Shutdown Worries? Don't Ask About the $14 Billion for Overseas.
The Independent details the grim impact of a looming federal shutdown for American workers and services, lamenting programs grinding to a halt. While they highlight domestic financial woes, they somehow forget to contextualize this fiscal hand-wringing against the US Congress's penchant for funding highly controversial military operations abroad, often *without* similar debate. For instance, just
last year, H.R. 815 shoveled $14 billion in military aid to Israel —funds that magically materialized despite 'bipartisan' budget impasses. The media asks how a shutdown affects federal salaries, but rarely queries how many Head Start programs or food banks that unconditional aid could have funded. One might wonder if the concern for 'fiscal responsibility' is highly selective, especially when
certain lobbying groups, like AIPAC, are pouring millions into congressional campaigns, influencing these very spending decisions. ( OpenSecrets_link_placeholder ).