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You obviously have a single track mindset. No attempt at any Government conversation somehow ends up with your Trump answer. You know Zab Trump started WWI and WWII snd the Korean War. Pile it all on this one person has got you by your brain gonads. Sick you need to see a specialist about this condition.
Giving other peoples money away to those who do not work at all is not a good policy, it sort of pisses the folks off that keep giving and giving and getting zero in return.
At least some of them do not worship overall Government control of your lives like the Party you cater to does and lives by, if they keep giving to folks whether they need it or not they get their vote even though most of it is simple catering and wasteful versus figuring out who really needs it. They throw money around like it is their personal piggy bank.
Same response to you I just did for blackhawks here.
Ok then you get what they paid you for then!!!! Billionaires controlling the rest of us instead of regular Americans willing to serve one thing,?Their Country as opposed to other billionaires. So then you must therefore understand that no one has ever been hired by a poor person. Which is why Capitalism works most of the time, with that again you have in D.C. what you all deserve fat cats lining their pockets at our expense. Sad you have sunk as low as them.
As always money is power and overall power corrupts. D.c. is the kingdom of money and power. Us peons just watch these bought off idiots as exactly as they are. Crooks and crooks every last one of them. All need to be replaced with common sense Americans from each State. Draw names from a hat of all registered voters and the two from each State become Senators from those States tge House same method. No elections and each American has the opportunity to help its own Country with common sense, instead of payoffs. All serve minimum of four years maximum of 6 years. Get paid exactly what our front line military soldiers are paid with same salary benefits. They serve only American interests. No donations, no debates, no sick advertising no bribes it all goes away. If someone cannot make it due to family of sickness issues another name is drawn for that replacement in that State. No more Parties. Done.
People like you and the news outlets you follow have screwed the pooch on so much misinformation about this person you all deserve for him to be leading the loser Republican Party. You all helped to put him there with all these phony trials and waste of time Liberal wane be’s. Sad you all do not even realize what a pedestal you have put this person on. But you think all your hate has helped to disused folks from supporting him. That I find really really funny. Not my guy snd he did nothing to me personally so I hold no grudge against him for having made me money in my investments when he was in office. Gas was cheap all folks were working who wanted to work. Covid hit him upside the head like many world leaders and all was in reactionary mode. Nothing good really came from any of that mess. Probably sitting out the vote this time around no one of any value in my mind who really wants to help the Country I grew up in. Most are all life long insiders or fools and not worthy of my vote. He’s an interesting piece of work that’s for certain. Even his own Party hated him because they all like being on the take from fat cat lobbyists.
People like you and the news outlets you follow have screwed the pooch on so much misinformation about this person you all deserve for him to be leading the loser Republican Party. You all helped to put him there with all these phony trials and waste of time Liberal wane be’s. Sad you all do not even realize what a pedestal you have put this person on. But you think all your hate has helped to disused folks from supporting him. That I find really really funny. Not my guy snd he did nothing to me personally so I hold no grudge against him for having made me money in my investments when he was in office. Gas was cheap all folks were working who wanted to work. Covid hit him upside the head like many world leaders and all was in reactionary mode. Nothing good really came from any of that mess. Probably sitting out the vote this time around no one of any value in my mind who really wants to help the Country I grew up in. Most are all life long insiders or fools and not worthy of my vote. He’s an interesting piece of work that’s for certain. Even his own Party hated him because they all like being on the take from fat cat lobbyists.
I said it’s the folks not filling out any documentation thst are coming here that no one knows who they are or from where that came. Asylum seekers who fill out proper documentation are fine and wait for their hearing to see the results of the request. Thousands have come across the border with no visa and no asylum documents and are free within our Country now last estimate I heard was 200K months ago now so back then and now it is surely much higher. No kidding Asylum is legal yes if you fill out the correct USCIS form I-589.
It’s thise hear now that have done neither..
You see I do not see this as a Party associated issue but you all put it in your brain as such for some reason. It is an American issue no one by themselves own this issue but some among us promote this illegality and allow it to continue without penalty. Texas thank goodness at the absence of the Federal Government is attempting to protect itself and our Nation here. To me protection of America is everyone's job no one party's job we are all responsible and some folks are attempting to step up here to provide secure borders to protect us all from our demise.
So if I am understanding some on this board here about illegal immigration, they are in favor of it. Which tells me they are ok with the laws being broken by outside invaders into our Country. Which also tells me they lack any kind credibility in any statements that they make of fancy articles they post that they agree with related to this issue. Their point becomes moot when they agree with the process of coming here illegally. They are in favor of criminality and not following the process to come into our Country as unknowns. Those that actually fill out form I589 let the U.S. agencies know who they are and their family members and details of their upbringing where born, etc. etc.
Visa applicants on the other hand who come here have to actually submit applications ahead of coming here with all the details pertaining to how they will be supported here in the U.S. and who that person is or group/company supporting them until they are on their feet. They ask how do you meet this person/group/company? Do you have a job offer or interview with a company and contact information related to how you will support yourself if you come here under a VISA program. They have to provide all of their person information and the person/group/company’s responsible party whom will support you while you are here. They are on the hook it used to be five years not sure today. But all these folks who do this are unrelated to the folks who cross our borders, do no paperwork and no one here knows who they are or where they came from. Got away’s as they call them nowadays. You seem to be OK for folks to come here and jump in front of those following the legal process and systems in place to handle this in a humane formal process.
Status unknown name unknown Country of Origin unknown but there have come here by right now over two years by the hundreds of thousands that went through no checkpoints coming here. Some members on this board are totally fine with this process and think these folks can bypass the legal processes in coming here and we as taxpayers should all just willingly support all of them because in reality there is no real distinction between filling out documents and being let loose into the Country or not doing any documents or forms at the border they are missing in action. So in essence when donations, health care, drivers licenses or other ID’s allowed for by Liberal cities (Sanctuary Cities) which now after seeing those results do not want that status any longer due to the costs involved in local services, these freebies go to the entirety of these folks not just those who filled out paperwork. Heck Delta even admitted they have no clue who was on their planes going from here to there of these folks, no manifest, but hey American’s who fly have to follow every law, every legality or be punished by big government agencies. We all have to have our proper ID’s when traveling in our Country or to foreign nations it is the law and required. But those who come here illegally need to do none of this at all. They all as a group get these benefits being bestowed upon them by the great Governor of CA. spending other peoples money to do it. Nice hey. What a bastion of stupidity this guy is.
