In the midst of a national housing crisis, our government is deeply failing in its responsibility to secure the general welfare of the American People. Our government has instead opted to maintain a gargantuan military budget that exceeds the rest of the world’s remaining top 10 highest military budgets combined. These funds are largely used for perpetual war and wholly unnecessary geopolitical strife across the world. It begs the question: Where could American taxes be better spent?
The reckless and irresponsible actions of Washington D.C (Democrat or Republican) in fueling war, instability and civil unrest have manifested themselves in the continuation of the war in the Donbass region of Ukraine and the Netanyahu government’s ongoing extermination campaign in Palestine and unwarranted aggression in Lebanon and Syria. The American people have never been consulted – nor even had the illusion of choice in whether or not they should be responsible for footing the bill for the export of death and misery internationally.
Over the year since October 7, 2023, the U.S. has given over $17.9 billion to Israel in military aid. In comparison, in 2023 President Biden budgeted $13 billion, over 10 years, for rental assistance for extremely low-income U.S. veterans. Although veterans are honored at every rally and fundraiser by the politicians of the two-party duopoly, these same politicians repeatedly fail to address veterans’ needs while enthusiastically approving additional military spending. If the same $17 billion were added to the annual U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) budget of $73.3 billion, it would represent a 23% increase.
Furthermore, in 2024, the U.S. military has allotted $315 billion for weapon purchases, which is over 430% of the entire Housing and Urban Development (HUD) budget.
As one of the top polluters of the world, the American Military Industrial Complex also exacerbates the worsening conditions of our planet’s environment. Subsequently, as climate change worsens, natural disasters have worsened and become more frequent, uprooting livelihoods and destroying American homes. Every year, hurricane season serves as a reminder of how many American homes have been destroyed by floods, forest fires, hurricanes, etc.
So how can we change this?
Military funding must be audited, with excess spending redirected to services that benefit Americans.
Housing monopolies, which collude to artificially inflate the cost of housing, gouge the American people and leave home ownership intangible for millions. Tenants unions must fight for federally subsidized housing as an alternative to the private real estate industry.
In summary, it is time to Move the Money from the military-industrial complex and support for imperialist wars abroad to bring relief to the hundreds of thousands of Americans suffering from homelessness, housing insecurity, and housing discrimination.
