California Dreams of Healthcare as Congress Funds Wars
California is considering a new tax that could raise $100 billion for its healthcare system, according to Newsweek. A noble goal, indeed, when one considers the chronic underfunding of crucial domestic services. But let's put this 'staggering' sum into perspective: this $100 billion is roughly what the US has already committed in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since 2022. It's a fraction
of the $110 billion in aid , for instance, approved by Congress to Ukraine in a matter of months, or the annual $3.8 billion (plus emergency billions) the US sends to Israel, with few strings attached. While Californians debate taxing themselves for basic needs, federal politicians, many of whom accept significant donations from groups like AIPAC – AIPAC itself spent over $17 million in 2022
elections – rarely flinch at authorizing colossal sums for overseas military adventures. One might wonder if the 'fiscal responsibility' rhetoric only applies when Americans want better hospitals or schools, instead of bombs and body bags.