God forbid he ever become President. So again my opinion is the same as yours and is mine only I am for following the rules and laws of the nation I live in I am not for promoting those to come here illegally and being fine with it because there will be consequences for it in the end, freedom is not free.
Asylum in United States Form I 589 required whether filled out by the person or by another person who signs they assisted in this process.
So those folks waiting in line for 2 to 3 years to get here legally are hijacked by these folks just coming here without any documentation or forms completed they now will wait longer because we are allowing this illegality to take place. And also those who came here legally years ago do not like other folks from their original country of origin to come here illegally either they want them to follow the process. To me this is a discrimination suit waiting to happen here showing that the Fed Government allows illegals to come here while making others following the law and process, that is outright discrimination against the legal folks who did it right.
https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrEs46x_pdl9QMAtbdXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzIEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1705669553/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.uscis.gov%2fhumanitarian%2frefugees-and-asylum%2fasylum/RK=2/RS=RATV7WpM0Cn2wZQLMioJb5f_WAA-
You are correct I do not accept data created to make things look as you have presented them here. Undocumented are just that no one knows who they are so obviously no known records of them at all so stop with these hypothesis of what you thinks. Below are some real life facts of a fraction of the money they are stealing from you and I.
Geez MORE free stuff for illegal aliens here in MY COUNTRY. Does not happen according to this board head in sand process and denial process, you all need to work on your fibbing skills. Fibbing to yourselves that is. I think you need to take ten minutes to research the lies you all spew on here. I as well can play deaf, dumb, and blind here, but I am not. Who is paying for these activities? Hmmm………………
https://www.toddstarnes.com/business/delta-flying-illegals-across-america-on-the-taxpayer-dime/
https://thepostmillennial.com/revealed-illegal-immigrants-being-flown-on-commercial-airlines-are-not-subject-to-security-screening-like-other-passengers
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/washington-secrets/bidens-dhs-let-200-000-illegals-migrants-fly-direct-into-43-cities?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=msn_feed
https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/50-cent-questions-california-illegal-migrants-free-healthcare-1234837769/
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/california-offer-illegal-immigrants-free-healthcare-deficit-soars-population-shrinks
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/california-1st-state-offer-health-insurance-undocumented-immigrants/story?id=105986377
https://calmatters.org/health/2023/12/undocumented-health-insurance-new-california-laws-2024/
Another one sided unknown equation here. They give, they give, they give. What is the cost to America until they are able to give its a simple question but because no one tracks it then it does no exist in anyone’s mind. Does not mean it does not occur. It’s missing in the calculation being allowed to stand as some fact that they only give to our Country. What is their cost until they get on their feet and give back????? Missing in action I guess.
Do then I surmise you approve of our current unfair tax system then where the most wealthy pay way less of a percentage of their income than lower wage earners do if they pay anything at all. Very unfair. What do you all pay for milk snd bread at the local grocery store? The same no matter what you make!!! So why is our tax system all over the board here then why is it not like shopping where we all pay the same for goods and services. Tax system needs to be tore down and redone totally here.
I get your point I am saying that is what lures them here these days. Old days yes it was jobs, I stand that. Today rumors and the untrustworthy internet drives fools to slaughter without a speck of truth in it. They believe it though, so they in droves to get some.
Most of the money they earn they send home to their families and when they return home live like kings and queens. Not a lot of their Cash money ends up here. By the way alot of them they are paid in cash without any taxes taken out. Just saying.
Absolutely true. Everyone should pay taxes here billionaires down to 110K a 28% to 32% flat rate to be determined no IRS no forms no refunds no deductions just from the income for individuals and businesses every two weeks goes directly to the Treasury. No one is immune, capital gains taxed at same value flat rate. Medical care should be an American right and be fully covered no insurance company rip-off’s anymore. No deductibles if your sick you are covered for life from our Government. No one person or business is exempt from this unless you make $10K per year or less no tax at all.
Yes tell them we are broke ourselves and there is no reason to come here until our own debts are paid for. The truth in other words. Nothing here for you unless you are all going to pay Uncle Sam money to come here instead of these cartels. Use that money to pay down our debts. Otherwise politico’s will just blow it again and again.
Yes there are very unique people everywhere in this world that do amazing things which is actually my main point against abortion. No one knows if their snorted fetus was meant to come here and save our planet, no one knows this not even Liberals who have all the answers. You see I take the other side of all your arguments for things. Like ok undocumented folks give back millions in their communities supposedly from Blackhawk’s posting. How is that proven and how much did they cost their communities until such time that it benefitted from them??? And what Americans life was put on hold to save the undocumented souls here. You cannot do math with just one number without the other side. Otherwise it’s just a number which is meaningless math wise to relate to anything.
Sorry to disappoint you here Zab but when folks in other Countries hear they can get free stuff here in the U.S. and cross our borders freely and they do not have too much or maybe they do have much and hear it’s all free just for showing up that ends most of your claim about jobs and hard work. It’s the free stuff that they hear the rumors of and come here not what you state, maybe some but not most.
That was I guess prior to our $30 Trillion Dollar debt amount of today. As of today our Country should be cutting spending not increasing spending and ending all foreign aid which Countries who have sucked on that test since WWII need to finally be on their own feet and fend for themselves already. Giving is a great thing when you have the money to do so after all your own bills are paid. Not until then. Go out and buy a bunch of credit cards without any money in the bank and see how quickly you go down. I do not disagree with anything you said from History. Those days are long gone and we are for the sake of a better term bankrupt right now. So we should not be throwing our money around or paying for services that do not benefit legal American citizens, period. You see I love this Country to and want us to help others when we ourselves are out of debt, not put further into debt by giving away our money.
