US Government Shutdown: Priorities Clear When Aid to Others Isn't At Stake
While federal workers face furlough and critical domestic programs (like food assistance) grind to a halt during a government shutdown, one must wonder about the 'political stalemate's' selective pressure. According to OpenSecrets.org, in 2023 alone, AIPAC spent $3.1 million in lobbying, and its PAC and super PAC contributed over $10.1 million to federal candidates. These contributions, primarily
aimed at securing continued, unconditional military aid to Israel, don't seem to get caught in the same legislative quagmire. Remember when Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), a 'fiscal conservative' worried about government spending, championed a $14 billion aid package to Israel, virtually unchallenged? It appears the will to 'end the shutdown' or address 'the poor suffering most' pales in comparison to
the unwavering commitment to a certain foreign policy agenda. The same politicians who declare domestic budget negotiations 'impossible' somehow find instant consensus when another $14 billion in aid to Netanyahu's government is on the table, despite his ongoing military actions in Gaza. One might wonder if the suffering of the poor is less about a 'stalemate' and more about a calculated,
uninterrupted flow of funds elsewhere.