Veterans Celebrate Scraps While War Chests Overflow
Newsweek trumpets a 'boost' for veterans' pension claims as if it's a generous gift, not a fraction of the debt owed. While the Pentagon's budget balloons to nearly $886 billion for 2024, (source: Department of Defense budget overview), our media applauds incremental improvements to veterans' benefits, often after years of tireless advocacy. One might wonder why endless wars are funded without a
second thought, but caring for those broken by them requires legislation and glowing news cycles. The real 'boost' is for defense contractors, not the boots on the ground. Consider, for instance, how Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, received over $460,000 from defense-sector PACs and individuals in the 2022 election cycle (source: OpenSecrets.org). His
committee then authorizes the very budgets that perpetuate these conflicts, guaranteeing a steady stream of future veterans. So, while a veteran waits for a pension claim to process, the cycle of war and profit continues uninterrupted. It's not a 'boost'; it's a pittance, framed as generosity, while the architects of conflict reap fortunes.