VOTER POWER
Foreign Aid
Myth: The average American believes foreign aid is 31% of the federal budget.
Fact: Foreign aid makes up only 1% of the budget, or about what we pay for three aircraft carriers.
Despite America’s position in the world as a powerful nation, many Americans believe we are routinely taken advantage of by the rest of the world, from NATO to China. They think our treaties have been poorly crafted to our disadvantage. Any amount spent on foreign aid is seen as a waste since so many of us think the beneficiaries of our generosity still hate us and seek to destroy us.
Where is the line between doing our civic duty in the world and spending wisely when it comes to foreign aid?
Third World Poverty Illustrates the Importance of Foreign Aid
Since taking office, President Trump has attempted to cut billions of dollars in foreign aid as part of his “America First” agenda. Supporters have praised the idea, but there’s a certain kind of privilege that comes with putting first world problems ahead of third world poverty.
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Trump Administration Cuts $200 Million In Aid for Palestine
The U.S. government has a history of setting aside foreign aid money for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. However, the Trump administration isn’t satisfied with providing even $200 million to Palestine and has announced that it is redirecting that money to higher priority projects.
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North Korea May Be Producing New Missiles
Despite a pledge to denuclearize, North Korea’s missile program is still up and running at a research facility outside the country’s capital of Pyongyang, and according to U.S. intelligence agencies, the North Koreans are working towards developing new weapons.
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Major Republican Accomplishments in US Government
Earlier today, we shared a post about major Democratic accomplishments in American history. As a follow-up, here’s a list of some of the actions taken by the Republican party over the past 100 years or so that have shaped America into the country we know and love.
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Major Democratic Accomplishments in US Government
Although many Americans have become disillusioned with our two-party system—and for good reason—it’s important to take a look back at history and see what has been accomplished by each of these parties. Later today, we’ll have a similar post about Republican accomplishments.
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The World Reacts to the US Quitting the UN Human Rights Council
On June 19, 2018, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley announced that the United States was withdrawing from the UN’s Human Rights Council. The move that was simultaneously met with criticism and praise both domestically and abroad.
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President’s Trade War Crashes Soybean Prices for American Farmers
As the U.S.-China trade war picks up steam, the consequences are becoming obvious to farmers, most of whom live in red states that voted for President Trump in the 2016 election. The president promised to help farmers, but “talk only goes so far,” according to one Ohio farmer.
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Kim Jong-Un Got More from the Summit than the U.S.
President Trump came home from his summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un crowing about the historic nature of the meeting and what he had accomplished. But the agreement the two signed is vague, and experts say Kim got more out of the deal than the U.S.
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Democratic Lawmakers Sue to Enforce the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause
Democratic lawmakers are suing President Donald Trump for breaking the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which requires the president “ to seek permission from Congress before taking payments or gifts from foreign governments.”
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The US and China Are Finally Having It Out
Is the current “trade war” between the U.S. and China really about tariffs, or is it about something much bigger? A look back at history reveals that the conflict may have more to do with economic dominance than simple tit-for-tat posturing.
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