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Fred was in the fertilized egg business. He
had several hundred young
'pullets,' and ten roosters to fertilize the eggs. He kept records, and any rooster not performing went into the soup pot and was replaced. This took a lot of time, so he bought some tiny bells and attached them to his roosters.
Each bell had a different tone, so he could
tell from a distance, which rooster was performing. Now, he could sit on the
porch and fill out an efficiency report by just listening to the bells. Fred's
favorite rooster, old Butch, was a very fine specimen, but this morning he
noticed old Butch's bell hadn't rung at all!
 When he went to investigate, he saw the other roosters were busy chasing pullets, bells-a-ringing, but the pullets, hearing the roosters coming, would run for cover. To Fred's amazement, old Butch had his bell in his beak, so it couldn't ring. He'd sneak up on a pullet, do his job and walk on to the next one. Fred was so proud of old Butch, he entered him in the Iowa State Fair and he became an overnight sensation among the judges.
The result was the judges not only awarded old
Butch the "No Bell Piece Prize", but they also awarded him the "Pullet-sur-prise"
as well.
Clearly old Butch was a politician in the
making. Who else but a politician could figure out how to win two of the most
coveted awards on our planet by being the best at sneaking up on the
unsuspecting populace and screwing them when they weren't paying attention?
Vote carefully in the next election, you can't
always hear the bells.
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Socio-Political commentary: A little revolution is a good thing!
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
The Saga of Butch the Rooster:
Socio-Political commentary on current events and past events that may have influenced the present..
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
I
really wish that the purveyors of these emails would do a little research and
get their facts straight.............Oh, I forgot, they don’t like to confuse
anyone with facts. So, after you glance at this “sample” of bullshit, take a
gander down below at the real numbers and distribution of our Foreign Aid
dollars. And you all wonder why this Nation is going to Hell in a hand basket!?
Here’s a sample of what I get a lot
of:
Our military is being cut, our soldiers are having their benefits cut and
the government has gone back on its
Promise of free medical care and denying
disability to those physically and mentally torn apart for no good reason in
political wars!
Our retired seniors,
Living on a 'fixed income, have their
Living on a 'fixed income, have their
taxes raised to send to these countries and
also are having medical benefits cut.
But, over the last several years THEY
have provided direct cash aid to.....
Hamas - $351 M, Libya $1.45 Billion, Egypt - $397 M, Mexico - $622 M, Russia - $380 M, Haiti - $1.4 Billion, Jordan - $463 M, Kenya - $816 M, Sudan - $870 M, Nigeria - $456 M, Uganda - $451 M, Congo - $359 M, Ethiopia - $981 M, Pakistan - $2 Billion, South Africa - $566 M, Senegal - $698 M, Mozambique - $404 M, Zambia - $331 M, Kazakhstan - $304 M, Iraq - $1.08 Billion, Tanzania - $554 M,
But, over the last several years THEY
have provided direct cash aid to.....
Hamas - $351 M, Libya $1.45 Billion, Egypt - $397 M, Mexico - $622 M, Russia - $380 M, Haiti - $1.4 Billion, Jordan - $463 M, Kenya - $816 M, Sudan - $870 M, Nigeria - $456 M, Uganda - $451 M, Congo - $359 M, Ethiopia - $981 M, Pakistan - $2 Billion, South Africa - $566 M, Senegal - $698 M, Mozambique - $404 M, Zambia - $331 M, Kazakhstan - $304 M, Iraq - $1.08 Billion, Tanzania - $554 M,
Nor do they get any breaks, while our
government And religious organizations will pour Hundreds of Billions Of
$$$$$$'s and Tons of Food to Foreign Countries and the illegals and leeches
within our borders!
AMERICA: A country where we have - Our brave warriors, damaged for life, waiting in yearlong + for their due, the elderly going without needed medication and the Mentally ill without treatment, and for all of us, our safety is at risk because prisoners are being released back onto the streets due to "lack of funds -- etc.