Some reason you all hate America and wish it to be overrun by foreigners crossing our borders. I stand for America no other Country in my mind for our tax dollars to be spent in regardless of each situation. Arming other Countries comes back to bite us every time in History. Read a book once in awhile and not Liberal tripe books.
Here are a few I was able to find in 10 minutes but I am sure if I worked at it there would be much more out there. Just wanted to show you that money does exist going to these nations from our Country. You folks must all live under rocks or something to not know any of this goes on, makes me wonder about your credibility too as you deem me not credible. Seems a tad ironic. I would actually say the opposite what have any of these Countries out of the 100 plus where illegals have come into our Country paid to the United States for their presence or in other aid from those Countries you had me find? I will be you that I know that answer without even looking for it. Oh well.
SOX FAN found a few areas where money has flowed to these nations over the years. Thanks taxpayers. Time to get our money back.
https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/sep-22-2022-the-us-announces-nearly-376-million-additional-humanitarian-assistance-for-people-affected-by-ongoing-crisis-in-venezuela
For Immediate Release
Office of Press Relations
press@usaid.gov
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Press Release
Today the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, announced nearly $376 million in additional humanitarian assistance for people affected by the Venezuela regional crisis. The humanitarian toll from this political and economic crisis in Venezuela remains dire. More than 7.7 million people in Venezuela need immediate humanitarian assistance and more than 6.8 million Venezuelans have fled their home country in search of better opportunities and livelihoods, resulting in one of the largest migrant and refugee crises in the world.
USAID Assistant to the Administrator Sarah Charles and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Janine Wynne made the announcement on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. Consistent with U.S. commitments under the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, the additional humanitarian funding, which includes more than $194 million through USAID and more than $181 million through the U.S. Department of State, will provide essential support for vulnerable Venezuelans inside Venezuela, as well as urgently needed assistance for migrants, refugees, and the generous host communities across the region.
USAID funding inside Venezuela will provide critically needed food and nutrition assistance and help rehabilitate water and sanitation infrastructure in vulnerable communities and at health facilities. It will also provide essential medical and hygiene supplies to keep people healthy alongside support to ensure the continuity of healthcare services, and provide specialized protection support to help safeguard Venezuelans from violence and exploitation. Across Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, USAID funding will provide hot meals, food vouchers, and direct cash assistance to Venezuelan migrants and refugees so they can purchase food and other urgent necessities from local markets.
The United States remains the largest single donor for the response to the Venezuela regional crisis. Since Fiscal Year 2017, the United States has provided nearly $2.7 billion in total humanitarian, development, economic, and health assistance for the Venezuela regional crisis, including over $2.3 billion in humanitarian assistance and approximately $356 million in development assistance for those in need inside Venezuela and across the region.
Humanitarian aid is critical to ease people’s suffering, but it cannot address the underlying conditions that caused Venezuela’s protracted crisis. The United States supports Venezuelan-led negotiations as the best path toward a peaceful restoration of democracy and fundamental freedoms of all Venezuelans. Only a peaceful, political solution can address the corruption, political repression, failed policies, and gross economic mismanagement at the root of this crisis.
For the latest updates on USAID’s humanitarian assistance for the Venezuela regional crisis, click here.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/us-policy-remittances-cuba-what-are-some-viable-options
U.S. Policy on Remittances to Cuba: What Are Some Viable Options?
Critical Questions by Daniel F. Rundeand Hiromitsu Higashi
Published September 15, 2021
As a political and humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in Cuba, the United States’ policy on Cuban-bound remittances is once again brought to heated debate. The economic embargo on Cuba, albeit conducive to regime change as per traditional assessment, can lead to profound humanitarian consequences, as it cuts off the financial lifeline of many Cuban households. It is therefore both useful and imperative to evaluate U.S. policy on remittances to Cuba and explore potential solutions.
Q1: What are remittances and what is their impact on development?
A1: Remittances are when migrants living abroad send money or goods back home to relatives or friends. These transfers help families buy essential goods and services, such as food and medicine. For better-off households, these transfers may be used to finance small businesses and entrepreneurial activities. They also help pay for imports and external debt service and, in some cases, have been used by countries, such as Israel and India, as collateral to issue bonds (known as “diaspora bonds”) and other types of financing. Studies conducted by the World Bank have found that remittances have reduced the share of impoverished individuals in the population.
Q2: What is the size of remittance flows?
A2: Although it is hard to estimate the true value of remittances since these transfers often occur via informal channels, global remittances have been on a steady rise over the last two decades, and provide a more stable flow of funds than foreign direct investment (FDI). They also tend to be countercyclical, rising in levels during times of crisis.
In 2019, remittances peaked at $719 billion and, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, remained high in 2020 at $702 billion, with $540 billion going to low- and middle-income countries. In 2020, countries whose receival of remittances had the highest impact on their GDP included Tajikistan (36.3 percent), Nepal (30.1 percent), and Kyrgyzstan (28.9 percent). In Latin America and the Caribbean, Haiti remains the top recipient, with remittances representing 22.9 percent of its GDP.
For many developing countries, remittances today represent the largest source of external finance. In 2020, they stood at $702 billion, while foreign aid reached $161 billion and FDI reached $859 billion. Remittances are especially important for poorer countries, as they can represent over a third of the GDP. They also contribute to resilience—that is, the household’s capability to avoid, withstand, and recover quickly from a financial shock—in times of economic or humanitarian crisis.
Q3: How and how much does Cuba receive in remittances?
A3: More than 90 percent of the Cuban remittance-sending diaspora is settled in the United States. By 2019, there were over 1.3 million Cuban-born persons living in the United States, making Cubans and Cuban Americans the third-largest diaspora from the Americas—surpassed only by Mexico and El Salvador.
There are two ways that Cuban migrants send remittances back home: by hand-carrying cash (the “informal” way) and by using payment service providers (the “formal” way). Hand-carrying is done by either the senders themselves or money mules, which make up 45 percent of remittances sent. The rest is left to payment service providers—most notably Western Union—that wire money to recipients in partnership with Cuban state-sanctioned institutions.
