Lynne Stevens
Law and order?
Ba, humbug!
The courts, however, have not been asleep at
the switch when the Constitutional birthright citizenship was terminated by an executive order. Agree or not, the order from President Trump
was blatantly against the law and was summarily shot down by two courts so far.
Trump signed a Federal funding freeze in January, requiring a pause on federal grants and loans so all of them could be reviewed for waste and fraud. How long could this take? The administration was ambiguous. This led to confusion and anger among the thousands affected while stopped at work on projects already funded by Congress.
Oops; two U.S. District Court judges granted a temporary stay – with one stating the freeze “cites no legal authority.” Court hearings are upcoming.
Another temporary order was issued Feb. 6, to stop the “buyouts” of federal workers. Another court issued limitations on Elon Musk's access to information.
Most students in our schools do not know what USAID (United States Agency for International Development) does throughout the world and why it is so important. If they knew, they would understand the worldwide outcry. Thousands of employees have been given notice they will likely be terminated.
Here are some disgusting things happening as workers are called back to the United States from all over the world:
* U.S.-grown food is being left to rot at the docks and will not be delivered to those in desperate need, without warning;
* Clinics are being closed and Medications will not be distributed, without warning;
* There is an Ebola outbreak in Africa and the agency has always helped with Ebola medication;
* Restricting spread there reduces spreading here;
* The agency – tasked as a warning system for new and evolving viruses – is now shut down.
This is just a sample of what the agency does.
Why is Musk so intent on destruction, since he called it a “criminal agency?" It is well known among those in the intelligence world that China and Russia hate the agency. They hate it because it has been building goodwill for America against propaganda and dictatorships for decades. Their diplomatic work delivers a very different message than China and Russia.
Funding has been bi-partisan for decades until Trump. Musk is heavily invested in China for manufacturing Tesla’s. The Shanghai plant is Musk's largest factory, together with a significant interest in battery production. He has high-level contacts in China and was once offered citizenship (Newsweek).
China loves Elan and Elan’s pocketbook loves China. Now comes an opportunity to belittle the agency and shut it down, putting a smile on Chinese leaders' faces. America is the big loser, as it paves China's “silk road” of economic freebies to countries, which are rich in rare earth minerals.
We will lose the goodwill and diplomacy built by decades of Democrats and Republicans understanding its National Security value. All the work and treasure being flushed on a whim.
Trump does not have the authority to shutter the agency. Let the courts speak now!
Lynne Stevens writes a bi-weekly column for The Graham Star. She can be reached via email, geminga@mailfence.com.