Dirt Cheap

Given the Trumpster's profound and personal love of slinging mud, it's hardly surprising that the régime has responded with less than spectacular alacrity to the Deity's messy little prank in Nepal. An initial contribution amounting to about one-thirtieth the cost of botching some pool repairs has been grudgingly increased, but that has not prevented mere experts carping that the response might have been more effective had USAID not been efficientised into nonexistence last year. One pointed out the inadvisability of allowing India and China to lead relief efforts on their own borders, while another proclaimed that the US monarchy had committed a public-relations gaffe in specifying the pittance it was providing; so at least everyone seems to be on the same page as regards the basic human values involved.