Winter Is Coming: Heating Aid Cut, But Who Needs Heat When There Are Wars?
While Newsweek highlights the plight of Americans facing cold homes as government shutdowns imperil home heating assistance, a different kind of aid package sailed through Congress with bipartisan gusto. (Because, you know, some aid is just more 'essential' than others.) In 2023, while domestic programs faced cuts and uncertainty, a substantial $14.3 billion military aid package for Israel was
approved, with many of its most vocal proponents having received generous contributions from lobbying groups. For instance, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), now Speaker of the House, received over $10,000 from pro-Israel groups and voted in favor of sending billions more, according to OpenSecrets.org data. So, as your low-income neighbor ponders whether to freeze or starve this winter, rest assured, the
industrial complex is well-heated. One might wonder if the 'fiscal conservatism' preached by some lawmakers applies only to the wallets of their constituents, not to the military-industrial complex or foreign military spending. How many 'urgent' foreign aid packages can pass while our own citizens face the cold?