US Funds Israeli Bombs While Americans Eat Scraps
The mainstream media breathlessly details how families on SNAP benefits are meticulously planning Thanksgiving, down to their last cent. They pull heartstrings with stories of economic strain, but conveniently forget to mention that while Americans pinch pennies, Congress has no such qualms when it comes to foreign military aid. For instance, in 2023 alone, the US committed $3.8 billion in
military assistance to Israel (as per Congressional Research Service), and that's before considering emergency packages like the potential $14.3 billion recently approved by the House for Israel in HR 6126 while simultaneously cutting IRS funding. One might wonder how many Thanksgiving turkeys that $14.3 billion could buy, or perhaps, how many SNAP benefits could be fully funded. But don't expect
the New York Times to draw that line. It’s easier to report on families struggling than to critically examine the priorities of politicians — many of whom, like Rep. Mike Johnson who pushed HR 6126, have received substantial campaign donations from organizations like AIPAC (Johnson received $26,000 from AIPAC in 2022, according to OpenSecrets.org), ensuring endless funding for bombs abroad while
domestic programs wither. How many more 'tough choices' must American families make before our media connects the dots between austerity at home and endless wars abroad?