Hypocrisy amidst financial crisis - Get Involved!

The past two weeks have made it clear to everyone that the US is in financial crisis. Finding itself over $14 Trillion in debt, congress failed to agree on ways to significantly improve the situation. While congress members fail to come to agreements, the people are suffering. Unemployment continues, the housing crisis continues, student government loans will now receive less benefits, and social security and medicare will suffer. While the rich benefit from continued tax cuts.


With all of the talk of financial crisis, I am surprised by the lack of discussion about how much war and its costs have affected the US and contributed to our national debt, which is taking its toll on the everyday citizen. A recent New York Times article summed up the reasons the US deficit became so big: "The answer is largely the Bush-era tax cuts, war spending in Iraq and Afghanistan, and recessions."

One of the questions I am continually asked is: "Why should I care about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? It's so far away and it doesn't affect me." The financial crisis is exactly one of the reasons we should care about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as United States citizens.

In addition to the cost of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the US government promised $30 billion dollars in military aid to Israel from the years 2009-2018. That is $3 billion per year. This money comes directly from our tax dollars.

In Minnesota, the total we will pay is $886,428,240.21 throughout those 10 years. In other words, money that could have been spent to:

Provide 10,763 households per year w/affordable housing grants OR
Provide 14,715 job seekers per year w/green jobs training OR
Provide 26,210 children per year w/early reading education OR
Provide 717,872 people per year w/primary health care.
(Figures c/o U.S. Campaign to End the Occupation. To see figures from your own state or county, click HERE.)

This month, as the US congress is in recess, many congress members will be traveling to Israel, all funds coming from the AIPAC affiliated American Israel Educational Foundation. While many of their constituents are suffering, it is simply not right that our congress members are receiving an all-inclusive trip to Israel, and concerning themselves more with the state of Israel than the concerns of their own constituents.

I encourage you to Call or Send a Letter to Your Representative or Send a Letter to the Editor of your local newspaper, using these easy to use links.

To find our more information please visit MoveOverAipac.org.
Photo c/o The Washington Post.