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Because we already volunteered to do this specific thing, so it's incredibly disruptive for us to back out at (or well after) the last minute. Other countries
by BobaFloutist 2y ago
Because we already volunteered to do this specific thing, so it's incredibly disruptive for us to back out at (or well after) the last minute. Other countries do other things, and it would be similarly disruptive if they pulled or froze funding and operational support with 0 notice.
It'd be like if Microsoft donated free copies of Windows to a hospital and then one day was like "Actually we've been donating too much stuff, your licenses are invalid as of today, your computers will now not work." It would be similarly strange to ask why Microsoft's contribution is so critical to anything outside their own company, when it's because they made it that way on purpose, partially for PR purposes, partially from genuine altruism, and partially to tie Microsoft's well-being to the hospital's.
- janeroe 2y ago[flagged]
- ModernMech 2y agoThat's now how it works in the US. Every 2 years we have an opportunity to vote for our representatives. They set the budget, and if we don't like it we can elect new representatives who will set a budget closer to our liking. This isn't a matter of taxes being spent on things we didn't agree to, because spending this money is a priority for many Americans. For other's it's not, but that doesn't mean the money is being coerced. That's the deal with living in a pluralistic society; your personal priorities aren't the only ones. Sometimes public money is spent on things you don't like, and that's okay because other people don't like their money being spent on the things you do like. Everyone is happy yet unhappy - compromise.
- bryanlarsen 2y agoThe "taxation is theft" right wing talking line is about as intellectually honest as the "property is theft" left wing talking line.
- stogot 2y agoNot really. Forceful taxation (by jail) to redistribute the money to states or national security is a boring topic, but redistribution of wealth to ‘for n in NATIONS’ is worth an intellectual challenge. And even if you don’t care about taxation, why is the US running this entity and not supprting an international donation match to the UN? The US is running a deficit if you haven’t noticed, not a surplus.
- bryanlarsen 2y agoThere's also an underlying validity to the "property is theft" argument. They both have a correct underlying principle. And both are wrong in the totality. > a deficit A deficit in little pieces of paper they print themselves, and most of that debt is to themselves.
- stogot 2y agoIt sounds like you don’t know how interest or debt works. If you have children, your children are going to be paying for generations
- normalaccess 2y agoIt's always a shame when people get used to free things because they lose the ability to provide for themselves. I say we stop so other countries can spin up their own programs and pay for it. I have zero interest in using TAX dollars to fund medical programs outside the US.
- normalaccess 2y agoFor people down-voting, it's no different than being told "Don't feed the bears" and Yellowstone Park. It's worse off for the animals because they become dependent. Link to Eric Olszewski's blog on the topic: https://medium.com/@eolszewski/dont-feed-the-humans-they-will-become-dependent-8b0156962cd0 https://medium.com/@eolszewski/dont-feed-the-humans-they-wil...
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- bryanlarsen 2y agoStopping HIV & drug-resistant TB outside of the US borders directly benefits Americans.
- wakawaka28 2y agoThat is indirect at best.
- HeyLaughingBoy 2y agoI assume, perhaps incorrectly, that you realize that diseases don't honor national borders?
- BobaFloutist 2y agoIt's always a shame when people make major commitments and then flake on them at the last minute.