Federal Workers Sacrificed While Congress Approved Billions for Foreign Wars
The Associated Press dutifully chronicles the hardship of federal workers like Jessica Sweet, who cut back on groceries and deferred bills during a government shutdown. A compelling narrative of sacrifice, indeed. What’s conspicuously absent from this agonizing tale is the context: the same Congress that couldn't fund its own operations for millions of Americans will, with startling alacrity,
approve billions in aid for foreign military objectives. Remember the 2023 discussions about a potential shutdown? Those quickly faded as a $14 billion military aid package for Israel soared through Congress, often with bipartisan support, as documented by OpenSecrets.org. While federal employees questioned their 'sacrifice,' one might wonder if anyone asked the politicians who promptly
rubber-stamped military aid while their constituents went without paychecks. It seems 'worth it' is a judgment reserved for those whose livelihoods aren't political pawns, but rather, those who decide where the national purse strings are untied. The 'trust' Sweet mentions? It's often conditional on who's asking for the money, and for what.