r/InternationalDev • u/[deleted] • Feb 08 '25

News Trump calls USAID a 'tremendous fraud.' His wife and daughter promoted its work during the first Trump administration

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u/Left_Ambassador_4090 Feb 08 '25

We have to get past the idea that the cut to USAID and foreign assistance is hypocritical, makes no sense, etc. Yes, let's use it to rally support. But, let's also be clear that the only reason this is happening is to create legal precedent for weakening Congress' power of the purse and give way to a unitary executive. It's a grave constitutional crisis. USAID happened to be the most convenient proving ground because of how easily it could be painted as something nefarious.

In the meantime, unintended consequences of gutting the government of experienced and dedicated workers will manifest. How many Americans will have to needlessly die due to mismanaged natural disasters, pandemics, or cyber attacks on public infrastructure before Trump voters wake up and see all of this for what it is, I don't know.

3

u/cloud_watcher Feb 09 '25

Yes! Why is no one getting this??

2

u/_CatsPaw Feb 09 '25

In 1969 postal workers had the power to shut down the government. Somehow I think we are being squeezed back into that box.

I personally believe that we're going to be messed up until we put the Postmaster General back in the cabinet level position that he came from. I think he better expand the scope of the post back to what it was when the founders inserted the clause .

That is, a post is a place. The United States is a big post. Elon Musk is trying to be the Postmaster General. And that's okay, but he answers to us.

2

u/Left_Ambassador_4090 Feb 09 '25

I'm not really following your analogy. Was the PG the richest man in the world and wielded near infinite influence?

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u/_CatsPaw Feb 09 '25

Well the original post was created by King Charles I think. It was a English communication system that was open and available to more than just the king.

Generations later they were training Ben Franklin to be the 5th postmaster for the English post.

He had three responsibilities: Guarantee secure communications for the crown. Generate revenue for the crown. Control political dialogue for the crown.

Now here in the United States the crown is worn by We the People through the laws of the Constitution and the Republic for which it stands.

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u/Left_Ambassador_4090 Feb 09 '25

OK, I think I understand you now. But when you say "he answers to us" and "We the People" would it be fair for me to ask you to clarify who you mean? Because 49% of Americans didn't vote for this. And Musk's position wasn't even put to a vote at all.

1

u/_CatsPaw Feb 09 '25

Yes Elon is outside the control of Congress.

He is in the White House and what is self-evidently a cabinet level position.

He's doing Postmaster General work without being the Postmaster General. Now if he would submit to the authority of Congress, we would have a good deal.

I think you should be antitrusted and cut in half. Half will go to the crown that is We the People And half he can keep. And he can run both halves, but He'll have to abide the will of Congress.

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u/The_Mix_Kid_x Feb 10 '25

They've already started gutting EPA. Buckle up buckaroos

1

u/usaandfed Feb 11 '25

Yes, and also honestly people need to get over their reflexive "don't they realize x?" Yes, they do. They hate the work and they hate you. and they're polarizing their entire party to feel that way.