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PaperclipPerfector  6d ago (text post)   23306 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of October 26, 2026

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We spend tons of our money on tons of stupid things that benefits others. If the goal was to end foreign aide, I’m behind it. But it never is—it’s always just “end giving money to Israel” because people hate Jews.

Based on the official government numbers at ForeignAssistance.gov, about half (more under Trump I, less under Biden) of the total US aid spend (excluding extraordinary support to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion) was either aid to Israel or aid to Egypt and Jordan which is basically Danegeld paid on behalf of Israel. I don't know how this changes as a result of Trump's cuts to USAID, but I suspect the proportion is even higher now.

Except wartime Ukraine, Israel is by far the largest single recipient of US aid, despite its small population and first-world standard of living.

So "stop funding Israel" and "end foreign aid" are kind of the same cause, just spun to appeal to different audiences.

Except wartime Ukraine, Israel is by far the largest single recipient of US aid, despite its small population and first-world standard of living.

Does this count for inflation? I have a hard time believing Israel or Ukraine got anything close to what the Soviets got in WWII. Ford was the most common make of truck in the USSR until like the 1970s just from the lend-lease.

Misleading post. First, you except Ukraine treating that as extraordinary). But there is always something extraordinary. Before Ukraine there was Afghanistan and Iraq.

Second, aid to Egypt and Jordan might benefit the Israel but please bifurcate.

Third, the very same people demand more aid for Ukraine and were convulsing over shutting down USAID.

So no, their claim wasn’t about shutting aid down generally—just specifically.

Misleading post. First, you except Ukraine treating that as extraordinary). But there is always something extraordinary. Before Ukraine there was Afghanistan and Iraq.

Yes, the interesting here is the no matter what extraordinary circumstances are going on, Israel is top 2 receiver of foreign aid as far back as the data shows

Based on the official government numbers at ForeignAssistance.gov, about half (more under Trump I, less under Biden) of the total US aid spend (excluding extraordinary support to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion) was either aid to Israel or aid to Egypt and Jordan which is basically Danegeld paid on behalf of Israel. I don't know how this changes as a result of Trump's cuts to USAID, but I suspect the proportion is even higher now.

Except wartime Ukraine, Israel is by far the largest single recipient of US aid, despite its small population and first-world standard of living.

So "stop funding Israel" and "end foreign aid" are kind of the same cause, just spun to appeal to different audiences.

Well here's a thought experiment:

Suppose that the US stopped military funding to Israel but instead put a military presence there as there is with South Korea; Bahrain; Germany; Saudi Arabia; the UK; and so on. Would people who object to US spending on Israel withdraw their objections? I strongly doubt it, which suggests "The US spends a large percentage of military aid on Israel" isn't the real objection.

Sure, let's have US cut Israeli military aid to 0 and have Israel give the US a few hundred hectares of Israeli land, plus qualified immunity for its soldiers raping Israeli girls when out on the town. You'll champion this with your fellow countrymen, right?

If someone was giving my money freely away to Jews, yeah; I’d hate them too. I don’t think they’ve figured out that part yet.

Money is being freely given to tons of people. But seemingly only hatred is directed towards Jews.

Yes, billions of dollars are being given to my cause, but look, those other guys are getting thousands too. Checkmate anti-zionists!

If the goal was to end foreign aide, I’m behind it. But it never is

Tom Massie supported ending all foreign aid and they spent ~30 million on having him replaced and removed.

Regardless, even if they don't, who cares? Why do supporters of this parasitic nation always engage in petty whataboutism instead of saying "Well, I'd rather we end all foreign aid but we can start with Israel"?

This is why nothing can get cut. You have to start with something, and what that is reveals the ugliness of your true priorities. So whatever cooperation you'd need to get the ball rolling is poisoned from the jump.

Foreign aid: Oh, so you hate Jews

Social security: Oh, so you hate grandma

....

Tom Massie supported ending all foreign aid and they spent ~30 million on having him replaced and removed.

Tom also turned into a Epstein clown. Generational downfall, from one of my favorite congressmen into a retarded meme. Ron Paul to MTG pipeline was certainly one of the choices of all time.

Regardless, even if they don't, who cares? Why do supporters of this parasitic nation always engage in petty whataboutism instead of saying "Well, I'd rather we end all foreign aid but we can start with Israel"?

Can we get a plan for that that doesn't involve electing malevolent leftist-Islamists who hate me, my country, and my children?

Well, do you want the Epstein clown or the guy who hates you, your country and your children.

Easy choice as far as I can tell.

Conveniently, those were different elections so I could root for them both to lose. In a head-to-head, I'd have easily picked Massie over El Sayed.

Why do supporters of this [] nation always engage in petty whataboutism instead of saying "Well, I'd rather we end all foreign aid but we can start with Israel"?

I think the answer is that these efforts are motivated primarily by Jew-hatred rather than the desire to save money.

In any event, one can flip the question around: If you just want to save money, and you aren't motivated by Jew-hatred, why not demonstrate your good faith by campaigning to end US spending on a few other things? I mean, certainly people have good reason to suspect your motivations.

Ackshually you can't cut money for my pet cause until you've proven to my satisfaction that you care about saving money more than you care about hurting my cause. The USAID stuff? Sorry, doesn't count. The ACA cuts? Doesn't cut it for me boss. Keep trying. But remember, you cut my stuff last, after I'm satisfied you're not in this just cuz you hate me.

"suspect your motivations"

This is how you ended up with woke mindreading and prior to that, runaway prog accusations of "dog-whistling"

"suspect your motivations"

This is how you ended up with woke mindreading and prior to that, runaway prog accusations of "dog-whistling"

I'm not sure what you mean by "woke mindreading," but in any event, when someone proposes a change to public policy, it's entirely reasonable (in my opinion) to consider the motivations behind the proposal. And if it seems that the proposal is not being made in good faith, to take that into account in deciding whether to support or oppose that proposal.

Do you disagree?

I support Massie aims and find AIPACs attacks against Masse disingenuous since Massie’s support was to cut spending on pretty much everything.

But most people who complain about Israeli funding are at the same time demanding more and more funding for Ukraine. It doesn’t make you think “maybe it really isn’t about aid?”

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