Lying to justify eliminating USAID, an organization that has saved over 22 million lives worldwide, isn’t only foolish and cruel. It’s completely unAmerican.

At President Donald Trump’s behest, and with the cowardice and complicity of elected Republicans, the richest man in the world has without evidence accused USAID of being “a criminal organization” while gleefully claiming to have “put it in a woodchipper.”

Why are these blatantly false claims being spread about an organization which does so much good? Are Republicans really so desperate to fund permanent tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy that they would end critical, life-saving assistance to some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people while putting thousands of dedicated Americans out of work?

Destroying USAID means that: many of the world’s poorest women will be more likely to die in childbirth; hungry children will no longer receive nutritional supplements and food; and nations will lose vital medical resources to combat devastating health crises such as AIDS and Ebola.

Losing USAID will also seriously harm American farmers as they watch the demand for their crops decline while tons of already purchased food assistance spoils undistributed.

Humanitarian assistance serves to reduce instability, conflict and extreme poverty worldwide while enhancing U.S. influence and national security. Russia and China will undoubtedly race to expand their international presence and influence by taking full advantage of the vacuum created by America’s abandonment of USAID.

Lies can’t possibly justify allowing children to starve and letting people die. Americans shouldn’t stand for it.

George Polycranos

Port Matilda