FFS, I’m getting sick of this kind of bullshit.
The Trump administration is ramping up its America First Global Health Strategy in its latest efforts to ditch the traditional USAID model by delivering billions in aid directly to several countries in Africa.
Under the new model so far, which bypasses the propping up of the “NGO industrial complex,” the United States has signed six memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with six African countries totaling over $4 billion in direct U.S. investment matched by over $1.6 billion from signatory countries.
I have a better idea. Instead of “investing” $4 billion in Africa, how about sending that kind of support to, oh, I dunno, our failing healthcare system right here in the U.S. of A.?
And by “system”, I don’t mean pharmaceutical companies or hospitals, either. I’m talking about pumping up Medicare or Medicaid — you know, people who may actually have voted for the current Administration in last year’s elections?
If you want me to be really blunt, here’s what I really mean.
Most American voters do not give a flying fuck about Africa, and Africa’s health problems. We Americans pay taxes, and we expect to see some kind of return from our government on those taxes in the form of civic improvements right here in the United States, not in shithole African countries that hate us, support our enemies like China, Iran and Russia, and live in a squalor of their own making.
Did I already mention that aid to Africa is the equivalent of pouring (taxpayer) dollars into a bottomless pit where it ends up filling the bank accounts of corrupt government officials? I did? Oh yeah, and note the date on which I said it.
I don’t care that $4 billion dollars is going to be spent “more efficiently” or whatever: I want that $4 billion to be spent in the United States, and not in fucking Africa. To repeat: it’s our money, taken from us at gunpoint, and if it’s going to be spent, we should be the beneficiaries and not some fly-bitten cesspit-dwellers in a hellhole of their own making.
Or — and here’s another thought — you (that is, the Trump Administration) can take less of our hard-earned money away from us, thus taking away our need for government “assistance” in the first place.
If I recall correctly, reducing our tax burden was one of the signature promises of the Republicans last year prior to the elections. Well, so far I’ve seen precious little of that activity taking place; and sending our tax money to Africa does not improve my mood any.
I know, it’s a lot more complicated than that, there are all sorts of policy implications and socio-political goals etc. etc. etc.
Here’s what I’ve learned. It’s always less complicated than it’s made out to be, and there is always a simpler solution than the one proposed.
I’m always hearing from DOGE (remember them?) how much money they’re supposedly “saving” us. Well, it doesn’t seem like all these spending cutbacks are doing us — the taxpayers — much good, because the average American is still living in a shit-show of financial uncertainty and hardship.
So instead of some high-falutin’ pronouncement of “America First Global Health Strategy”, allow me to suggest that you just drop the “Global” part. “America First Health Strategy” has a far better ring to it.
Keep our tax money at home, and reduce the amounts we have to pay. It really is that simple, you fucking thieves and morons.
The classical music was quite lovely, the musicians very accomplished. I stood, entranced, and watched them for the entire time they played — well over an hour, as I recall.
