Bill Overview
Title: To establish an office to combat the global rise of authoritarian socialism and communism at the Department of State, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill establishes within the Department of State an office to combat the global rise of authoritarian socialism and communism.
Sponsors: Rep. Gimenez, Carlos A. [R-FL-26]
Target Audience
Population: People living under or affected by authoritarian socialism and communism
Estimated Size: 50000000
- The bill targets the global spread of authoritarian socialism and communism.
- People living in countries with authoritarian socialist or communist regimes may be affected by actions taken as a result of this bill.
- The Department of State's actions based on this bill could impact diplomatic relations, economic sanctions, or other measures that affect both the government and the population of authoritarian regimes.
- The aim is likely to influence political systems and governance structures, therefore individuals involved in or opposing these regimes may see significant impacts.
- Globally, the population living under authoritarian socialism and communism is significant, with major countries like China and North Korea included, as well as other nations such as Venezuela and Cuba.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects individuals connected to, residing in, or with interests in nations with authoritarian regimes. This reflects in their diplomatic ties, international relations, and possibly personal circumstances.
- The American target population includes a broad range of individuals—from diplomats and their families to businesses with international interests, immigrants from affected countries, or relatives of those living under such regimes.
- Some in the US may feel a greater sense of security and geopolitical stability; however, others might see heightened tensions or domestic resource reallocations adversely affecting their economic wellbeing.
- The office's operations extend beyond combating authoritarian regimes to potentially benefiting citizens through international stability and democracy promotion. Hence, the range of responses and impacts captured herein.
- Many individuals in the US are not directly impacted but their general wellbeing might experience subtle shifts due to the broader international geopolitical environment changes this policy could induce.
- Fiscal constraints restrict any drastic domestic financial allocations directly impacting US citizens, focusing instead on formulaic international diplomatic and strategic engagements.
Simulated Interviews
Tech Entrepreneur (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy will create a more stable global economic environment.
- There are risks if this leads to trade tensions, but overall, positive diplomacy is welcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cuban Immigrant and Community Leader (Miami, FL)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am cautiously optimistic about the measures.
- It's important that the policy prioritizes people's freedom and not just geopolitical interests.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
International Relations Graduate Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might strain relations and affect my family and my field of study.
- It's crucial to balance confrontation with diplomacy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
Financial Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stability in international markets benefits global businesses.
- This office's actions might either stabilize or escalate tensions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Senior Diplomat (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 49 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The establishment of this office can be pivotal in restructuring diplomatic efforts.
- Diplomatic moves must align with global peace objectives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired Journalist (Houston, TX)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's reassuring to see proactive policies addressing authoritarian regimes.
- However, execution must be careful to avoid unintended consequences.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Graduate Student in Economics (Chicago, IL)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy increases my concern about potential trade impacts.
- Long-term, a diplomatic balance is necessary to sustain economic ties.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
NGO Worker (Dallas, TX)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Such international efforts can support human rights causes.
- Important to ensure these policies actually impact the people positively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Global Trade Consultant (Seattle, WA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new office could influence American trade policies.
- It's critical to maintain open business channels.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
University Professor of International Studies (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a significant step to address authoritarian threats.
- Educational initiatives must accompany such policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 2: $155000000 (Low: $105000000, High: $210000000)
Year 3: $160000000 (Low: $110000000, High: $220000000)
Year 5: $170000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $240000000)
Year 10: $190000000 (Low: $130000000, High: $250000000)
Year 100: $250000000 (Low: $190000000, High: $300000000)
Key Considerations
- This policy aims to combat trends in authoritarian socialism and communism, which involves significant geopolitical considerations.
- The office's effectiveness and its diplomatic measures will depend on international cooperation.
- Budget fluctuations might be necessary depending on geopolitical shifts and global crises that require more resources.
- There might be varied responses from countries affected by the office's actions, impacting U.S. relations.