AMERICA: A country where we have - Our brave warriors, damaged for life, waiting in yearlong + for their due, the elderly going without needed medication and the Mentally ill without treatment, and for all of us, our safety is at risk because prisoners are being released back onto the streets due to "lack of funds -- etc.
Doing
their math, you come up with $14.933 billion
; all going to Africa or Persia (they don’t even know where Persia is). In
fact, the U.S. sent approximately $37.680 billion overseas in 2012 for foreign
aid, according to Finance Degree Center
It
took me all of fifteen minutes to gather the information below!
U.
S. Department of State
Fact Sheet
Washington, DC
February 13, 2012
Budget
State and USAID - FY 2013 Budget
The President’s FY 2013 Budget for the Department
of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) strengthens
U.S. national security, advances America’s economic interests, and elevates
America’s global leadership through diplomacy and development. It supports U.S.
businesses, protects Americans at home and abroad, and stops the proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction. It supports our allies and partners, prevents
conflict, promotes democracy, and reflects our core values.
Making up just 1 percent of the U.S. Government’s
overall budget, the Department of State/USAID budget totals $51.6 billion. The
request provides the most cost-efficient way to ensure diplomats and
development experts have the resources necessary to address complex threats to
our national security and promote our economic renewal.
Overview
of the President’s Budget proposal for State/USAID
Includes $43.4 billion for the core budget, which
funds the long-term national security mission of the Department and USAID.
Provides $8.2 billion for Overseas Contingency
Operations (OCO) to support the extraordinary and temporary costs of
civilian-led programs and missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Supports U.S. engagement with the government and
people of 190 countries across the globe.
Builds upon our commitment to job creation at home
and economic statecraft by giving our people the tools to better help American
companies compete overseas; build future trading partners; and facilitate
legitimate travel by U.S. citizens and international business people and
tourists.
Continues to fulfill the Administration’s
commitment to elevating development as a core pillar of US foreign policy
through targeted investments with measurable returns, consistent with the
principles in the President’s Policy Directive on Global Development (PPD-6)
and the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR).
Supports the President’s new commitment to treat 6
million people with HIV/AIDS by the end of 2013.
Proposes a new Middle East and North Africa
Incentive Fund to better position the United States to quickly respond to
dramatic changes in the region and incentivize reforms.
Devotes resources where they are most needed to
achieve foreign policy and development goals, reflecting hard trade-offs.
Specifically, this budget:
o Reduces funding for Europe and Eurasia by 18
percent to reflect the successful transition of a number of countries to
market-based democracies and eliminates the stand alone Assistance to Europe,
Eurasia, and Central Asia account.
o Reflects over $100 million in FY 2012-FY 2013
administrative savings through administrative reforms.
o Enhances consular resources in areas with high
demands for visas, including Brazil and China, generating tourism in the U.S.
and new business opportunities for American companies. This work will be funded
out of fees generated by the increase in visa applications.
o Limits the Department’s planned expansion of the
Foreign Service by extending the time frame for the goal of a 25 percent
increase while focusing modest staff growth on highest priority programs and
countries.
o Scales back funding for overseas construction
for one year, despite ongoing need for newer, more secure diplomatic
facilities.
o Normalizes the Development Leadership Initiative
(DLI) within USAID Operating Expenses and does not request additional USAID
Foreign Service positions for FY 2013.
Supports major changes outlined in the QDDR and
PPD-6 by allocating resources to goals with the greatest impact:
o Reorganizes to establish three new State
Department bureaus focusing on high-priority issues of counter-terrorism and
energy, and reorganizes and renames the Conflict and Stabilization Operations
bureau to better fulfill conflict prevention missions;
o Continues to expand the application of science,
technology, and innovation in USAID and State Department programs to ensure the
most efficient and effective use of assistance funding; and
o Encourages whole-of-government approaches to
development in emerging global markets, especially in the Partnership for
Growth countries of El Salvador, the Philippines, Ghana, and Tanzania.
