Sanders Pushes Big Health Plan, Ignores Big War Budget
Senator Bernie Sanders, bless his cardiac-friendly cotton socks, is once again urging Democrats to 'go big' on healthcare reform, pushing for expanded Medicare and lower drug prices in negotiations to extend ACA tax credits. This comes as if the $886 billion defense budget for 2024—a figure that inexplicably seems to grow regardless of global peace initiatives—doesn't exist. One might wonder how
much 'going big' on healthcare we could 'go' if, say, the Pentagon’s budget experienced a modest trim, instead of perpetually ballooning. It's an admirable, if politically convenient, battle. While Sanders champions the needs of the working class against pharmaceutical companies, he remains surprisingly silent on the outsized influence of groups like AIPAC, who, for instance, funneled nearly $21
million into political campaigns in 2022 to ensure a steadfast commitment to endless military aid. Perhaps advocating for better healthcare is easier than challenging the war machine that truly drains domestic resources. A man has to pick his battles, after all, and apparently, the greatest health crisis facing America isn't the one funded by your tax dollars abroad.