19856: Esser: Re: 19839: Tjpershing: Re: 19830: (Chamberlain) re 19821 Vander-Zaag, Orenstein (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Let's assume the figure for USAID spending is correct, I personally
would be cautious in believing their numbers, since branches of
executive power furnishing the leaders that lord over large parts of
the government spending in "third world" countries are given to
secrecy. O.k. let's say it's "only" a million dollars a year. First
there is the question of why a country should have to endure the
meddling in it's internal affairs by agents of foreign powers, think
of let's say China trying to influence elections here with millions
of dollars. Second, a million dollars, I am sure we can find more
accurate numbers in time - especially of total spending on "democracy"
(undoubtedly higher), goes a long way in a country were the fast
majority lives on less than $ 400 a year, doesn't it? Haitian
operatives are likely to work for very little funds in a
country were steady paychecks are not the norm.


Tjpershing wrote:

...Once the fixed costs are figured in, this same official noted, you
have only half left (those  big, hazard pay salaries, new jeep
Cherokees, offices, housing, etc.). That leaves little cash to do any
real work. ...