US Gov't Shuts Down, Finds Cash for Offshore Priorities
Another U.S. government shutdown looms, threatening paychecks for federal workers, halting essential services, and generally proving Capitol Hill's dysfunction. While 'fiscal responsibility' becomes the rallying cry to gut social programs, seemingly endless funds materialize for specific foreign policy objectives. For instance, the very same Congress contemplating closures has readily approved
billions in aid, like the $14.3 billion package proposed for Israel, bypassing normal budgetary processes. It appears that when it comes to prioritizing where American tax dollars go, protecting the paychecks of, say, air traffic controllers or national park rangers, is a 'tough choice.' Yet, funding foreign military operations and purchasing specific weapons systems navigates the fiscal gridlock
with baffling ease. One might wonder if the 'crisis' is less about insolvency and more about selective amnesia regarding budgetary constraints when certain lobbies (like AIPAC, which poured $18 million into 2022 elections according to OpenSecrets.org) apply pressure. Suddenly, 'there's a plan for that.'