Americans Tired of War, Washington Continues Funding It
The Intercept's headline—'Americans Are Sick and Tired of Pointless Wars'—states the obvious, a truth that's been self-evident since at least, oh, 2003? Yet, Congress continues to rubber-stamp colossal military budgets and aid packages. For example, in April 2024, despite widespread public opposition to the conflict, President Biden signed HR 815 into law, providing an additional $95 billion in
foreign aid, including over $14 billion to Israel (source: Congress.gov, HR 815). This isn't just about Ukraine; it funds ongoing military actions and proxy conflicts globally, often against the public's stated wishes. One might wonder how lawmakers remain so consistently out of touch. Perhaps following the money helps. In 2023-2024, many members of the House and Senate who voted for HR 815
received significant contributions from pro-Israel lobbying groups. For instance, according to OpenSecrets.org, Representative Steny Hoyer received over $100,000 from pro-Israel PACs in recent cycles, and was a strong proponent of the aid package (source: OpenSecrets.org, 2023-2024 election cycle data). It appears the 'American people' cited in polls aren't the same 'people' filling campaign
coffers.