Remittances constitute a substantial part of Cuba’s gross national income. Cuba does not publish figures on remittances and is not a member of international financial institutions such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and Inter-American Development Bank, which provide credible statistics. There are estimates produced by research groups, but these vary significantly. For example, Manuel Orozco of the Inter-American Dialogue reported $1.53 billion in remittances in 2019, while the Havana Consulting Group reported $3.72 billion.
Despite these disparities, remittances constitute Cuba’s third-largest source of dollar reserve after the service and tourism industries. To put it in perspective, Cuba’s GDP was $103 billion in 2019, with net official development assistance inflow of $499 million and remittances of $2–$3 billion annually. In comparison, throughout 2019, Haiti received $3.3 billion in remittances, Honduras $5.4 billion, El Salvador $5.6 billion, Guatemala $10.6 billion, and Mexico $39 billion.
It should be noted that analyzing the contribution of remittances to Cuba’s GDP is limited given that only some components of Cuban GDP are expressed in purely dollar amounts, with an exchange rate of USD 1 = CUP 1, whereas all other components are handled at the official exchange rate established by the Central Bank of Cuba, USD 1 = CUP 24. Therefore, if the latter exchange rate is used, Cuban GDP is calculated at about $20.5 billion rather than $103 billion. Of this $20.5 billion, $6.6 billion corresponds to remittances (in cash and in merchandise), $6.4 billion corresponds to the salary of medical personnel hired abroad, and $7.5 billion corresponds to the rest of the economy (including tourism and the rest of the exportable items).
Q4: What is the impact of remittances on Cuba?
A4: Remittances play an important role in Cubans’ well-being—even more so in times of crisis. Over two-thirds of all Cubans on the island receive and rely on assistance from families abroad. Entities that receive remittances include Cuban households, religious organizations, U.S. students in Cuba, and independent nongovernmental organizations and certain individuals such as rights groups and activists. Remittances are essential for Cubans to purchase basic necessities or pay rent. They even serve as working capital for private entrepreneurs to cover business expenses. Without remittances, Cuban businesses lose clients able to purchase their goods or services.
In order for remittances to be sent from the United States to Cuba, Western Union partnered with Financiera Cimex (Fincimex), Cuba’s largest commercial conglomerate. Fincimex was owned by Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), which is led by the Revolutionary Armed Forces. The military holding company GAESA controls a significant share of the Cuban economy, spanning from hotels, car rental companies, and gas stations, to almost all retail chains on the island. As a result, research shows that for every $1 of remittances sent via Western Union and later spent in GAESA shops, the military gains 74 cents, 61 cents of which comes directly from store sales.
Although a substantial amount of remittances flow into the country each year, this money often fails to reach its intended recipients and is instead diverted by the government and the military. Instead of hard cash, citizens are given electronic dollars, which can only be used at government-owned (GAESA) stores with exorbitant prices. Therefore, remittances need to reach Cubans in the form of actual dollars, such as through innovative financial technology (fintech) companies and digital wallet applications. As of 2019, about 6 million Cubans (or 53.3 percent) had cellphone subscriptions, so a digital wallet may be a viable option to combat the issue of remittance theft. The Biden-Harris administration can play an important role in setting the stage for the success of fintech companies, helping Cuban citizens regain control over their remittances. Cryptocurrencies may also be a potential option, though the emerging nature of such technology means the public may be unfamiliar with and unable to use them.
Q5: What is the U.S. policy on remittances to Cuba?
A5: The United States primarily regulates Cuba-bound remittances through amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR), issued by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control in 1963. There are two main types of policy that affect remittance flows: restrictions on traveling and restrictions on remittances per se.
Although the Obama administration saw gradual lifting of economic sanctions (culminating in a historic state visit to the island in 2016), the Trump administration reversed Obama’s decisions by reinstating restrictions on traveling and remittances. In September 2019, the Trump administration limited remittances to $1,000 per person per quarter. In October 2020, the Treasury amended the CACR to prohibit the processing of remittances through any entities on the Cuba Restricted List, which includes both Fincimex and GAESA. This move caused Western Union to close its 407 branches and suspend operation in Cuba in November 2020. In January 2021, in its final days, the Trump administration redesignated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Q6: What are the implications of maintaining this policy? What are other options to consider?
A6: During his presidential campaign, then-candidate Biden promised to reverse Trump’s Cuba policy, but presently the Biden-Harris administration has not implemented any policy so far. The interagency review of the Trump-era Cuba policy coordinated by the White House National Safety Council is still in progress. The anti-government protests that started in Cuba in July 2021, however, further complicated the matter by leading the Biden administration to impose new sanctions on the regime.
Against the ongoing protests, current policy enacts a massive toll on many Cuban families’ survival. The reduction in income also impacts the activities and functioning of civil society organizations such as rights groups. Restrictions on remittances are part of the U.S. embargo, which has cost Cuba more than $130 billion over six decades. Additionally, corruption and economic mismanagement by the Cuban government, along with adherence to a restrictive economic framework, have kept finances out of the hands of Cuban citizens and funneled them to the government and the military, leading to underfunded social and development programs. However, Cuba is still listed in the “high human development” category of the Human Development Index, as it offers free high-quality education and healthcare and boasts robust inclusion and participation of women.
The current administration must first decide whether to accept the role of the Cuban military, while the Cuban government decides whether to maintain the role of the Cuban military. Ultimately, channeling remittances directly to Cubans rather than through military-controlled companies may be essential to ensuring that remittances reach their intended recipients. Some alternatives that the Biden-Harris administration could consider include:
• Direct corresponding banking—opening accounts between U.S. and Cuban banks under agreements to enable direct electronic transactions from remittance senders to receivers. However, this option is currently limited as it would violate the embargo (and require Cuba to be removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism). Moreover, U.S. banks have shown unwillingness to enter into business with Cuban banks (even during the Obama era when restrictions were eased) given the unstable economic conditions and undemocratic environment on the island.
