Poverty

unhappycamper

(60,364 posts) Mon Mar 31, 2014, 07:53 AM Mar 2014

It's Time To Put America First

http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/thom-hartmann/55034/its-time-to-put-america-first

It's Time To Put America First
Economic Policy | Foreign Policy
by Thom Hartmann | March 28, 2014 - 10:45am

Earlier today, the Senate and the House passed a bill that would give the new government in Ukraine $1 billion in loans and $100 million in direct aid.

Today's vote came just a day after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that he would drop controversial IMF reforms from the Ukraine aid bill, guaranteeing Republican support.

Ukraine's new government has been in power a little over a month, and now it's secured itself a nice little lifeline from Washington.

~snip~

Meanwhile, more than 2 million jobless Americans are still struggling to pay their bills after losing their unemployment benefits three months ago at the end of December.

4 replies

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It's Time To Put America First (Original Post) unhappycamper Mar 2014 OP

K&R snappyturtle Mar 2014 #1

I assume this "aid" is bribes for trade/armaments/oil deals BrotherIvan Mar 2014 #3

Could be...who knows or will ever be able to find out? As for the loan, snappyturtle Mar 2014 #4

k&r for exposure. n/t Laelth Mar 2014 #2

snappyturtle

(14,656 posts)

1. K&R

Reply to unhappycamper (Original post)

Mon Mar 31, 2014, 08:31 AM

Mar 2014

Sure, a group of Senators have agreed to a plan to extend unemployment benefits by another five months, but there's really no guarantee that Republicans in the House will, you know, do their job and pass that extension.

Those Republicans are apparently all for forking over billions of dollars to an unelected government in Ukraine, but when it comes to helping out unemployed Americans, they're suddenly up in arms screaming about the debt and the deficit.

If you think this is insane, you're not alone.

I just don't understand how our government can support the thuggery that has over taken the past elected government of Ukraine. The crap that parliament has done is unconstitutional by their own standards and yet our great nation, the global spokesperson for democracy, supports it.

BrotherIvan

(9,126 posts)

3. I assume this "aid" is bribes for trade/armaments/oil deals

Reply to snappyturtle (Reply #1)

Mon Mar 31, 2014, 11:12 AM

Mar 2014

Just like the majority of our aid that never reaches humanitarian purposes but instead lines the pockets of the rich in other countries. They they can come buy and buy armaments from private companies here. Money laundering 101.

snappyturtle

(14,656 posts)

4. Could be...who knows or will ever be able to find out? As for the loan,

Reply to BrotherIvan (Reply #3)

Mon Mar 31, 2014, 12:14 PM

Mar 2014

I like to know the conditions for repayment. What would happen to Ukraine if the EU decides it doesn't need another economically distressed country on its roles?

Laelth

(32,017 posts)

2. k&r for exposure. n/t

Reply to unhappycamper (Original post)

Mon Mar 31, 2014, 10:47 AM

Mar 2014

-Laelth

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