- A newly married young Kenyan in Kibera (densest and second largest slum in the world), one of the most upright people I know and who never asks me for financial assistance, just lost his income due to USAID cuts. With his wife now expecting, they are in dire straits.
- A Christian community in Costa Rica (instigated by good friends James and Ruth Padilla-Deborst) has had to close its doors to many people-at-risk they serve due to the loss of USAID funding.
- https://worldrelief.org/
- etc.
I'm all for purging unnecessary and bloated government programs. I agree with cutting back on some of the USAID activities publicized of late. However, reducing USAID objectives, and hence all activities, from "extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms" (https://www.usa.gov/agencies/u-s-agency-for-international-development) to--first and foremost--be "in alignment with an America First agenda" (https://www.state.gov/secretary-marco-rubio-appointed-as-acting-administrator-for-the-united-states-agency-for-international-development-usaid/) is, well, "America First."
There has to be a more humane way of enabling USAID to fulfill its mandated objectives.
A Strong Condemnation just published: "Trump's Attack on USAID is Evil" - https://sojo.net/articles/opinion/trumps-attack-usaid-evil
ReplyDeleteMay the Martyrs of Libya hear the cries for mercy and justice and plead our case with us to the Father
DeleteWhile I do not have the inside scoop, it is my understanding that many of the funds are only paused until they are vetted. Many want to say that USAID funds are forever shutdown. It is my hope that only the funds that were being used to promote anti-US pravda organizations as well as beng grifted by multiple contractors are the ones that will be terminated. Condoms for Afganistan, Trans opera in Peru, etc are not aligned with my beliefs not the beliefs of any Christian that I am aware of.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this helpful clarifying comment. Agreed that some USAID programs need serious examination and cutting. Also hoping that the stoppage of funding for the many worthy programs is only temporary. Even so, it still seems to me that there ought to be a more humane and responsible way of vetting programs than instantly stopping (even if only temporarily) all funding for all programs across the board. Thanks again for commenting.
DeleteAnother of many instances of adverse casualties: "Trump’s gutting of USAID sends chill through Southeast Asia" - https://aje.io/c1p47y
ReplyDeleteI wanted to add the CT article this week that also helps explain the far-reaching ramifications
ReplyDeleteNelson, I'm afraid I have to disagree with you here. There is no "good" USAID program as compared to "bad" USAID programs. How do you think we got the "bad" USAID programs (or wasteful or counterproductive, or whatever other adjective you want to use) other than that the concept of USAID is fundamentally flawed? When we cull the programs back to the ones we (who is we?) think is good, it will inevitably over time start to include more "bad"/wasteful/counterproductive/sometimes evil programs. No small group of government employees should be tasked with spending BILLIONS of Other People's Money, taken from those other people involuntarily. Charity should be exactly that, given voluntarily to help people around the world. God's Church, and not the US government, should be doing this work, and funding this work.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, ending the program suddenly is not a good idea if money has already been promised, but ending it is a good idea. We should never have put that much money in the hands of any president to either give or take away.
DeleteThanks for the constructive feedback--offered in a constructive spirit. Much appreciated. If I understand you correctly, you are advocating private aid vs government aid--particularly internationally (and perhaps domestically as well)--and that USAID (and other initiatives like it, e.g., South Korea's KOICA) should never have been established in the first place. Am I undestanding you correctly?
DeleteYes that's exactly right. God bless you and all your important work.
DeleteThanks for the clarification. According to my understanding, that discussion began in earnest almost two centuries ago in Scotland and England with the increase of urban poor associated with the Industrial Revolution. The sheer rise of needs--esp after the major int'l wars and economic depression in the first half of the 20th c.--coupled with increased immigration and religious plurality in Western countries, led to increased government involvement. For me (and many others, of cousre), given today's religiously pluralistic (including US society) and internationally intertwined world, government involvement in aid--e.g., for economic development, disease alleviation, and disaster relief--is not only practically necessary but morally demanded (and constrained by religious motivation, which for Christians is primarily love). Thanks again for the clarification. Blessings to you as well!
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