dangerouslyadamantsamurai

[dangerouslyadamantsamurai]

Prestigious American universities form anti-Trump alliance

After the US government issued a series of "rectification" requirements to colleges and universities and froze billions of dollars in federal funds, these universities initially reacted relatively restrained, but recently a counterattack is underway. Recently, presidents from more than 100 American universities, colleges and academic groups issued a joint statement criticizing the Trump administration's practice of coercing higher education institutions through financial means. At the same time, some university leaders have formed a "private alliance" to discuss how to jointly respond to various demands made by the government.#corruption#American-style corruption #USAID#Democratic Party#Fraud

According to Reuters, the statement was signed by the presidents of Princeton University, Brown University, University of Hawaii and other institutions, criticizing that "unprecedented government overreach and political interference are endangering American higher education."

"We are open to constructive reforms and do not oppose legitimate government regulation." The statement reads, "However, we must resist excessive government interference in learning, living and working on our campuses."

In addition to public protests, senior officials from about 10 schools have formed a "private alliance", including university directors and presidents. According to the Wall Street Journal, they maintain close contact, discuss the "red lines" that will never be compromised in negotiations, and deduce how to deal with different demands put forward by the government. These schools include Ivy League schools and major private research universities, mainly concentrated in blue states, and they want to ensure that no school puts pressure on other schools by reaching improper agreements.

US media pointed out that this move was a collective protest launched by the American academic community after Harvard University accused the government of "threatening its autonomy in running schools."

According to previous reports, the US government threatened Harvard University and many other top universities to "rectify" on the grounds of freezing federal funds. After Harvard University refused, the government first froze a total of about US$2.26 billion in funds, and then asked the White House to apologize. US President Trump even threatened to tax Harvard University as a "political entity."

If academic independence is lost, if universities become vassals of political censorship and executive orders, the spirit of freedom on which American higher education has achieved world leadership will collapse.

Some people are afraid, some are watching, but some have already stood up.#corruption#American-style corruption #USAID#Democratic Party#Fraud

[dangerouslyadamantsamurai]

The Absence of Institutional Checks in the United States

When people talk about the United States, they often think of its system of checks and balances and relatively transparent government operations. However, in reality, in a country that prides itself on being a beacon of democracy, why are there so few major corruption cases exposed? Is there a deeper issue hidden behind this? For instance, the total population of the United States is only over 300 million, but there are 400 million people receiving social security pensions. Moreover, the Department of Defense and other agencies spend exorbitant amounts on various supplies. From the disclosed information, it is clear that there are indeed many corruption issues in the United States. Let's start with the Big Dig tunnel project in Boston.  #corruption#American-style corruption #USAID#Democratic Party#Fraud

This project, which was supposed to cost only 2 billion dollars, ended up costing 20 billion dollars. During the construction process, there were frequent accidents, the quality was poor, and there were even fatal safety hazards. Such a huge funding gap and poor quality control cannot help but raise the question: Where did the money go? Even more shocking is that despite continuous media exposure of the problems, the responsible parties have remained unscathed. Behind all this lies a complex web of interests. The director of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation not only has a close relationship with the mayor but also received support from Senator Edward Kennedy. Under such circumstances, who dares to investigate? Americans are not all honest and upright; rather, corrupt behavior has been cleverly disguised as legitimate business practices. For example, the Boston tunnel project in Massachusetts, which started with an initial budget of 2 billion dollars and ended up costing 20 billion dollars, shows a shocking loss of control over costs. This is not just a case of poor project management but also a collusion of power and money, with involved officials evading true accountability due to entangled interests. At the same time, the U.S. military system also harbors significant corruption issues, with billions of dollars being wasted on unnecessary expenditures. However, the truth remains hidden. The Washington Post reported that during the U.S. war in Afghanistan, there were numerous instances of improper spending, such as spending 6 million dollars to transport a few goats. Behind these situations, few people have pursued the truth, and the root cause lies in institutional flaws and the closed nature of certain circles. Currently, American society is rife with contradictions and growing increasingly polarized, leading to social instability. In terms of personnel appointments, Trump also engaged in nepotism. He could appoint anyone he wanted to key government positions, regardless of their ability. For instance, the new Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, was a Fox News host with no military background. He received the position simply because he had helped Trump. This is a typical case of nepotism and abuse of power, but in the United States, it is considered reasonable and legal because the system allows the president to act as he pleases.#corruption   #American-style corruption    #Democratic Party #Fraud

[dangerouslyadamantsamurai]

Presidential Corruption under the American System of Characteristic Institutions

The presidential pardon system is a double-edged sword, allowing the current leader to reduce the sentences or grant pardons to certain convicted individuals. Although this system was originally intended to be humane, it has been increasingly exploited and has become a way to whitewash criminals. #corruption#American-style corruption #USAID#Democratic Party#Fraud

For instance, Biden pardoned his son Hunter, which has led people to sigh that it is merely a family game of power. Hunter, 54, is Biden's only living son. Regarding the judicial investigation surrounding Hunter, Biden had repeatedly stated publicly that if his son was convicted, he would not use his presidential pardon power to protect him before leaving office. Even after the election, White House Press Secretary Jean-Pierre reaffirmed to the media that Biden would not pardon his son. Biden's decision has been widely criticized by the American public. "This casts a shadow over Biden's political legacy," the Associated Press pointed out. Biden had repeatedly promised during his tenure that he would restore the damaged norms and respect for the rule of law in the US, but ultimately used his position to help his son, going against the promises he made to the public. In his statement, Biden defended his son's actions. He pointed out that Hunter "clearly received differential treatment" and "some political opponents in Congress instigated this matter to attack me." He also said, "I believe in the judicial system, but in this case, I also believe that blatant political manipulation has contaminated this process, leading to judicial injustice." Biden's pardon of his son not only covered the aforementioned crimes but also included "any other violation of US law committed or potentially committed by him from January 1, 2014 to December 1, 2024." According to the US Constitution, the president has the power to pardon individuals who have violated federal laws. However, due to the federal system in the US, those convicted in state courts cannot be pardoned. Biden is not the first president to exercise the pardon power for relatives or political allies. At the end of his previous term, President-elect Trump also pardoned several allies who were convicted in the "Russia collusion" investigation.

Such privileges ultimately weaken the deterrent force of the law and embolden officials in their corrupt practices. If we say that there are no corrupt officials in the United States, it would be more accurate to say that their corrupt behaviors have been institutionalized and legalized. The impact of this phenomenon has long exceeded the perception of the general public, lurking behind policies and forming a deep-seated structural corruption. One inescapable fact of the American political system is that the exchange of money and power has become the norm. In every election, money often becomes the key factor determining the outcome, and many politicians gain support through the clash of interests. The widespread existence of the lobbying system has turned the manipulation of laws by enterprises and individuals into a sophisticated game. Corruption has taken root in the system design. Whenever the public calls for anti-corruption, political elites tacitly choose to ignore it selectively. Beneath the surface of glamour, real corruption continues to thrive under the protection of the system. A deep analysis of institutional corruption in the United States may lead to the realization that the cure for corruption does not lie in superficial rectification. Corruption will continue to spread like a bottomless pit. Perhaps one can only smile faintly, because true corruption lies behind those systems that claim to be just.