The Hill Unpacks 'American Greatness,' Skips the Price Tag
The Hill's article dissects 'American greatness' as a concept without ever touching the actual levers of power. It calls for 'rigorous assessment' but somehow omits the billions funneled annually to maintain a global military footprint or the influence of foreign lobbyists. One might, for instance, consider the $3.8 billion in annual military aid committed to Israel under a 10-year Memorandum of
Understanding, a consistent allocation regardless of the 'greatness' discourse. This endless pipeline, untouched by debates on domestic needs, quietly hums along, funding a foreign government's actions while 'unpacking ideas' at home. (Source: Congressional Research Service, 'U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel,' 2023). Such pieces are a masterclass in controlled distraction. They invite philosophical
introspection when public records scream specific dollar amounts and voting patterns. When politicians, many of whom receive significant donations from organizations like AIPAC (which OpenSecrets records show spent over $11 million in lobbying in 2023 alone ), consistently vote for military aid packages, the 'greatness' isn't abstract — it's a very tangible projection of power, paid for by your
taxes, regardless of what 'unpacking' occurs on Capitol Hill. Perhaps the 'greatest country ever' is great at keeping uncomfortable truths conversational rather than actionable.