5 ms·

US spent millions on STD prevention in Gaza. But it was a province in Mozambique

14 points by Qem 2y ago

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
aetherspawn 2y ago
If this is correct, it shows you that Elon isn’t playing 4D chess, in fact they’re just cutting things based on line item descriptions and assumptions.
- readthenotes1 2y ago
  "In the interim, to the extent permissible under applicable law, Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to ..." It seems to me that they were just trying to stop the money that was being spent without direct Congressional approval. Like condoms to Mozambique I guess
Dalewyn 2y ago
[flagged]
- talldayo 2y ago
  Absolutely reprehensible. Imagine how much better that money would be spent sending GBU-12s to Israel in unconditional aid packages! We have to free up government spending so we can play suck-up to the right people. It's for America's own good, you hear?
  - Dalewyn 2y ago
    Let me put it this way: I would sooner see that $50 million spent on cancelling American student debt (and I find that idea also reprehensible) than on condoms for foreign countries. At least then it's American tax dollars spent for Americans. I also object to giving Israel (or Ukraine for that matter) GBU-12s, they can buy that shit from us at fair market price if they really want them. Foreign aid should only be the result of us having surplus monies that we cannot figure out how to spend ourselves.
    - talldayo 2y ago
      I disagree, because I think aid can be helpful depending on how it arises. $50,000,000 is not an insane amount of money (consider defense spending), and it would not eliminate a significant amount of student debt. It does buy you a lot of rubbers, though. America, since the Nixon administration, through the Cold War and after the dissolution of the USSR has promoted global cooperation as a tool for stopping authoritarianism at the source. We help nations with their AIDS crisis because it means they are fundamentally more stable and can use their government to focus on problems they're equipped to handle. America doesn't have to help anyone. We can always kick back on our lawn chairs, take the taxpayer-funded pontoon out on the lake and watch the world burn from a safe distance. But we don't do that, because when we do we prove to the world that we are exactly the evil and selfish caricature of a nation they think we are. After all, if America doesn't formally offer to help they might seek out an even more destructive solution (see: IMF loans, centralized planning, coordination with adversaries, etc). Then you'll be wishing we bought the condoms for them.
      - Dalewyn 2y ago
        >$50,000,000 is not an insane amount of money Please reconsider the utterly nonsensical nature of your statement. Anyone who says $50 million dollars is "not an insane amount of money" has no business commenting on financial affairs, let alone money provided by taxpayers. >global cooperation as a tool for stopping authoritarianism at the source. We help nations Cooperation is nice and warm, but the keyword there is "help". You can't help others when you need help yourself first, and right now today there are countless matters that concern ourselves and require proper attention. Whether it's crumbling infrastructure, insufficient housing, rising costs of living and medical care, excessive costs and debts of education, measures and mandates necessary to prevent and recover from natural disasters, and many more, just imagine what another $50 million dollars could do. And it's not just that $50 million, there are certainly far more where that came from. Hell, even if we have nothing else to spend money on we still have an utterly crazy amount of debt. Putting $50 million towards our debt (aka cutting $50 million in expenditures off our national budget) is $50 million less in debt. >America doesn't have to help anyone. ... But we don't do that, because when we do we prove to the world that we are exactly the evil and selfish caricature of a nation they think we are. There is nothing selfish about "putting on your own oxygen mask before helping others", aka America First. American tax dollars are first and foremost paid for the mutual benefit of Americans. If we happen to have any surplus left, then we can talk about how we can donate that money to charity for other countries.
- pupppet 2y ago
  The US has the license to print money for itself because the world chose you to be our superpower, and all the financial perks that comes with that. But don’t pretend we can’t take that crown and put it on someone else.
  - readthenotes1 2y ago
    It wasn't exactly a choice as much as a "which country has lots of nukes and aircraft carriers, rock-'n'-roll, blue jeans, and movies" If not for the first two, we all know everyone would have chosen Sweden.

14 points by Qem 2y ago

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

If this is correct, it shows you that Elon isn’t playing 4D chess, in fact they’re just cutting things based on line item descriptions and assumptions.

readthenotes1 2y ago
"In the interim, to the extent permissible under applicable law, Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to ..." It seems to me that they were just trying to stop the money that was being spent without direct Congressional approval. Like condoms to Mozambique I guess

Dalewyn 2y ago

[flagged]

talldayo 2y ago
Absolutely reprehensible. Imagine how much better that money would be spent sending GBU-12s to Israel in unconditional aid packages! We have to free up government spending so we can play suck-up to the right people. It's for America's own good, you hear?
- Dalewyn 2y ago
  Let me put it this way: I would sooner see that $50 million spent on cancelling American student debt (and I find that idea also reprehensible) than on condoms for foreign countries. At least then it's American tax dollars spent for Americans. I also object to giving Israel (or Ukraine for that matter) GBU-12s, they can buy that shit from us at fair market price if they really want them. Foreign aid should only be the result of us having surplus monies that we cannot figure out how to spend ourselves.
  - talldayo 2y ago
    I disagree, because I think aid can be helpful depending on how it arises. $50,000,000 is not an insane amount of money (consider defense spending), and it would not eliminate a significant amount of student debt. It does buy you a lot of rubbers, though. America, since the Nixon administration, through the Cold War and after the dissolution of the USSR has promoted global cooperation as a tool for stopping authoritarianism at the source. We help nations with their AIDS crisis because it means they are fundamentally more stable and can use their government to focus on problems they're equipped to handle. America doesn't have to help anyone. We can always kick back on our lawn chairs, take the taxpayer-funded pontoon out on the lake and watch the world burn from a safe distance. But we don't do that, because when we do we prove to the world that we are exactly the evil and selfish caricature of a nation they think we are. After all, if America doesn't formally offer to help they might seek out an even more destructive solution (see: IMF loans, centralized planning, coordination with adversaries, etc). Then you'll be wishing we bought the condoms for them.
    - Dalewyn 2y ago
      >$50,000,000 is not an insane amount of money Please reconsider the utterly nonsensical nature of your statement. Anyone who says $50 million dollars is "not an insane amount of money" has no business commenting on financial affairs, let alone money provided by taxpayers. >global cooperation as a tool for stopping authoritarianism at the source. We help nations Cooperation is nice and warm, but the keyword there is "help". You can't help others when you need help yourself first, and right now today there are countless matters that concern ourselves and require proper attention. Whether it's crumbling infrastructure, insufficient housing, rising costs of living and medical care, excessive costs and debts of education, measures and mandates necessary to prevent and recover from natural disasters, and many more, just imagine what another $50 million dollars could do. And it's not just that $50 million, there are certainly far more where that came from. Hell, even if we have nothing else to spend money on we still have an utterly crazy amount of debt. Putting $50 million towards our debt (aka cutting $50 million in expenditures off our national budget) is $50 million less in debt. >America doesn't have to help anyone. ... But we don't do that, because when we do we prove to the world that we are exactly the evil and selfish caricature of a nation they think we are. There is nothing selfish about "putting on your own oxygen mask before helping others", aka America First. American tax dollars are first and foremost paid for the mutual benefit of Americans. If we happen to have any surplus left, then we can talk about how we can donate that money to charity for other countries.
pupppet 2y ago
The US has the license to print money for itself because the world chose you to be our superpower, and all the financial perks that comes with that. But don’t pretend we can’t take that crown and put it on someone else.
- readthenotes1 2y ago
  It wasn't exactly a choice as much as a "which country has lots of nukes and aircraft carriers, rock-'n'-roll, blue jeans, and movies" If not for the first two, we all know everyone would have chosen Sweden.