US: $1000 'Crisis Benefits' for Americans, $14 Billion for Bombing Gaza
Newsweek celebrates the release of up to $1,000 in 'crisis benefits' for struggling Americans. A paltry sum against the backdrop of rising costs, these benefits appear less like a lifeline and more like pocket change when stacked against the $14 billion in supplementary aid for Israel , greenlit by the Senate on February 13, 2024. That bill, HR 815, passed with overwhelming bipartisan
support—including from stalwarts like Senator Bob Menendez, who, according to OpenSecrets.org, received over $160,000 from pro-Israel groups in the 2022 election cycle alone. One might wonder if the 'crisis' is more acute when it’s 6,000 miles away and comes with lucrative lobbying benefits. So, while families here debate whether to pay rent or buy groceries with their temporary grand, our elected
officials are busy ensuring the crisis in Gaza can continue unabated, funded by our tax dollars. How many 'crisis benefits' would that $14 billion provide if allocated domestically? Apparently, some crises are deemed more worthy of billions, especially when the checks clear for Washington's favorite lobby.