By James Carafano ~
Many are upset about Congress sticking foreign aid and other international affairs spending in the COVID-19 relief bill. They are right to be upset.
Whether Washington is crafting COVID-19 relief right is a worthy debate in itself, but the issue of all the spending tacked onto the bill also merits attention.
There certainly is no reason for spending on international programs to be part of that package.
What’s the best way for America to reopen and return to business? The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission, a project of The Heritage Foundation, assembled America’s top thinkers to figure that out. So far, it has made more than 260 recommendations. Learn more here.
That said, there is absolutely a place for foreign assistance in federal spending. The U.S. is a global power with global interests and global responsibilities. To look after Americans and their interests, sometimes it makes good sense to spend money over there, for the benefit of folks back home.
A good example of that is investment in the Three Seas Initiative. Not only will that help allies, in the end, the U.S. will actually turn a profit from our investments.
Another example: The Trump administration implemented a strong program in support of women in other countries, addressing issues such as property rights and rule-of-law reform, initiatives that will help those nations and make them better partners for the U.S.
It’s definitely part of a sound “America First” foreign policy.
These programs are realistic, with concrete deliverables promoting the values that Americans cherish, and they track right back to supporting American policy objectives that further U.S. interests.
But Americans are right to ask: “What the heck is this stuff doing in a COVID-19 relief bill?”
That kind of spending ought to proceed through regular order. Initiatives ought to be debated, explained, and defended so there’s some transparency and accountability to the process.
When they are crammed into a massive bill that lawmakers don’t even get to read, there’s no assurance to the American people that the spending makes sense.
Further, Americans have a right—and ought—to know more about their nation’s foreign policies and how spending benefits them. When it’s just money crammed into a suitcase and shipped overseas, Washington has failed in its fundamental responsibility to educate and explain.
Such behavior undermines support for American policies. Shame on Washington. Denying Americans knowledge and insight into their nation’s policies and actions overseas is just plain wrong.
Foreign policy is too important to be treated like special-interest spending stuffed into a bill at midnight.
James Jay Carafano, Ph.D. contributes posts at The Daily Signal. He is a leading expert in national security and foreign policy challenges, is The Heritage Foundation’s vice president for foreign and defense policy studies, E. W. Richardson fellow, and director of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies at The Heritage Foundation . http://www.heritage.org/
Read more informative articles at The Daily Signal http://dailysignal.com/
boudicaus
Thu 12/24/2020
Reblogged this on boudica.us.
LikeLike
gds44
Thu 12/24/2020
Reblogged this on Gds44's Blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
nickreality65
Thu 12/24/2020
85.6% of C-19 CASES are among those UNDER 65 years of age. (CDC)
80.7% of C-19 DEATHS are among those OVER 65 years of age. (16% of population)
24.8% of C-19 deaths occurred in nursing homes and hospice care.
Over half of the CASES never see a doctor, hospital or morgue.
Between 12/9/20 and 12/16/20 CDC logged 14,531 deaths attributed to C-19. There were 74,340 deaths due to all causes. The 65+ demographic was accountable for 85% of those C-19 deaths.
If you are 65+ w multiple health issues in a crowded nursing home and the staff brings in C-19 you are screwed, but then you were screwed anyway. In other words: If you are already seriously ill, C-19 will probably finish you off, i.e. no different from the seasonal flu or pneumonia
C-19 is not a problem for the young and healthy herd. Mother Nature and her buddy Grim Reaper are just doing their jobs, culling the herd of the too many, too old, too sick warehoused too close together as Medicare/Medicaid cash cows in poorly run contagious lethal elder care facilities.
Japan has the highest percentage of 65+, 27%, yet still under 3,000 deaths. (WHO)
What do they know/do the rest of the world does not?
If C-19 is mostly killing off old sick people why are our elected morons suspending civil liberties, due process, bankrupting the country with lockdowns, distancing and masked clown shows? Guess they can’t impose the NWO Grand Reset with actual facts. And the lying, fact free, fake news MSM left-wing propaganda coup machine has betrayed its responsibility to democracy and an informed public.
LikeLiked by 1 person