Supporting our Work in Frontline States ($11.9
billion):
“Improving governance, creating economic
opportunity, supporting civil society is vital to solidifying our military
gains and advancing our political and diplomatic goals.”-Secretary Clinton,
June 2011
Iraq: $4.8 billion ($4.0 billion OCO and $770
million core)
o $2.0 billion in assistance, including $1.8
billion to fund police training and military assistance programs transitioned
from the Department of Defense (DoD). Investments in health, education, and
private sector development continue to decline as these programs transition to
the Government of Iraq.
o $2.7 billion in operations funding supports the
Embassy and three consulates as well as public outreach programs to strengthen
ties with the Iraqi people.
o This is approximately 10% less than in FY-12.
Afghanistan: $4.6 billion ($3.2 billion OCO and
$1.4 billion core)
o $2.5 billion in assistance for
counter-terrorism-related programs, economic growth, reconciliation and
reintegration, and capacity building, as well as to support progress in
governance, rule of law, counter-narcotics, agriculture, health, and education.
o $2.1 billion supports the expansion of the
diplomatic and inter-agency presence, the extraordinary costs of security in a
conflict zone, and public diplomacy programs to build long-lasting bridges with
civil society.
Pakistan: $2.4 billion ($959 million OCO and $1.5
billion core)
o $2.2 billion in assistance to strengthen
democratic and civil institutions that provide a bulwark against extremism, and
support joint security and counter-terrorism efforts, including $800 million for
the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund.
o $197 million supports the U.S. government’s
civilian presence, as well as programs for engagement with civil society.
Other Frontline States-Related Costs: $95 million
OCO. $95 million provides funding for additional USAID administrative costs and
the cost to administer the Iraq military assistance program.
Improving Global Human and Economic Security
($14.7 billion):
“We need to continue shifting our approach and our
thinking from aid to investment, investments targeted to produce tangible
returns... Wise investors choose their investments carefully, they manage for risks,
and they amplify their impact by trying to draw even more participants to the
table”-Secretary Clinton, Busan Aid Effectiveness Forum, November 2011
$9.3 billion for critical interventions in health,
food security, and climate change, as outlined in the PPD as presidential
initiatives:
o $7.9 billion for the Global Health Initiative
(GHI), including $5.4 billion for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief (PEPFAR). The budget supports President Obama’s call for an AIDS-free
generation with the goal of providing lifesaving treatment to six million
people globally by the end of 2013. The request also includes $2.5 billion for
USAID managed programs that build on significant progress to date and focus
resources on key areas where the United States can make a marked difference in
the struggle against pandemics and disease, including saving mothers and
children through high-impact interventions such as malaria prevention and child
vaccination programs.
o $1.0 billion for the global hunger and food security
initiative, Feed the Future, to reduce poverty, hunger, and under-nutrition
through sustainable investments in agriculture-focused economic growth.
Together with the Department of Treasury’s contribution to the Global
Agriculture and Food Security Program, this funding will enable the United
States to reach millions of beneficiaries. The request supports implementing
country-owned strategies that integrate the efforts of smallholder farmers, the
private sector, governments, and civil society and provides them with the tools
to achieve sustainable results.
o $469.5 million for Global Climate Change to
address the environmental, economic, and social ramifications of global climate
change through programs that develop clean energy economies; combat deforestation;
and help vulnerable countries build resilience to withstand extreme weather and
rising sea levels.
$4.0 billion in humanitarian assistance to provide
life-saving interventions for victims of conflict, natural disasters, and
persecution, including $1.4 billion for food aid, $1.7 billion to aid refugees
and conflict victims, and $960 million for disaster assistance.
$1.3 billion to support development investments in
the world’s poorest and most unstable nations, helping to stabilize societies
and open new markets for U.S. goods.
Strengthening Partnerships and Preventing Conflict
($14.6 billion):
“American leadership must be as dynamic as the
challenges we face. We have to be ready to adapt and innovate, and that might
mean leveraging new groups of nations to work on specific issues.” – Secretary
Clinton, Speech on American Global Leadership at the Center for American
Progress, October 2011
$770 million for a new Middle East and North
Africa Incentive Fund to respond strategically to the historical changes taking
place across the region. The Fund will incentivize long-term economic,
political and trade reforms—key pillars of stability—by supporting governments
that demonstrate a commitment to undergo meaningful change and empower their
people.