• Other forms of transfers—instead of money, consider precious metals and gold. Cryptocurrencies and digital wallets (fintech) remain a remote possibility, despite concerns for volatility, a lack of offers to exchange local currency for cryptocurrency, poor Cuban digital infrastructure, and governmental control over the internet.
• A conditional remittances fund—remittances would be allowed, but the money would flow into a special fund which would only be spent on U.S. exports, such as agricultural and medical products.
Daniel F. Runde is senior vice president, director of the Project and Prosperity and Development, and William A. Schreyer Chair in Global Analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. Hiromitsu Higashi was an intern with the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development.
Critical Questions is produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a private, tax-exempt institution focusing on international public policy issues. Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary. CSIS does not take specific policy positions. Accordingly, all views, positions, and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s).
© 2021 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. All rights reserved.
MORE CUBA ITEMS
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/18/us-cuba-emergency-relief-funding-hurricane-ian-victims
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-rolls-out-revised-cuba-policy-easing-some-trump-era-restrictions-remittances-2022-05-16/
NICARAGUA AID
https://www.usaid.gov/nicaragua/history
History
Breadcrumb
1. Home
2. Nicaragua
3. History
The United States Government (USG) has provided approximately $2.5 billion in development assistance to Nicaragua, mainly through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Since its establishment in 1962, USAID has helped transform the lives of Nicaraguan families by funding programs that promote democratic practices, education, economic development, infrastructure, and natural resources, while providing humanitarian and life-saving assistance when most needed.
Economic Growth
USAID played a vital role in the economic stabilization efforts of the early 1990s. With cash transfers totaling over $507 million, USAID helped curb rampant inflation, pay off debts to multilateral institutions, and fund $36.3 million on programs to generate employment. USAID has also provided millions of dollars in loans to farmers, entrepreneurs, and business owners, resulting in the creation of thousands of jobs. USAID programs invested over $27 million in employment generation projects and funded the electrification project in the Caribbean Coast.
Health
USAID invested over $140 million in health projects that included family planning, maternal and child health, immunization assistance, and decentralization of health services. Assistance in these areas was met with such ringing success that in 2006 USAID started planning for Nicaragua’s graduation from the health program, indicating that health outcomes in Nicaragua had improved significantly and that these improvements could be sustained. The Agency continues its HIV/AIDS prevention activities in the country.
Education
USAID created educational programs, provided new textbooks and school materials, led teacher training, and built new schools to reach students in remote rural areas. USAID programs have also helped approximately 150,000 children and youth complete primary and basic secondary school through 7,290 scholarships and over 5,400 youth trained and certified in different technical trades. USAID’s education program in Nicaragua’s Southern Autonomous Region of the Caribbean Coast has provided scholarships and vocational training in this area. USAID has also contributed to higher education in Nicaragua by helping establish INCAE Business School, ranked among the top ten business schools in the world.
Infrastructure and natural resources
The U.S. government funded the construction of many of the country’s major roads, including the iconic Inter-American Highway, the road from Managua to Granada, and the road from Leon to Chinandega. USAID also funded environmental education and awareness campaigns and helped establish reserves and protected areas, including the Miskito Cays Reserve, the Bosawas Reserve, the Chacocente Wildlife Refuge, and the Mombacho Volcano.
Democracy and Governance
USAID has played an important role in supporting democracy, good governance and rule of law. In the 1990’s, USAID’s support allowed the creation of financial management systems for the national and municipal governments and helped modernize and create various State institutions. It also supported a comprehensive judicial reform to include a new Criminal Code for complex crimes such as corruption, organized crime, and human trafficking. USAID has been active for every national and municipal election in Nicaragua since 1996, always striving to increase citizen and civil society participation, coordinate with election management bodies, electoral observation and support voter education. USAID has also been supporting civil society organizations’ initiatives aiming to increase transparency and accountability. Currently, USAID works with local partners to support democratic practices, human rights, civil society, and independent media.
Humanitarian Assistance
When an emergency strikes, USAID provides support to people on the ground, responding and bringing humanitarian relief. After the 1972 earthquake devastated Managua, USAID was instrumental in the recovery process by providing over $80 million to reconstruct the capital city to build 8,000 housing units, install 4,560 household water connections, and repair 60,000 household electric connections. After Hurricane Mitch, USAID provided $103 million in emergency assistance to repair damaged infrastructure, restore livelihoods, and provide health services and food aid. To address Nicaragua’s current humanitarian needs in the wake of two devastating hurricanes and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, between 2020 and 2021, USAID has provided over $17 million to implement water, sanitation, and hygiene community projects, provide food and disinfection kits to vulnerable populations, and carry out programs to protect vulnerable populations.
Remove the aid the U.S. sends to those nations for every rejection we reduce monies we send there or if anyone is refused all aid is frozen until such time they accept their own people back.
Seems like you only think Republicans are the only workers in D.D. As you keep blaming them for things done or not done. What is your dismal Party doing!!!!!! Nothing as usual they keep Complaining about the other side as well. This is why I cannot as a real American citizen and with a functioning brain vote for any dolts in this two Party system we have all created. It is a joke to the rest of the world. Laughing stock they are. Spending money they or us do not have on mindless things while Rome burns under their feet.
At least unlike thousands of others here we do not know their names, she has one.
Zab no issue with legal immigrants at all. Seems Liberal types cannot seem to distinguish between legally here and not legally here. Those illegally here need to pay a fine for crossing illegally and sent home the way they came. Send the bill to either George Soros or the Cartels. Illegally is the issue.
So immigrants that are legally here is an entiree we ky different question and answer here. Undocumented immigrants not sure how they know these folks contribute anything to the local economies they end up in as most had no documentation coming here from over those 100+ Countries that they arrived from, if they are even from those Countries to begin with. Not quite sure here where the costs are to those local economies during their stays here snd length of time snd benefits they received how much is that number, you have one side of the equation but are missing the other number in equation. Other than that I have nothing to disburse your values but question the reality of them for undocumented folks that is. Thanks for this input I had seen those values during this past year somewhere.
