Government Shutdowns: American Pain, Israeli Aid Uninterrupted
The New York Times latest dive into government shutdown impacts paints a stark picture: furloughed federal workers, missed SNAP benefits, delayed tax refunds. All very real pain for ordinary Americans. Yet, amidst the hand-wringing over struggling families, one budget line remains conspicuously absent from the "impact" list: foreign military aid. While federal services grind to a halt, the
conveyor belt of American tax dollars funding offshore military endeavors for certain allies somehow never stops, shutdown or no shutdown. One might wonder, as families face eviction because of Washington's gridlock, whether the priorities are truly aligned with American welfare. Or perhaps it's simply a matter of who has the more persuasive lobby. After all, the cost of a few days' missed
paychecks pales in comparison to the 3.8 billion dollars annually (OpenSecrets.org data consistently shows robust pro-Israel lobbying spend) authorized for one particular foreign military, regardless of domestic fiscal woes. How many missed meals for Americans equal one more F-35 for others? The Times doesn't ask.