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PaperclipPerfector  1d ago (text post)   6333 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of November 2, 2026

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Most state governors would probably be thrilled to get half the per-capita resources from the USG the US spends on propping up Israel

Officially Israel is earmarked $3.8 Billion a year, which with 9.55 Million people comes out to a few hundred dollars per capita. Quick estimate is that even the most-neglected states get $3,500 in federal spending per capita, an order of magnitude larger.

You can argue that Israel gets a lot of other value out of the American government, but then, so does the taxpayer. Social security paid $1.58 Trillion last year.

Another figure going around is $147 Billion to Israel, over about 80 years, since Israel's founding in 1948. I don't know what the equivalent figure is for American spending but I'm quite confident if we total up all the federal money spent on each American state since 1948 it remains orders of magnitude larger.

Israel definitely plays an outsized role in American politics and has benefited from a lot of generosity and largesse. But it doesn't even come close to what Americans spend on themselves.

After looking up the data, Israel gets $350 per citizen almost exclusively for war. Meanwhile Africa gets $7 and Central America gets $10 on a blended basis.

That's pretty horrifying.

Why is that horrifying? Outside of we ought not fund any of this

Both the magnitude of aid to a first world country and its purpose I find distasteful.

I understand Israel is a proxy and the money creates utility, it doesn't mean I like it.

It makes no difference what men think of war, said the judge. War endures. As well ask men what they think of stone. War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner. That is the way it was and will be. That way and not some other way.

Yes the US spends more on itself than it does Israel. What even is the point of this comment? Is that the new Israel talking point? Yeah we get lots of money but you spend more on yourself so it’s not a big deal?

Yes the US spends more on itself than it does Israel.

Well, I don't see you correcting user quiet_NaN, who said the opposite. We agree!

If you want to argue with me just say so, I have some free time.

I didn’t realize he said that so then you are right we agree. That is a ridiculous claim to make.

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