“Whenever people are well-informed,” says Thomas Jefferson opinion“They can trust in their own government. Whenever things are so wrong to attract their notifications, they may resort to setting them up correctly.” “Ignorance “We expect to be free in,” the country added Jefferson, “hope that's never the case.”
But as demonstrated by the takedowns of the Trump administration's international development agency, disinformation amplified by social media poses an even greater threat to democracy than ignorance.
Over the past few weeks, Elon Musk, chairman of the so-called government's efficiency department, has recorded hundreds of blame for USAID. Agent, he deIt's been claired The lack of evidence is the “criminal money laundering organization,” the “nest of radical Marxist vipers who hate America,” and the “ball of worms.”
Musk has been accused of releasing Covid-19 from the lab as the agency provided grants to the Eco Health Alliance to work with the Institute for Wuhan Virology in China, and Musk said, “We are The taxes ultimately claimed that they were used effectively, ultimately, killing Americans. “Musk also shared a fake video produced by Russia and Ukraine. USAID has indicated that you pay to celebrities to visit. It's time for Usaid to “die” and he insisted.
Meanwhile, President Trump claimed that USAID staff “has turned out to be a radical left-handed madman.” A report on “risky fraud” at USAID will be released soon, he noted. A few days later, Trump Dismissal USAID inspectors issued a report that $489 million in food aid risks being wasted or rotten due to freezing of shipments, delivery and distribution.
False was sometimes surreal. Trump I insisted USAID provided “100 million condoms to Hamas.” Family planning is certainly a priority for agents. USAID distributes about 90% oral contraceptives, IUDs and condoms to help fight AIDS in Africa, but there are no condoms in Gaza.
Furthermore, it's a condom It costs 4 cents each$100 million buys 2 billion people, a massive amount for the 2 million Palestinians in Gaza. (The USAID Fund went to Gaza to help with outdoor hospitals, surgeries, delivery of thousands of babies, and food for malnourished people.)
“Long List of Junks” funded by USAID; According to White House press director Karoline Leavitt said $2 million in sex change in Guatemala, $6 million to fund tourism in Egypt, $20 million in new “Sesame Street” show in Iraq and $20 million in diss in Kazakhstan $4.5 million to counter the formation, $70,000 for day musicals, Ireland and $79,000 for transgender operas in Colombia and Peru.
USAID funded the “Sesame Street” program as part of a campaign to enhance children's education. And it seems reasonable to counter the disinformation in Kazakhstan. Gender-positive initiatives in Ireland, Colombia and Peru were funded by the State Department rather than USAID.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) – has not expressed concern about Trump and Musk's seizing authority over the USAID funding – institutions to encourage atheism in Nepal 1 He claimed it provided billions of dollars. Fact checkers report that the grant is part of the State Department's initiative to promote religious freedom, such as “dissent from religious beliefs and not practicing or obeying religion.” Department spokesman I insisted The grant “saved a lot of lives.”
Ian Bremer, head of the respected Eurasian Group consulting firm, has admitted a legitimate criticism of USAID's bureaucracy. I stated that “The idea that an organization is somehow criminal or evil, or that all the money is wasted is a slippery thing in its face.”
Usaid's $43 billion budget It consists of 0.7% of annual federal spending. Most of the money spread across around 160 countries is spent on health services, disaster relief, poverty alleviation, economic development, peace and security. The agency's goals include Build relationships with current and future leaders, reduce the threat of terrorism and avoid crossing the borders of infectious diseases.
Ukraine is by far the largest recipient of USAID grants, helping to maintain, for example, the country's electrical grid operation. The USAID program is implemented by non-governmental organizations, non-profit organizations and private contractors to bypass corrupt regimes.
As a Senator, Marco Rubio (R-FLA) in 2012. support USAID is a “very cost-effective way” to export American values and “promote our security and economic interests.” “It's not easy to radicalize the people who live, as American taxpayers saved their lives and their children.” Rubio maintains in 2017 “not a charity.” The funding “countes the growing global influence of the Communist Party in China,” he emphasized.
However, Secretary of State Rubio now claims that USAID runs a “global charity.” And he denies that reducing agency activities can help China improve its position as a developing country.
This message may resonate with voters. Voters have support for the active role of the US in global affairs and financial and military aid to other countries. I declined Since the end of the Cold War. Public disapproval of foreign aid is partly based on ignorance of how much it costs. Almost half of Americans believe More than 20% of the annual federal budget is spent on foreign aid (only 3% know the correct amount).
Recently, with podcast star Joe Rogan I'll say it Millions of listeners, “We can't spend all our f–king money on nonsense” Americans get a green light applause Demonization of career civil servants, decimation of foreign aid, and the blatant grab of power by administrative agencies.
Thomas Jefferson will probably incite you to be anxious, angry, angry and acted by the possibility that the false narrative about USAID is a canary of American democratic coal mines.
Glenn C. Altschler is Professor Emeritus Thomas and Dorothy Litwin, American Studies at Cornell University.
