beyond our wildest dreams, and I have to say it, don't renew the Trump tax cuts and cut spending period. We're too far in now to continue down this road of tax cuts and uncontrolled spending. We will see...

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Civilized said:

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caryking said:

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Civilized said:

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caryking said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Civilized said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Maybe the beans aren't magic.

“Why aren’t you cheering Trump & DOGE? I thought you wanted spending and deficit cuts!"

Because I’ve been doing this for 25 years and can’t be tricked by gimmicky nonsense. Trump’s first term added $8 trillion in enacted spending hikes and tax cuts to the deficit - half of…

— Brian Riedl 🧀 🇺🇦 (@Brian_Riedl) February 4, 2025

---

I saw that last night and was going to post it today.

Probably the most detailed indictment of the current strategy, but also most detailed suggestion for how to trend hard in the right direction fiscally, that I've seen.

---

The sad part is no one cares. If they did, they would look for serious solutions instead of nickels in the couch cushions. And don't get me wrong. I'm still good with figuring out which govt programs work and which don't, and finding efficiencies to reduce waste, but the hard stuff will never be discussed.

---

The reality is… if we don't have the will to cut the small things, then the big things are completely off the table.

All the people bringing up history, well, please include the massive failures on the establishment politicians. They kept the spending going. Trump should have had this same mission, in his last term. He didn't and things/spending spiraled out of control. At least I'm consistent in my complaints. Biden didn't create the disaster that we had, all by himself, the last four years. It took Congress and a willing administrative environment, as much as Biden.

So, for all the liberals, including Hokie (who isn't a liberal; rather a misguided Republican) please recognize your complaints are truly hollow.

Consider the following: with the type of ridiculous spending we've seen in a small department like theUSAID, imagine how much is actually in the bigger programs. I'm sure we will only hear the cry's like we saw from the Democrats yesterday, on their bullhorns, when Trumps team starts on the bigger programs. It really is disgusting.

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No, the reality is that cutting the very small things with high ROI like USAID for show unnecessarily weakens our stance abroad, with no consequential improvement to the budget deficit.

It's completely superficial window dressing. There's not enough of those things you can possibly cut to consequentially move the deficit needle. Defense spending, Medicare, Social Security, and IRS shortfalls are what fix the problem or get us on the right path.

After you roll USAID up onto the State Department, and hopefully maintain its necessary functions how much will you actually save? $10B? Maybe? The yearly budget deficit is 200x that amount.

It's like me making $50k/year and spending $70k/year, most of which is my mortgage and health insurance, and thinking that I'm going to solve my $20k/year budget problem by cancelling Netflix and buying Starbucks once a month instead of once a week.

It's a nearly complete waste of time whose only purpose is to act like something's being done.

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Civ, I've always contended you are a reasonable person with some outlandish thoughts and/or ideas; however, your post shows truly how out of touch you are. The amount of sludge in the USAID warrants destroying any good it might offer. That said, I have yet to see one good that it offers, and I understand we might disagree on that. So, I think this is an example of: I quote Barack Obama... elections have consequences!!! In other words, sit back, shut up, or get onboard... This is what you have for the next four years. Get over it!!!

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The only reason you don't see it is becuase you actively avoid seeing it. Closing your eyes isn't the same as "not seeing it." It's willful avoidance.

Over the last 20 years, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has played a significant role in global humanitarian efforts, addressing issues like poverty, health crises, education, food security, and emergency disaster relief. Below are some key accomplishments across various sectors:

1. Global Health Initiatives
- HIV/AIDS: Through PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), USAID has helped provide life-saving antiretroviral treatment to over 20 million people worldwide.
- COVID-19 Response: USAID provided vaccines, medical supplies, and funding to help combat COVID-19 globally, delivering over 687 million vaccine doses to 100+ countries.
- Maternal & Child Health: Reduced child and maternal mortality rates in various countries through improved healthcare services and vaccination programs.

2. Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Assistance
- Haiti Earthquake (2010 & 2021): Provided emergency relief, reconstruction aid, and long-term recovery efforts.
- Syrian Refugee Crisis: Since 2011, USAID has provided billions in humanitarian aid, including food, water, and medical care, to Syrian refugees and displaced populations.
- Ukraine Conflict (2022present): Over $10 billion in humanitarian assistance for displaced people, food aid, and energy infrastructure rebuilding.

3. Food Security & Agriculture
- Feed the Future Initiative: Helped millions escape poverty and malnutrition through improved farming techniques and food aid programs.
- Famine Relief in Africa: Provided emergency food aid to conflict-affected regions in Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Somalia.

4. Economic Development & Education
- Girls' Education Programs: Helped millions of girls access education in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and sub-Saharan Africa.
- Microfinance & Small Business Support: Supported entrepreneurship in developing nations, helping small businesses grow and create jobs.

5. Climate Change & Environmental Protection
- Clean Energy Programs: Funded renewable energy projects in countries like India and Kenya.
- Disaster Preparedness: Supported climate resilience programs in vulnerable coastal and drought-prone regions.

And these accomplishments are aside from the clear national security benefits of ingratiating ourselves in inexpensive and peaceful but meaningful ways in foreign countries.

Gutting USAID isn't budgetary, it's a political hack job.

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packgrad said:

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Imagine being the guy that said "weird" and "America's daddy" then trying to mock someone else's sources.
4chan!!!!

LOLOLOL

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Werewolf said:

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Sieve like drinking from the straw more than any of the USAID straws.

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University of NC at Chapel Hill received $109 million from USAID for use in foreign countries.

Nigeria: $35,548,519
Bangladesh: $54,870,392
Kenya $18,789,977#ncpol pic.twitter.com/2z8fR725D7

— T Bradley (@TBradleyNC) February 6, 2025

LMFAO! 🤷🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/Dau3eHDszT

— Bad Hombre (@joma_gc) February 6, 2025

Wow!! https://t.co/6hzSWWQqyE

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 6, 2025

After @LoomerUnleashed asked Senator Durbin @SenatorDurbin if he was slow walking Kash Patel’s confirmation vote in the Judiciary Committee because he is afraid @Kash_Patel is going to release the Epstein flight logs, DEMOCRATS just delayed Kash Patel’s committee vote by ONE… https://t.co/IayddsnrWG

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) February 6, 2025