Bad Faith Arguments
A group is advertising against Joe Biden and his support of Ukraine. They have mentioned how we have given Ukraine 66 billion dollars and how we could be using “all that” money at home to solve our own problems. They are calling themselves common sense for something or other, so I thought I would take a look at their arguments in case you have friends and family uttering the same things.
I should say first that we should ignore the name of this organization. They know very well what they are arguing and it has little to do with common sense. It always pays to look up who is supporting them financially and where their support is going politically. Do they have ties to Russia? I could spend time on that, but there are earnest people making the same arguments, so we will focus on that.
Let’s start with the sum of money. 66 billion dollars is a lot of money and it sounds like a huge sum. In 2022, 6.27 trillion dollars has been allocated. That means that the 66 billion referenced accounts for a little more than one percent of the federal budget. Let’s remember that the aforementioned Biden (or really Congress since they pass the budget) has cut the deficit by a heftier percentage than at any time in history. So, it’s not like we are talking about runaway spending here.
This is not an annual expenditure. It obviously is in response to the crisis. So, let’s focus on common sense. This is what we often call a “straw man” argument. Why are we ignoring these problems at home when we help Ukraine? Well, when you are talking less than one percent of the budget you should clue yourself in that this is a false choice. It isn’t help Ukraine or feed the hungry. It isn’t help Ukraine or clothe the naked. It isn’t help Ukraine or fight “uncontrollable” crime at home. You can easily do all of those things and I think most people would acknowledge that it would take far more than 66 billion to address all of those concerns.
In point of fact, this is anything but common sense. We live in an ever shrinking world and we see a better life economically and in terms of our security when democracies are allowed to thrive. Boil this down and you have one country that wants its own autonomy while the other wants to control it. Deciding to help or not help isn’t about common sense. It is about whether it is in our best interest to help. Is it a better world if we allow Russia to do whatever it wants? It is the same question as with China and it’s neighboring countries. It’s the same as the Middle East. Pick any region of the world and ask the same questions.
This is where one of those friends or family will point out that we can’t afford to help everyone. This is absolutely true, but any decision about who we support cannot be boiled down to common sense. It is much more intricate than that. There are all kinds of factors that go into deciding to help Ukraine and not some other country.
They want the 66 billion spent here. Would they go to the family starving on the street and help them? Well, why do you choose to help this family but not that family? Is it really common sense or is there something else at play here? Again, this is for your earnest family and friends. I suspect we know for those that are creating this ad and we know it has nothing to do with common sense.
The “New Yorker” magazine just published a long article on arming Ukraine and they say that the total US contribution is 16 (not 66) billion dollars.
The Washington Post published an article yesterday that states that data show the one thing that can eliminate poverty is a guaranteed payment from the government. Yeah, it would cost a lot; but, the people complaining about aid to Ukraine wouldn’t go for that, either. I just ignore the putzes.
1Will all y’all please refresh my memory. When Ukraine separated from Russia was a large part of Russian nuclear arsenal located in Ukraine and the sensible world wanted it destroyed. Ukraine agreed to that on the condition if they could depend on the countries that wanted it gone should Ukraine be attacked by Russia.
2BarbinDC,
Like I said, bad faith arguments. The 66 billion wasn’t my figure but the ones stated in the TV commercials running right now. What’s 50 billion dollars amongst friends?
3I’m not going to waste time researching but I know there are several (many?) repugnanticans in congress against helping Ukraine (mt greene for one). It would be interesting to know who’s funding the advertising, but there’s little doubt they’re right wing conservatives. As was pointed out, they’d likely be against any money spent to help people, unless it’s more tax breaks for the very wealthy.
4@ Crone: Ukraine agreed to give up its Nukes in return for a security guarantee by BOTH the US and Russia. However, Russian still has nukes and that explains everything it does.
5Fact is – Republicans or conservatives (whoever the folks complaining about this are) would never vote in or keep in fellow travelers who voted to spend that $66B on anything to help people (infrastructure, mental health, healthcare in general, etc etc).
It’s not just a straw man, but it’s also a red herring and twice-baked bullshit to boot.
6Thanks, Barbin. I couldn’t find it. Gave up looking. Sometimes google is not my friend.
7Just saw another ad from “Citizens for Sanity.” The first was about immigration, which is fitting because “Citizens” is a Stephen Miller joint, and Miller is the genius behind Trump’s policy of taking children from their parents and shipping them all over the country, putting some in cages.
8This one is about Biden’s support for Ukraine, decrying the spending and warning of Armageddon. This too is very Miller because George Pappadopoulos, who was convicted of lying to the FBI about contacts between the Trump campaign and the Russians, worked for Miller.
Nick, that money, 16 or 66 billion, is desparately needed in the US – to give more tax breaks to billionaires and mega-companies. Won’t anyone consider the suffering of people like Trump, who had to pay $75 in income taxes one year?
I’m glad I quit watching any television in 2002. Now that the whole system is awash in dark money, I can’t imagine what it’s like during campaigns … and don’t want to.
9How many trillions of dollars have we spent since 1945, to be prepared to fight the Russians/Soviets? And then Ukraine goes and does it for us on the cheap! Once this is over, the Russian army won’t be able to fight its way out of a paper bag. And the Navy won’t be much better.
10These folks obviously forget the $1,000,000,000.00 that the Trumpanzees gave to the uber-wealthy while DJT was in office. Well, I haven’t…
11Well, some people might say that I can’t afford to either, but I figure none of us can afford not to support Ukraine. I have sent several contributions to United24, the fund President Zelenskyy set up, and once our elections are over, I will be sending more that candidates no longer need. Slava Ukraini!
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