$5.1 billion in military assistance to support
ongoing partnerships worldwide, including $3.1 billion for Israel, $1.3 billion
for Egypt, $300 million for Jordan, and approximately $400 million for 70 other
strategic partners around the world. This budget also provides $93.1 million in
the International Military Education and Training account to promote regional
stability and defense capabilities through professional military education and
training.
$2.7 billion in economic and transition assistance
to help strengthen and stabilize developing countries and countries in
transition from conflict. This includes investing in building governing
capacity, reform, and conflict mitigation in recently independent South Sudan;
supporting continued democratic development in Liberia; post-earthquake
reconstruction in Haiti; and encouraging reform in Burma.
$4.1 billion in contributions to international
organizations (voluntary and assessed) to support cooperation and security in
accordance with U.S. law:
o $1.5 billion to meet U.S. obligations to nearly
50 international organizations, including the United Nations.
o $2.1 billion to support the US share of
international peacekeeping missions, including critical operations in Somalia,
Sudan and Darfur, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Haiti, and
Liberia.
o $535.9 million for voluntary contributions to
international organizations, including UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN
Development Program (UNDP), and to peacekeeping missions worldwide in order to
diminish and resolve conflict, enhance partner countries’ capabilities to
participate in peacekeeping operations and address counter-terrorism threats,
and reform professional military forces.
$531.7 million for anti-terrorism and
non-proliferation programs including support for programs that counter violent
extremism and terrorist finance, and address the humanitarian threat posed by
landmines and unexploded ordnance.
$932.5 million for rule of law, police
development, and counter-drug programs worldwide, including protecting our
borders and repelling the reach of criminal organizations and gang violence.
$56.5 million for Conflict Stabilization
Operations to provide rapid r
$75 million to address emergent national security
challenges, including through the existing Complex Crisis Fund ($50 million),
and the new Global Security Contingency Fund ($25 million) introduced in FY
2012, which integrates Defense and State resources to address security crises.
$254 million to support bilateral international
commissions, foreign affairs foundations and research centers. This includes
academic institutions such as the Asia Foundation, exchange programs that
include Eisenhower Fellowships, and multilateral organizations such as the
International Fisheries Commission.
Supporting America’s Global Presence ($10.4
billion):
“Leading through civilian power saves lives and
money. With the right tools, training, and leadership, our diplomats and
development experts can defuse crises before they explode and create new
opportunities for economic growth.” – Secretary Clinton, December 2010
$6.5 billion to support civilians in embassies,
missions, and consulates around the world (not including the Frontline States),
as well as at our headquarters in Washington. The request includes the
following priorities:
o $507.4 million for public diplomacy to engage
foreign audiences and win support for U.S. foreign policy goals, programs that
include engaging with civil society in transition countries such as Tunisia,
Libya, and Egypt (including the Frontline States, the total Public Diplomacy
Request is $541.7 million).
o $1.4 billion in security for diplomatic
personnel, information and facilities at our worldwide posts.
o $4.5 billion to fund other requirements,
including staffing, operations and programs for our bureaus, envoys, and more
than 270 posts overseas and in the United States, and funding for 121 new
positions (83 Foreign Service and 38 civil service) in high priority programs
and regions.
$1.5 billion to fund USAID operations, including
USAID core staffing and security requirements in the Frontline States, and
funding for the Implementation and Procurement Reform Initiative of USAID
Forward.
$1.6 billion for security-related construction,
major facility rehabilitation, and operational requirements at embassies,
consulates, and missions worldwide. Supports the construction of new embassy
compounds in Chad, the Hague, and fit-out of the U.S. Mission’s wing of the new
NATO headquarters nearing completion in Brussels. Also continues the $270
million capital maintenance cost-sharing program initiated in FY 2012.
$83.3 million for investment in essential
modernization of information technology through the Department of State’s
Capital Investment Fund.