Makes one have to wonder how they eat and receive medical care???? Ok I will bite for a second. So when they need to eat which I assume is at least once a day who pays for it? And when they get a fever or the flu who pays for this care???? Seems it must be free then snd those services must receive government funding to reimburse those losses otherwise all these agencies which assist would go belly up. Nice to quote government records all you have proven to me is that it is worse than I had thought. No records does not mean care is given and food supplied. Who bears this cost???? Oh no one everything you see is free!!!!
Finally realized that Smerica of today is still a free County, for those folks who come here illegally that is. They pay nothing yet get paid, free phones, free medical care, free schooling for their children, benefits to assist with their food for eating, free travel to any State of their choosing. All the while those here who pay our taxes as required by law every year pay for all of this free stuff for other UN-Americans because we are a great Country we help those disadvantaged souls here. But when they then become advantaged souls does that money flow stop? No, it continues because the learning they receive from others who came here teaches them how to beat our donation systems and continue the gravy train of free services and goods. By the way all the while taking those donations away from real Americans who need this assistance as much if not more. This places also other hidden costs related to ambulances to transport them when ill, police work for the crimes they commit, schools in language barriers, emergency room treatments, to name just a few. So folks I sm here to report that America is still free for Non-Americans. The rest of us sho work are now the slaves to these new folks here illegally. Suck it up taxpayers and know your money is in good hands now.
You are correct so let’s not decide before the votes have been cast to those on each ballot then. I agree with you in 2000 it’s was after the vote was done the issues arose but the citizens had gotten to vote for their candidates. Let’s make that method happen every election year do not decide it prior with wayward Judges.
Guess they have some other thinking process behind that support. Crazy to that support for this person, not worthy to me at all. It has been proven over and again how he treats his king time friends and family members. Callous comes to mind here. Take care.
I give no comfort to those entering the Capital the way they did so it was totally uncalled for. My argument here is it was not what is known as an insurrection. It does not rise to that level. Courts should do whatever it is they do in charging these intruders/individuals entering into the building. There was no way with this small amount of folks that the final vote would not be ratified/certified by the V.P. Their actions are being handled properly by the Court system for this trespass and destruction of property and personal injury.
I totally disagree on any Court deciding whose name can be on any State ballot. You folks here like this idea!!! It is the first step into a real dictatorship of a few wayward Judges who allow this to occur to limit American voices with these votes to be counted.. Hopefully legal smarter Judges of a higher authority will take ten minutes to see this cannot stand and believe me they will strike it down as it disallows folks votes to be heard, voter suppression.
This is a pretty big deal folks and must be quelled. All the other candidates should remove their names from CO. Ballots then so no one can vote in this State. Or do a caucus system this time around. We as citizens cannot allow a Court to decide the fate of any election anywhere and not allow those voices to be heard. What are they afraid of here? Their names are not on the ballot!!!
Thank all you kind hearted dictators for allowing your peon to post on this illustrious board.
Not sure about this person’s words as he has made plenty of indecent comments over the years. He does get one’s attention still today when he does it. I for one am in favor of LEGAL immigration. Not walk right in immigration. I know this system very well and what is going on at our Southern border is not it. Do in essence those who came here illegally needs to pay their fine snd sent back to their real homeland whatever of the 100 plus nations it is. And their names be placed in a data base of known illegal crossers of our border. Allowing them to only do it properly the next time they attempt to break our laws again. As for Orange man he has a basic flaw in his comments stupid as they are he is free in our Country to say them at his own peril and attacks that he receives for saying them. We have laws that should be followed otherwise we have no nation and any law can be broken based on this issue at the border by anyone without consequences. It’s proven itself out already.
Oh I see they have the guts to do such a thing but like most Liberals cannot stand the heat afterwards. I expect nothing less from those who can throw it but not take it. They are so elitist they do not even understand why it looks bad for them. They of course are NEVER wrong. Sad.
So do you at all consider White a color? So in essence folks of color are all of us. But I am sure you will find something wrong there as well.
Fine I do not mind at all taking these hits from this board. Language and words have meanings within the Amendments in our Constitution. Again meanings are important to the word “insurrection” and “sedition”. They are different and were meant to be. Again you say tohmatoh I say tomatoe. Two points of view here but again at least you have your own opinion. Nitwit is a noun I believe. Thanks for the insult keep them coming. I will pray for you.
Got it I am borderline insane to put my faith in the American citizens versus some kangaroo court justices. Ok everyone Zab wants the Courts in every State in our Country to make the decisions on who is allowed on our voting ballots. I assume all on this board approve of this sort of control of our freedoms. Now who is insane here!!!!! Courts do not decide who can be on a ballot that is total abuse of power.
From my 9/12/23 post.
Insurrection and Sedition are two separate words and mean differing things. Insurrection in the 1828 version of Webster’s Dictionary which was the meaning of the word prior to the passing of the 14th Amendment in 1868, not the meaning as shown in today’s version of Webster’s and the intertwine both words into one meaning, they were never meant to be the same meaning. Jan. 6tth and the folks that stormed the Capital were less than (700) people not even close to the voting public of 70 plus million who cast their votes for this person. Armed insurrection where no weapons in the group were used or fired see article below. A real insurrection would have millions of supporters descending on the Capital which did not happen less than 700 were there that were violators which in fact makes this a week Sedition case at best. Words have meaning and again at the time of the passing of this law these were the definitions and meanings that were to be used for implementation of these laws, not today’s version of what they think these meant back in 1828. Sorry but Insurrection is not Sedition and Sedition is not Insurrection. Sedition is not stated in the 14th Amendment Section 3 at all. Thanks for playing.
https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/Sedition
Sedition SEDI'TION, noun. [Latin seditio. The sense of this word is the contrary of that which is naturally deducible from sedo, or sedeo, denoting a rising or raging, rather than an appeasing. But to set is really to throw down, to drive, and sedition may be a setting or rushing together.] A factious commotion of the people, a tumultuous assembly of men rising in opposition to law or the administration of justice, and in disturbance of the public peace. sedition is a rising or commotion of less extent than an insurrection, and both are less than rebellion; but some kinds of sedition in Great Britain, amount to high treason. In general, sedition is a local or limited insurrection in opposition to civil authority, as mutiny is to military.
https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/Insurrection
Insurrection INSURREC'TION, noun [Latin insurgo; in and surgo, to rise.]
