well, fair enough. i understand why you feel that way, i just believe the good USAID does outweighs the bad. either way, interesting chat.

private sector investment, for example, because the capital needs to come from somewhere if not from USAID

for what it's worth, while i am absolutely devastated about the destruction of USAID and the impact this will happen on people's lives, I am hopeful that this will force aid workers to think about more efficient and locally driven work. building the data repositories that can justify ...

I think maybe the difference is a little more specific; it's whether we believe that there's hope in systems change versus razing it and accepting the collateral damage as an investment in something better

I also will say that I appreciate BRICS support for Gaza, climate action etcetera. Having a multipolar system not west-dominated sounds good. But this still doesn't justify the selection of USAID? This sounds complementary

I'm not super convinced by this argument when I hear it. There's plenty of literature regarding the exploitative refinancing terms of Chinese infrastructure projects particularly in Africa and SEA. But I appreciate the rec since it seems like we're getting a China-dominated aid landscape regardless

i mean this with no disrespect, but it sounds like you're swapping one colonizer for another instead of thinking about systems change...? i say as someone from a developing country myself

i'd be interested in hearing what you propose as the next steps to deal with the fall-out, then? do we let hundreds of thousands die and hope that countries' social services can suddenly meet massive demand without time to scale or build necessary infrastructure?

i think we agree more than we disagree, yknow? but this is not the way. i'm sure your friends would rather that their work exist versus not

but... despite all of that... i find it very hard to justify this deletion of USAID. there is immediate life threatening impact to these services being stopped. i would be very on board with restructuring and serious reform, but that's not the conversation that musk is having today.

i am also not denying that sometimes DoS uses USAID as a front to run surveillance/soft power bullshit

the IMF hasn't really done SAPs since the 90s... and hey i'm not denying the NGO industrial complex exists or that this is a highly inefficient industry lol

i am a strong advocate of decolonizing aid, and there are many resources i can point you to regarding movements and initiatives to do just that. but to delete USAID will cause unimaginable damage and pain akin to a "rage quit"

obviously it's not perfect. none of this is. and you're right that priorities from the NSC down are going to support american political interests abroad. but once the money is in the hands of an avg aid worker at USAID (or the UN, or Save the Children, or whomever) - these are just folks tryna help

i don't really know why you have "civil society orgs" in quotes? i think it's kind of cool that americans get to have at least some of their taxpayer dollars going to providing resources to local community orgs

i deleted my posts bc i'm more of a lurker and was wondering what the point was of even engaging lol - but sure, we can discuss