$587.0 million for exchange programs that give
U.S. citizens broad exposure to the world and help foreign students better
understand the United States. Scholarship programs and cultural exchanges such
as the Fulbright Program advance U.S. national interests by preparing the next
generation of leaders to work together to tackle global challenges.
$200 million for activities including financial
oversight work of inspector general, support of American citizens for
repatriation loans, and the protection of foreign missions and officials in the
United States. These programs also fund a wide-range of other activities,
including support for the evacuation of American citizens from nations in
crisis.
$37,680,000,000:
That’s How Much the U.S. Spent on Foreign Aid in 2012 — Here’s a Chart That
Helps Explain It
Dec. 19, 2013 10:30am Becket Adams
The United States spends billions of dollars each
year on foreign aid .
In fact, the U.S. sent approximately
$37,680,000,000 overseas in 2012 for foreign aid, according to Finance Degree
Center, a website dedicated to finance education.
The total amount, which includes investments in
national security concerns, counterterrorism efforts and commercial and
humanitarian interests, is really rather impressive when you think about it.
Indeed, no other country comes even close in terms of providing other countries
with monetary aid.
Here to help you visualize just how much the U.S.
spends every year is a chart from the folks at Finance Degree Center. Enjoy:
Just How Much Does the U.S. Spend on Foreign Aid Anyway?
This Chart Will Explain:
Since WWII the United States has led the developed
world disbursements of foreign aid almost every year.
● In
2012, the United States send $37,680,000,000 dollars overseas for foreign aid
A few reasons:
■ National Security
●
Counter-Terrorism focus since 2001
■ Commercial Interests
● Think
of it as an investment
■ Humanitarian Concerns
● Less
suffering makes a better world
What are the objectives?
Peace and Security
● $10,594,000,000
of the budget
○
Specific areas include
■ Counter-Terrorism
■ Stabilization/Security Sector Reform
■ Counter-narcotics
Investing in People
●
$10,559,000,000 of the budget
○
Specific areas include
■ Health
■ Education
■ Social Services/Protection of Vulnerable
Governing Justly & Democratically
●
$2,596,000,000
○ Rule of
Law & Human Rights
○ Civil
Society
○ Good
Governance
Promoting Economic Growth
●
$4,405,000,000
○
Agriculture
○
Environment
○ Infrastructure
Humanitarian Assistance
●
$4,091,000,000
○
Protection, Assistance & Solutions
○
Disaster Readiness
○
Migration Management
Who were the top 5 recipients of foreign aid in
2012?
○
Definitions:
■ Per Capita: How much aid the country is
receiving per person
■ Gross Domestic Product (GDP): the monetary
value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country’s border, generally per year
■ Gross National Income Per Capita
(GNI): the dollar value of a country’s
final income in a year, divided by its population
● A good
measurement of standard of living
Top 5 Recipients in 2012
■ Israel
● $3.075
billion
● Per
Capita: $388
● GDP:
$258.2 billion
● GNI Per
Capita: $28,380
■ Afghanistan
● $2.327
billion
● Per
Capita: $78
● GDP:
$18.03 billion
● GNI Per
Capita: $570
■ Pakistan
● $2.102
billion
● Per
Capita: $12
● GDP:
$231.2 billion
● GNI Per
Capita: $1,260
■ Iraq
● $1.683
billion
● Per
Capita: $52
● GDP: $210.3
billion
● GNI Per
Capita: $5,870
■ Egypt
● $1.557
billion
● Per
Capita: $19
● GDP:
$257.3 billion
● GNI Per
Capita: $3,000
** Of the top
five, there’s only one in Africa!
Can we afford to be so generous?
● $37
billion dollars is…
○ 1% of
Total US Budget
■ 20% – Social Security
■ 19% – Defense
■ 15% – income security
■ 13% – Medicare
■ 10% – health
■ 6% – net interest
■ 6% – other
■ 4% – education & training
■ 3% – veterans
■ 3% – transportation
■ 1% – foreign aid
Sources:
Socio-Political commentary on current events and past events that may have influenced the present..
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