1. A rising against civil or political authority; the open and active opposition of a number of persons to the execution of a law in a city or state. It is equivalent to sedition, except that sedition expresses a less extensive rising of citizens. It differs from rebellion, for the latter expresses a revolt, or an attempt to overthrow the government, to establish a different one or to place the country under another jurisdiction. It differs from mutiny, as it respects the civil or political government; whereas a mutiny is an open opposition to law in the army or navy. insurrection is however used with such latitude as to comprehend either sedition or rebellion.
It is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. Ezra 4:19.
2. A rising in mass to oppose an enemy. [Little Used.]
Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection and Other Rights
• Section 3 Disqualification from Holding Office
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Amdt14.S3.1 Overview of Disqualification Clause
Fourteenth Amendment, Section 3:
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
The right to remove disabilities imposed by this Section was exercised by Congress at different times on behalf of enumerated individuals.1 In 1872, the disabilities were removed, by a blanket act, from all persons except Senators and Representatives of the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Congresses, officers in the judicial, military and naval service of the United States, heads of departments, and foreign ministers of the United States.2 Twenty-six years later, Congress enacted that the disability imposed by section 3 . . . incurred heretofore, is hereby removed
'Armed insurrection': What weapons did the Capitol rioters carry?
by Byron York, Chief Political Correspondent
October 11, 2021 06:00 PM
Newsletters
Recently, Scott MacFarlane, an NBC4 reporter in Washington who covers the Capitol riot prosecutions, tweeted, "As of tonight at least 65 of the Jan. 6 defendants have been charged with 'entering a restricted area with a dangerous or deadly weapon.' A counterpunch to those who argued this didn't appear like 'an armed insurrection.'"
It was just a tweet, which, by definition, can't contain much information, but it left open the question: What weapons did they have? What were the arms in the "armed insurrection"?
The Justice Department maintains a website listing the defendants and the federal charges against them in the sprawling Jan. 6 investigation. At this moment, about 670 people have been charged, many of them with misdemeanors such as "Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building."
Of the cases involving weapons, there are four main charges: "Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon"; "Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon"; "Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon"; and "Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon."
Going through the Justice Department site, as well as some media databases, I counted 82 defendants who have been charged with at least one of those offenses. It's possible I missed a few, but I think they represent the vast majority of those who face weapons-related charges in the Capitol riot investigation. In each charge, prosecutors have specified the weapon the defendant is accused of using. Below is a list of all the defendants, and all the weapons:
DEFENDANT WEAPON
ALAM, Zachary Jordan Helmet
ALBERTS, Christopher Michael Handgun (Alberts was arrested after the riot was over, at 7:25 p.m., on a street near the Capitol and was accused of having a firearm.)
BALLARD, Thomas John Police baton
BARNETT, Richard Stun gun, walking stick
BARNHART, Logan James Baton, flagpole, crutch
BLACK, Joshua Matthew Knife
BLAIR, David Alan Flagpole, knife
BROCKHOFF, Nicholas James Fire extinguisher
BYERLY, Alan William Taser
CALDWELL, Daniel Ray Pepper or mace spray
CAPUCCIO, Steven Baton
CHRESTMAN, William Ax handle
COFFEE, Luke Russell Crutch
COFFMAN, Lonnie Leroy Multiple firearms (Coffman is not charged with being on Capitol grounds; allegedly had two guns on his person, plus firearms in his truck parked on 1st Street SE in Washington D.C.)
COPELAND, Landon Kenneth Metal fence
CUA, Bruno Joseph Baton
DEMPSEY, David Nicholas Crutch, metal pole, "lacrimal spray," and "club-like object"
EISENHART, Lisa Marie Taser
FAIRLAMB, Scott Kevin Baton
FOY, Michael Joseph Hockey stick
GIESWEIN, Robert Baseball bat, "aerosol irritant spray"
GOSSJANKOWSKI, Vitali Taser
HARKRIDER, Alex Kirk Tomahawk ax
IBRAHIM, Mark Sami Firearm
JACKSON, Emanuel Metal baseball bat
JAMES, Aaron Shield
JENKINS, Shane Leedon Tomahawk ax, flagpole, desk drawer, and "stick-like objects"
JENSEN, Douglas Austin Knife
JOHNSON, Paul Russell Metal crowd control barrier
JONES, Chad Barrett Flagpole
JUDD, David Lee Firecracker
KHATER, Julian Elie Chemical spray (Accused of attacking Officer Brian Sicknick)
KLEIN, Federico Guillermo Shield
KRAMER, Philip Edward Snowboarding helmet, walking cane, Master Lock, climbing rope
LANG, Edward Jacob Bat, shield
LANGUERAND, Nicholas Traffic barrier, "stick-like objects"
LAZAR, Samuel Chemical irritant
MCABEE, Ronald Colton Baton, flagpole, crutch, and "reinforced gloves"
MCCAUGHEY, Patrick E. III Shield
MCGREW, James Burton Pole
MCHUGH, Sean Michael Bear spray, "metal sign"
MCKELLOP, Jeffrey Flagpole
MEREDITH, Cleveland Grover Jr. Firearms (Meredith arrived in Washington after the riot was over but was charged with having three guns in his possession.)
