“Better the occasional faults of a government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a government frozen in the ice of its own indifference.” - FDR
..."Most of us have forgotten..already" that USAID was gutted? Hardly: this, and the myriad abominations of this President, Administration and Congress will be remembered by Americans: for as long as we live- and by future generations beyond. / And: "...Congress has not heart or soul."? Please try, if you will: Republicans have no heart and soul- they, and only they, own that profoundly un-American, dystopian, cruel abomination they recently passed into "law." Lisa Murkowski = Ms. MAGA 2025!! (Bravo?!) / Big YES, to the H.C.R. quote / -thank you...
My son worked for USAID and July 1st was the last day he was paid, although he was “fired” in February, locked out of his office, and denied access to his work email and computer access.
USAID was never simply a charity. It served the interests of the USA in various ways. Preventing famine has benefits of stemming migration, developing goodwill among networks of people and officials around the world who can be helpful in numerous ways including on the ground intelligence, analyzing natural assets in various areas including agricultural and mineral potential that can be useful for American companies eager to establish trade relationships, and direct purchase of American agricultural products to be distributed to starving people.
The last was often contentious among development experts, since many believed it would in the long term be more useful to spend the actual dollars in the local economies to encourage local agricultural production. Other criticisms included more overt attempts to use USAID as an instrument of policy rather than as a soft power agency, the size of its bureaucracy, and reliance on NGOs and contractors.
Maybe people are staring to understand that bureaucracies are put in place to prevent fraud, to provide oversight to projects so that funding provided by taxpayers is used in the way it is intended.
An overlooked problem with eliminating US AID (and other similar fed programs) is the adverse effects on our American farmers. PBS Newshour (itself losing federal assistance) months ago showed that our farmers would sell their excess crops, products, etc... to stock US AID and that revenue helped keep their farms afloat. That was especially necessary when the "world's breadbasket" -- Ukraine -- couldn't get its grain and crops out by sea to help feed the starving. Ironically, American farmers are/were huge supporters of Trumpty Dumpty. Et tu, Brutus?
The swamp is both the current administration with it's minions and the iniquities created by class systems. The flood is the inevitable consequence of these iniquities, which the oligarchs can only try to stem with armed terror. But there is much more humanity on earth than oligarchs and history has shown over and over that their hold is doomed to fail. They are biting the hand that feeds them.
As long as trump remains ,america will not be the great country its is known for. maybe the republican s will have the guts to vote against this american travestry
Considering the cuts to healthcare, the weather service and keeping air travel safe I’m not convinced MAGA Republicans care much about the citizens of this country either unless they’re in the upper percentiles wealth-wise.
Love Bulwark and Lincoln Project. The idea I’d be a political bed fellow with Bill Kristol and Rick Wilson 20 or 30 years ago would’ve appalled me. But, here we are. I admire those on the right who’ve bravely done the moral thing and stood up to Trumpism. Special shoutout to Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.
Special mention to Michael Gerson who was a speech writer for Dubya and was a devoted and wonderful voice against Trumpism in the WaPo and passed way too soon.
Great that you used "BIg Ugly Bill" for that thing rather than what "they" are calling it...maybe if they want to use BBB, we can all refer to it as the BIG BAD BILL. There is absolutely NOTHING beautiful about it.
I enjoyed the F1 race last month in Montreal. The Canadians have had plenty of reasons lately to dislike Americans. However, we could not have been with a more friendly group than the Canadians we met on our trip to Montreal. I did NOT hear one negative comment about us or the USA. NO ONE BOOED when the Stars Spangled Banner was played to honor a preliminary race winner from the USA.
There are more answers to the question “why help people in other countries?” A big one is that reducing hunger and illness relieves stresses that lead to conflict, both within and between countries. Conflict leads to instability, political unrest, violence — it may start small, but often spills over into neighboring regions, driving emigration, chaos and misery… All this may seem remote to many Americans, but even distant conflicts add pressure to international relations, which inevitably affects us in various ways.
American aid is also a potent form of “soft power,” raising the stature of the US, and diminishing opportunities for Russia and China to exploit vulnerabilities in those countries.
It was a terrible mistake to let all our good works overseas go unrecognized and uncelebrated by the public! It once was, and could have continued to be, a source of great national pride. And the cost of USAID was so low, especially compared with the enormous benefits, that its destruction is a great tragedy!
Ken, there were over 300 people Saturday that attended the Elbows Up (hockey term) rally in Ogdensburg to promote friendship with Canada. It is so inspiring to see so many people gathered together along the shared St. Lawrence River that unites US with Canada. 🍁
Congratulations! Well deserved! I can’t wait to see the play!
I wrote a LTE yesterday about Congress not having a soul. Thank you for this column today. I am just so sorry about its veracity.
Me too.
Oh, Congress has a soul. It's a black, empty soul.
“Better the occasional faults of a government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a government frozen in the ice of its own indifference.” - FDR
Or worse…
We're going to need the likes of a leader like FDR to pull us out of our current nightmare.
