Does anyone else see an ominous pattern here?

[harlinchi]

I was thinking about posting on US aid for democratic development considering the damage it does and looking at web sites on that topic when I came across one for Macedonia. (The paragraphs referred to here are snips of articles. The individual links are on the page itself.)

http://www.usaid.org.mk/

On the site there are several paragraphs about US aid given to Macedonia and how it was used. The first one:

USAID Macedonia: From the American People
The American people, through USAID, have invested over $400 million in Macedonia since 1993. Over 30 projects worth more than $35 million a year are currently being implemented. These projects support Macedonia 's transition to a free market-based, multi-ethnic democracy. They aim to accelerate economic growth, develop democratic institutions, and educate citizens for a modern economy.

This was nice. It kinda makes one think that aid can be effectively give with good results. In the third one however, evidence of TILOPSA's (theft in lieu of PSA's) begins to emerge:


USAID helps Macedonia become world’s first wireless country
Over the past few years the idea of connecting to the Internet without a cable in sight through Wi-Fi has become pretty standard fare in the developed world. But the technology is also offering developing nations a chance to reach remote areas without laying down expensive new telephone cables or relying on decaying old ones, as David Reid found out when he visited USAID Macedonia.

Now this in itself isn't so bad but considering the manner in which contracts are let in this administration I am concerned. I remember the cell phone contract was one of the first ones let in post-Saddam Iraq. I remember there was some suspicion of 'irregular' dealings then. I'd suspect them here as well.

The fourth paragraph showed how my tax dollars train my international competitors, me being an IT worker whose job is subject to being outsourced or even filled by one of the H1B folks the administration allows companies to use:

Economic Growth: Infinite Solutions
It was a daring move. In September 2005, Infinite Solutions and EuroNetCom, two relatively new Macedonian IT companies, decided to compete for a contract with one of the largest banks in Europe. They found themselves going head to head with an experienced and substantially larger Indian firm.

That may be progress on an international scale but it places me in further jeopardy. Later on, there's a paragraph which shows why it ain't just IT workers in jeopardy:


Economic Growth: Macedonia trains its first actuaries
When Sanja Tanchevska was pregnant one thought kept going through her mind: “I loved studying mathematics and I want to use my education—I don’t want to be stuck at home.” A happily married newlywed, her husband, a mechanical engineer, said he’d support her interest in having a career and a family.

My point is that this shows some of the more benign uses of our international aid. This makes no mention of actually subverting the political processes of other sovereign states by fomenting unrest or actual violence, by funding unsavory elements in attempts to introduce confusion.

Here's a thought: When silent Cal said, "The business of America is business", he was referring to companies which, for the most part, paid taxes in America, hired workers in America and produced goods in America which were sold across the world. Those businesses were worthy of our support, and, indeed, were worthy of being the driving force in our international policy. What was good for GM (later on) was good for America, since GM employed large numbers of us.

Globalization has removed that corporate-citizen connection. With Halliburton off-shored, with US airlines shedding pension obligations with the governments blessing, with the auto industry cutting tens of thousands of jobs, it is clear that so-called US corporations serve themselves and their shareholders at the expense of, not for the benefit of US citizens. That being the case these corporations should cease driving our international policy.

[acmejack]

1. Exactly correct

"US corporations serve themselves and their shareholders at the expense of, not for the benefit of US citizens."

That, in a nutshell, is it. We, were used, abused, and discarded. I am more than a little pissed off about the whole damned thing too!

[Minnesota Libra]

2. Did it ever occur to anyone that taking our jobs overseas is......

......the whole idea? It makes sense especially in light of the PNAC and "One World Government". I'm not saying I agree with it, rather than I think it's part of a much larger plan and I think it stinks too. :puke:

[schmuls]

3. I've often thought this is part of the PNAC's agenda as well - why

else would America's working class be deliberately destroyed by a President?

[Lerkfish]

4. for the past five years ALL I SEE are ominous patterns. This is just

another one on the list.

[harlinchi]

5. Too true.

This administration idea of scandal management is to create or reveal an even larger scandal!

[harlinchi]

6. Here's part of an important pattern:

The disputed costs reported by the Times were part of a $2.4 billion no-bid contract in Iraq. Army officials said that while some actions by KBR had driven up costs, the company had done as well as could be expected under the chaotic conditions of war, according to the Times report.

Under the type of contract awarded to KBR, "the contractor is not required to perform perfectly to be entitled to reimbursement," Rhonda James, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was quoted in the report as saying.

Halliburton said in January that audits on potential overcharges for KBR's dining services and fuel supply costs had been wrapped up in 2005, resulting in additional income from fees. The company did not specify how much income it had received.

In total, KBR has reported about $15.4 billion in revenues from its operations in Iraq since the U.S. invasion in 2003.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/02/27/news/companies/halliburton.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

Folks, KBR took in over $15 billion of our tax dollars since 2003. This evil company should have sunlight shined on every aspect of its operations, from Iraq to Iran (yes, Iran!), to New Orleans to wherever it intends to build the 'domestic detention centers' now being discussed.

[KoKo]

8. Our taxes are going for everything else but our own needs ....and we

can't go on like this. Being a "cash cow" for the multinational aspirations of the Multinationals and the Bushie economists and Think Tank "Supply Siders."

It's out of hand. And our own Repugs and many Dems gave it away by deregulating the SEC and many of the financial restrictions put in place after the Great Depression.

The Reagan Administrationg started it, Poppy continued it and a compromised Clinton couldn't control Lieberman and Dodd and enabled more...Bush II sealed our fate.

It will take a long time to turn American around and until we get new Dem blood in to the House and Senate it won't even start to occur.

We need a ROLL BACK to put anti-trust regulations back in. We need to revisit some of the SEC Regulations that were dismantled. Our whole Stock Market needs some really close scrutiny. This big business in derivatives and Hedging needs to be investigated. Off shore banking by Corporations needs to be reigned in.... There's so much to do...and so few to do it, though. Even our Dems have bought into the Globilization/Supply side "experiment." It will have to crash down with millions here in poverty before they finally give up on it, I fear.

[harlinchi]

9. Here's a quick start:

To get a contract with the federal government a company should have to have paid taxes in this country. Off-shoring should not be allowed for any company that seeks a government contract. Also, so-called American Companies that evade sanctions against other countries should have that evasion made public with every mention of the country or the sanctions.

[Double T]

7. Are we going to let the corporate political culture destroy our........

nation and its people??? Where is the breaking point when the people of our nation will get mad enough to do something about IT???

[KoKo]

10. I have hope that "some" are working in the background. Not only Krugman

who is out front with this but others who are gradually waking up that it might be their own financial lives and livelihood at stake.

It isn't coming soon enough and without Spine and new views in our Congress it will be delayed.

Let's hope that those of us here who know about it can prepare in our own way by being aware and starting to "conserve" in every way we can. What we can hold onto will give us an edge for survival.