• DandomRude@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    I think ICE, with its astronomical budget, has two main functions for MAGA: to embezzle state funds, for example through private prison companies, and to set up a secret police force loyal to the regime.

    Incidentally, as of November 15, the military will no longer be paid, which I would say fits in with the picture - but hey, private patrons are stepping in and distributing money “without any strings attached”…

    • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
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      3 months ago

      One private patron stepped up n to donate $130 million to pay the troops, which works out to about $100 each. So, basically ramen noodles for a month.

      • DandomRude@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        More will certainly want to buy it.

        It is also in the regime’s interest for soldiers to be dissatisfied with ramen noodles instead of wages, because ICE has a budget that corresponds to the military spending of medium-sized countries now: Either soldiers with a fitting fascist mindset can be poached, and/or the military can be weakened as a potential opponent in the establishment of a dictatorship (no pay = layoffs, and these will mainly be people who have a problem with an autocratic America under an orange dictator).

        I’m not from the US, but it all looks pretty grim to me.

        • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
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          3 months ago

          “Okay, TommyBoy - you don’t mind if I call you TommyBoy do you? Of course you don’t - so TommyBoy, here’s what we’re going to do. You’re going to pay $130 million to pay our troops enough to buy some ramen soup for a month, and I’m going to give you ANYTHING you want. Hell, I just gave Argentina $40 billion, instead of health care for Americans, just so the SecTreas’ friends wouldn’t go belly up in their irresponsibly risky investment with a country that goes bankrupt every 3.5 years.”

          “My name is Timothy.”

          “What? No, it’s TommyBoy now. So whaddaya say, TommyBoy, you in?”

          “Sure, whatever you say, Your Excellency.”