Only if he/she polls well! (Sarcasm)
..."Most of us have forgotten..already" that USAID was gutted? Hardly: this, and the myriad abominations of this President, Administration and Congress will be remembered by Americans: for as long as we live- and by future generations beyond. / And: "...Congress has not heart or soul."? Please try, if you will: Republicans have no heart and soul- they, and only they, own that profoundly un-American, dystopian, cruel abomination they recently passed into "law." Lisa Murkowski = Ms. MAGA 2025!! (Bravo?!) / Big YES, to the H.C.R. quote / -thank you...
USAID is dead. The plug was pulled on Canada Day.
My son worked for USAID and July 1st was the last day he was paid, although he was “fired” in February, locked out of his office, and denied access to his work email and computer access.
USAID was never simply a charity. It served the interests of the USA in various ways. Preventing famine has benefits of stemming migration, developing goodwill among networks of people and officials around the world who can be helpful in numerous ways including on the ground intelligence, analyzing natural assets in various areas including agricultural and mineral potential that can be useful for American companies eager to establish trade relationships, and direct purchase of American agricultural products to be distributed to starving people.
The last was often contentious among development experts, since many believed it would in the long term be more useful to spend the actual dollars in the local economies to encourage local agricultural production. Other criticisms included more overt attempts to use USAID as an instrument of policy rather than as a soft power agency, the size of its bureaucracy, and reliance on NGOs and contractors.
Maybe people are staring to understand that bureaucracies are put in place to prevent fraud, to provide oversight to projects so that funding provided by taxpayers is used in the way it is intended.
When you drain the swamp beware a flood.
An overlooked problem with eliminating US AID (and other similar fed programs) is the adverse effects on our American farmers. PBS Newshour (itself losing federal assistance) months ago showed that our farmers would sell their excess crops, products, etc... to stock US AID and that revenue helped keep their farms afloat. That was especially necessary when the "world's breadbasket" -- Ukraine -- couldn't get its grain and crops out by sea to help feed the starving. Ironically, American farmers are/were huge supporters of Trumpty Dumpty. Et tu, Brutus?
The swamp is both the current administration with it's minions and the iniquities created by class systems. The flood is the inevitable consequence of these iniquities, which the oligarchs can only try to stem with armed terror. But there is much more humanity on earth than oligarchs and history has shown over and over that their hold is doomed to fail. They are biting the hand that feeds them.
I hope you are right dear Bea.
As long as trump remains ,america will not be the great country its is known for. maybe the republican s will have the guts to vote against this american travestry
Republicans/Conservatives don't vote. They grovel.
Considering the cuts to healthcare, the weather service and keeping air travel safe I’m not convinced MAGA Republicans care much about the citizens of this country either unless they’re in the upper percentiles wealth-wise.
Love Bulwark and Lincoln Project. The idea I’d be a political bed fellow with Bill Kristol and Rick Wilson 20 or 30 years ago would’ve appalled me. But, here we are. I admire those on the right who’ve bravely done the moral thing and stood up to Trumpism. Special shoutout to Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.
Special mention to Michael Gerson who was a speech writer for Dubya and was a devoted and wonderful voice against Trumpism in the WaPo and passed way too soon.
Great that you used "BIg Ugly Bill" for that thing rather than what "they" are calling it...maybe if they want to use BBB, we can all refer to it as the BIG BAD BILL. There is absolutely NOTHING beautiful about it.
Terrific about your play and who the actors are.
I enjoyed the F1 race last month in Montreal. The Canadians have had plenty of reasons lately to dislike Americans. However, we could not have been with a more friendly group than the Canadians we met on our trip to Montreal. I did NOT hear one negative comment about us or the USA. NO ONE BOOED when the Stars Spangled Banner was played to honor a preliminary race winner from the USA.
Sad to report that when you wear a Yankee jersey, you are not treated as warmly as without it.
There are more answers to the question “why help people in other countries?” A big one is that reducing hunger and illness relieves stresses that lead to conflict, both within and between countries. Conflict leads to instability, political unrest, violence — it may start small, but often spills over into neighboring regions, driving emigration, chaos and misery… All this may seem remote to many Americans, but even distant conflicts add pressure to international relations, which inevitably affects us in various ways.
American aid is also a potent form of “soft power,” raising the stature of the US, and diminishing opportunities for Russia and China to exploit vulnerabilities in those countries.
It was a terrible mistake to let all our good works overseas go unrecognized and uncelebrated by the public! It once was, and could have continued to be, a source of great national pride. And the cost of USAID was so low, especially compared with the enormous benefits, that its destruction is a great tragedy!
Ken,
I usually let your spellcheck issues go, but not this one ;) :
"Elizab[g]eth Pietrangelo, who was in Mystic Pizza at ATF..."
Congratulations!...and see you there.
John
Sorry, I will fix it.
The Last American Newspaper is being discussed on WAMC now.
I heard. They were saying some very nice things. Here is the link:
https://www.wamc.org/podcast/the-roundtable/2025-07-07/adirondack-theatre-festival-2025-season-preview
No one with a toehold in reality can call the current Fascist (formerly Republican_ Party pro-life.
Ken, there were over 300 people Saturday that attended the Elbows Up (hockey term) rally in Ogdensburg to promote friendship with Canada. It is so inspiring to see so many people gathered together along the shared St. Lawrence River that unites US with Canada. 🍁
Wow, that is awesome!
Huh very interesting. I mistakenly thought you'd be doing the play or reading. I really don't know what to expect and can't wait!