MELLIS, Jonathan Gennaro Stick
MILLER, Matthew Ryan Fire extinguisher
MINK, Jorden Robert Baseball bat
MUNAFO, Jonathan Joshua Flagpole
MUNCHEL, Eric Taser
NEEFE, Marshall Wooden club, "metal sign frame"
NICHOLS, Ryan Taylor Crowbar, pepper spray
OWENS, Grady Douglas Skateboard
PADILLA, Joseph Lino Flagpole, "large metal sign"
PALMER, Robert Scott Fire extinguisher, "stick-like object"
PERKINS, Michael Steven Flagpole
POLLOCK, Jonathan Daniel Flagpole, riot shield
PONDER, Mark K. Pole
POWELL, Rachel Marie Ice ax, "large wooden pole"
QUAGLIN, Christopher Joseph Shield, pepper spray
RANDOLPH, Stephen Chase Metal crowd control barrier
REFFITT, Guy Wesley Handgun
RODRIGUEZ, Daniel Flagpole, "electroshock weapon"
RODRIGUEZ, Edward Francisco Chemical irritant
SABOL, Jeffrey Baton, flagpole, crutch
SAMSEL, Ryan Stephen Metal crowd control barrier
SANFORD, Robert Fire extinguisher
SCHAFFER, Jon Bear spray
SCHWARTZ, Peter J. Pepper spray
SILLS, Geoffrey William Baton
SMITH, Charles Bradford Knife
STAGER, Peter Francis Baton, flagpole, crutch
STEVENS, Tristan Chandler Shield
SULLIVAN, John Earle Knife
TAAKE, Andrew Quentin Pepper spray, metal whip
TANIOS, George Pierre Chemical spray (Accused of attacking Officer Brian Sicknick)
TAYLOR, Russell Knife
THOMPSON, Devlyn Baton
WATSON, William Pepper spray
WEBSTER, Thomas Flagpole
WESTBURY, Isaac Shield
WHITTON, Jack Wade Baton, flagpole, crutch
WILSON, Duke Edward Pipe
WORRELL, Christopher John Pepper spray
A few observations on the list. First, on the issue of guns. Five suspects — Christopher Michael Alberts, Lonnie Leroy Coffman, Mark Sami Ibrahim, Cleveland Grover Meredith Jr., and Guy Wesley Reffitt — are charged with possessing firearms. But none are charged with using them during the riot.
Alberts was arrested at 7:25 p.m., after the riot was over, when police enforcing the District of Columbia curfew suspected he had a handgun under his coat as he was leaving.
Coffman was arrested at about 6:30 p.m. after he told police that he was trying to get to his parked pickup truck. Officers found two handguns on Coffman's person and two more guns, along with possible bomb-making materials, in the truck.
Ibrahim was a Drug Enforcement Administration agent who had given his notice to resign and was on personal leave on Jan. 6; at the riot, he was carrying his DEA-issued badge and pistol.
Meredith was not in Washington at all for the riot. He arrived later that evening after allegedly texting a threatening message about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Meredith told police that "he had two firearms in his truck, and he knew that he was not supposed to have the firearms in Washington, DC. Therefore, he moved the firearms to his trailer," according to court documents. Officers found a handgun, a rifle, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in the trailer.
Finally, court papers say Reffitt had a handgun on his person on Jan. 6.
So, those are the gun cases. Many observers have pointed out that other rioters surely had guns. Since so few were arrested and searched at the scene, that is impossible to know. But it's certainly possible. What is more certain is that none of the suspects fired any guns at any point during the riot. The only shot that was fired during that time was by Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd, who shot and killed rioter Ashli Babbitt as she tried to force her way into an area near the House chamber.
As for the rest of the weapons, six defendants are charged with having a knife, although none are accused of using the weapon on another person. Five defendants are accused of having a Taser or stun gun. Three are charged with having an ax. Four are charged with having a baseball bat. Seven are charged with having a crutch. Eleven are charged with having a baton of some sort. Thirteen are accused of having some sort of pepper or other irritant spray. Nineteen are charged with having a pole, usually a pole for the flags they carried. Eight are accused of having a shield, several of them police shields they apparently took at the scene.
Some of the weapons were obviously brought with the intention of being in a fight. Others were clearly improvised on the spur of the moment; in one case, the deadly or dangerous weapon used was a desk drawer. In another, it was a traffic barrier. In yet another, it was a helmet. That doesn't mean those objects could not be dangerous; one could beat a person to death with a desk drawer. But it does suggest the rioter did not arrive at the Capitol bent on armed insurrection.
In addition, the overall numbers are relatively small. Eighty-two people charged with weapons-related offenses, out of how many? That is about 12% of the 670 or so currently charged. And 670 is smaller than the total number of rioters on the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6. Does that amount to an "armed insurrection"? Especially when just five people have been charged with possessing firearms, the weapon of choice for modern armed insurrectionists, and one of them didn't arrive until after it was all over, and none of them fired the weapons, even in the intensity of the physical struggle that day?
And that is the problem with the "armed insurrection" talking point. By any current American standard of civil disorder, what happened on Jan. 6 was a riot. There were some instigators, and there were many more followers. A small number were anticipating a fight, probably with antifa. And as the day went on, some people lost their heads and did things they should regret for a very long time. But a look at the Justice Department prosecutions simply does not make the case that it was an "armed insurrection."
Insurrection and Rebellion are the words and the language used in the 14th Amendment and what happened on this date was neither.
From what I have seen most times over the last year when he was attacked or brought into a new trial his supporters send him more money. I understand that from this one event thousands of supporters are sending him small donations left and right. Just saying. You see one day you all will wake up and understand how you benefit this person getting re-elected but hatred has blinded you all to this fact.
Courts do not decide who gets onto a ballot, the American citizens do. In the America I live in people make these decisions and we do not need a wayward Court to dictate who gets on our ballot to vote for. In your America obviously it is different for some reason but again its probably because you hate this person blindly once again.
I will gladly fall on my sword and get crucified over believing American citizens actually decide who is on their ballots, not any Court. Whether I dislike this person or not it does not matter I do not want the Courts to do this to any candidate for public office NEVER.................... It is up to our citizens to make these choices, not four people on some Court who by the way also hate this person. Again he will be favored more so going forward because of this Court's decision. Supreme Court will shoot this done quicky. Minnesota's court would not take this up at all and will not rule on this same subject in their State, they have actual scruples.