Trump Desires to be Sued Over Birthright Citizenship, Does Anyone Understand Why?

[Molok]

No, It is mostly in trade deficits, It is that lopsided. It is why these countries caved so quick, they need us much more than we need then economically. It will be interesting to see where all this unfolds as the numbers are released. The list of monies given freely to all these different lame programs is crazy, and what is even more amazing that there is no account that I have seen as to how those monies are spent, once they are given to these different countries. A Newsweek article I read stated we gave over a trillion dollars out to different countries throughout the world, the articles did not include the aid we gave to the Ukraine.

According to the article we gave almost 3 million dollars to Panama, yet I read elsewhere that something like 60 or 70% of the traffic that travels through the canal is US. I read elsewhere that the average price for a large ship to go through the canal is 300k or more. I read one article that read it could be as much as a million for a very large container ship.

I guess my point is that we are on the back side of trade, and we give out over a trillion in "aid" each year, and there has been to real accounting and I believe we are being naïve if we think all this money is being used like it is supposed to be used. Just google this stuff Shades and be fair and read the different opinions, it is staggering how out of control our spending is, and how we are being taken advantage of in trade.

https://www.newsweek.com/usaid-map-coun ... ey-2025073 (edit) see the interactive map

https://economics.td.com/ca-canada-us-trade-balance

With respect to Trump’s assertion that the U.S. subsidizes Canada to the tune of US$200 billion per year, it’s unclear where this number is derived. In any event, rather than a subsidy, the U.S. trade deficit is a by-product of U.S. economic outperformance relative to other countries.

[Dwight]

No, It is mostly in trade deficits, It is that lopsided. It is why these countries caved so quick, they need us much more than we need then economically.

Caved by agreeing to what they had already agreed to with Biden? How is that caving? Seems like Trump caved cause business leaders started to question him. He merely accepted pausing with no additional gain.

[canpakes]

A Newsweek article I read stated we gave over a trillion dollars out to different countries throughout the world, the articles did not include the aid we gave to the Ukraine.
https://www.newsweek.com/usaid-map-coun ... ey-2025073 (edit) see the interactive map

The source you give is for USAID. The figure quoted in the article is 72 billion dollars (not a trillion) for 2023, and that amount includes 16 billion for Ukraine. It looks like we just can’t select Ukraine on the interactive map.

I’ve seen a number of other estimates for 2024 that put the total at around 50% less.

[canpakes]

.
Follow-up to the previous post; this article gives a figure of $32.5 billion for 2024.

USAID spent $32.5 billion in fiscal year 2024.
…
President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have called USAID wasteful and unaligned with American values. Nearly all USAID staff are set to be put on administrative leave starting Friday at midnight.

Founded at the Cold War's height, USAID has never operated as a purely altruistic agency.

USAID works with "strategically important countries" and "assists US commercial interests" by helping countries develop economically, per a report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service last month.

Some US politicians have argued that USAID — or a similar aid program — is essential to matching China's foreign aid and investment efforts.

About half of USAID's 2024 spending went to humanitarian purposes or health and population purposes, such as funding HIV programs.

USAID has long garnered bipartisan support. In 2022, Sen. Marco Rubio — now the secretary of state — asked President Joe Biden to use his coming budget requests for USAID and other government agencies to counter China's "expanding global influence."

Now, politicians from both parties are highlighting the agency's role amid its uncertain future. All US foreign aid accounts for about 1% of the federal budget.

"Our assistance abroad helps fight disease and stop starvation and famine, but it's also a tool to stave off the expansionist reach of authoritarian leaders in China, Russia, and Iran," Democratic Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey told Bloomberg earlier this week.

"I have felt for a long time that USAID is our way to combat the Belt and Road Initiative, which is China's effort to really gain influence around the world, including Africa and South America in the Western Hemisphere," Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi told reporters on Tuesday.

https://www.businessinsider.com/usaid-s ... I've-2025-2

[Dwight]

Has Markk walked through LA’s Chinatown? Maybe if he did he would know that while fentanyl might cross the Mexican border to get to the US it mostly originates from China. Thus USAID helping counter Chinese Belt and Road initiatives is good for that as well. Maybe if someone at Fox News makes this connection.

[Markk]

Has Markk walked through LA’s Chinatown? Maybe if he did he would know that while fentanyl might cross the Mexican border to get to the US it mostly originates from China. Thus USAID helping counter Chinese Belt and Road initiatives is good for that as well. Maybe if someone at Fox News makes this connection.

Genuinely LoL..What the heck are you talking about? How would my walking though Chinatown tell me fentanyl mostly originates from China? I have walked, driven through (back way to Dodger Stadium), and even managed a 13 story seismic retrofit in Chinatown. On the corner of Cesar Chavez and Alameda there is Mexican take out style restaurant that makes a very mean taquito. I suggest you try it the next time you walk through China town learning about Fentanyl production.

A bit of triva, Latinos are pushing out the Chinese population. The homelessness there is sad. They had to close Union Station at night because of the crime and homelessness. New Chintown is basically a small tourist trap to buy cheap crap, but fun.

As far as USAID, we have no idea what the effects will be as we cut our spending. But anyway please expound on how USAID budget cuts are going to effect Fentanyl in the US, and in a few years we can see if you are right.

[Markk]

A Newsweek article I read stated we gave over a trillion dollars out to different countries throughout the world, the articles did not include the aid we gave to the Ukraine.
https://www.newsweek.com/usaid-map-coun ... ey-2025073 (edit) see the interactive map

The source you give is for USAID. The figure quoted in the article is 72 billion dollars (not a trillion) for 2023, and that amount includes 16 billion for Ukraine. It looks like we just can’t select Ukraine on the interactive map.

I’ve seen a number of other estimates for 2024 that put the total at around 50% less.

I stand corrected, I misread the map. Which is good. So we have between 72 billion in 2023, and 32 billion last year. That is still a lot of money. From what I have read there are two major issues here. One, how much was spent, and for what? And two, Did the monies really go there, and if so, how much?

As an example....we gave over 300 million to Afghanistan according to Google A.I.. But exact and accurate amounts aside, who gets the checks? Honestly, I have no idea, it is a question. I read that we "facilitate" these funds, but my understanding there is no longer any government employees in Afghanistan, so what does that mean? Is the money going to poppies?

From what I understand, this is part of what Musk is trying to find out, what is legit, and what is not.

Also I would like to know who is negotiating the amounts that go to these countries, and how they come up with the numbers, and the actual process. On the map I misread, Chad received almost 1.2 Billion....I would like to see the money trail from inception to disbursement. I personally do not trust the government here, do you? (That also is an honest question.)

[canpakes]

… according to Google A.I..

[Markk]

... according to Google A.I..

You are not interested in a objective conversation, that is apparent. But I'll try again. Are you concerned at all that these billions of dollars might not have gone where they were said to have gone and for the reported purpose? Is it a bad thing that very smart people are looking into this?

[Gadianton]

Genuinely LoL..What the heck are you talking about? How would my walking though Chinatown tell me fentanyl mostly originates from China?

I think that was the joke, Markk. You drive around in your truck making tenuous connections between your work areas and your political messaging. Of course walking through Chinatown wouldn't tell you anything about fentanyl, but that's only because the messaging on your side at this time isn't suggesting that the Chinese are a problem. If that were to ever change, we can only imagine the revelations you'd find in Chinatown.

Did you say on this board a few years ago that you had some kind of drug phase before you became Christian?