Airport Cuts for You, Unlimited Billions for Israel
So, the US government shuts down, and suddenly flights are grounded, airport staff furloughed, and your travel plans are toast. The Independent dutifully reports the FAA-induced chaos, a direct consequence of Congressional funding disputes. Meanwhile, the same week, Congress found a bipartisan consensus to vote overwhelmingly for another $14 billion in military aid to Israel, as part of the
foreign aid package HR 815, passed on April 20, 2024. Priorities, apparently, are a matter of geography. While American travelers face delays and economic disruption because we can't fund our own operations, certain geopolitical agendas sail smoothly through Congress. It makes one wonder: if a few more senators were receiving travel industry lobbying dollars instead of, say, the $450,000 Rep.
Smith reportedly pocketed from AIPAC in 2023 (OpenSecrets.org), would our airports still be in gridlock? Perhaps domestic infrastructure is just less 'strategic' than continually arming a foreign power. Funny how that works.