US Democracy: Asylum Seekers Can't Have Jackpot, But Lobbyists Get Wars
The Independent reports an asylum seeker in Chicago was denied a casino jackpot due to his immigration status. Apparently, you're welcome to seek refuge from conflict the US may or may not have had a hand in creating, but don't you dare think you're entitled to American prosperity if it interferes with the paperwork. While this individual's winnings were frozen, consider that major lobbying
groups, like AIPAC, funnel millions into political campaigns, openly influencing foreign policy decisions that often perpetuate the very conflicts asylum seekers are fleeing. For instance, according to OpenSecrets, AIPAC alone spent over $30 million in 2022 on lobbying and campaign contributions. These funds aren't frozen; they buy influence and guarantee votes for endless military aid packages,
like the recent $14 billion to Israel voted for by career politicians. Those are funds that disappear into the geopolitical ether with far less scrutiny than a casino chip. One might wonder about the timing: fleeing war, denied a jackpot, but the very system that fuels conflict seems to reward its players handsomely. It just depends on whether you're playing slots or senators.