Did anyone ever ask US if we want to support Israel with $$ & bombs?

[Philosoraptor]

I don't ever recall it being an issue on a ballot or political platform, yet every year we give them 3 billion cash and billions in weapons of mass destruction.

Did anyone ever ask you if you minded YOUR tax dollars going to other nations to use to bomb the fuck out of each other, not just Israel?

Would it be possible to ASK the American people about this issue, instead of just doing it decade after decade? Or going to war, can't we the people out here in flyover land get a vote on it?

For instance, I myself DON'T care for it, yet, I apparently have no say in the matter, and neither do any of us. Only our senators and congressmen get to decide what nation gets how much aid and how many jet fighters.

Should this issue be put to the American people in the next elections? I say yes, let us vote on it, it is after all our money, our country, and our asses on the line.

[Poll_Blind]

1. Somehow it's always been a forgone conclusion (see chart inside)

U.S. Assistance to Israel, and this is arguably a conservative estimate. Note of course that these figures are in Millions of U.S. Dollars.

PB

[Celica Toyota]

27. To be fair, we should give equal weapons and dollars to Lebanese

Or we could stop funding Israel's terrorist attacks.

[Philosoraptor]

28. PREEE CISELY!............n/t

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. Fact is, ask the question and Bush will trot Snowjob out to tell us

"It's a National Security issue." And those five words will be repeated ad infinitum.

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

3. Maybe we should deal with a war thats actually killing our own, like Iraq

Did anyone ever ask us these questions in regards to that?

[jonnyblitz]

23. you and other apologists always want to change the subject from

your precious Israel and YES OF COURSE PEOPLE ask these questions in regards to IRAQ, THAT is not the topic of this thread. geesh. :eyes:

you need to get off this "what about everybody else" thing just because we are NOT talking about everybody else in each and every thread.

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

26. you know whats funny?

for three years, I haven't hear 1% of this type of rhetoric against out own actions. I am AMERICAN. I pay taxes in AMERICA. I vote in AMERICA. I am not Lebanese or Israeli. I have no say over there policy. I couldn't give a fuck about their policy when its our own policy doing things 100 times worse. This thread was a about taxes and bombs. Why can't I say I'd rather my taxes not go to fund our own wars and our own military policy?

When did I say "what everybody else" is doing? Do you hear me crowing about China being our biggest trade partner even though they oppress the Tibetans? You have a real problem projecting your own issues onto my posts.

All of this stuff goes hand in hand. I'm sorry people like you think its not ok to do critical thinking about our own policy, but its perfectly fine to spend hours being an arm chair politician about what other countries do.

and to call me an apologists is real great. It shows you instantly categorize anything I post about this issue as pro-Israel, when its clear you didn't even take the time to think about what I post.

and, on edit: if there was a little critical thinking, you would realize that giving bombs and weapons to Israel is so clearly tied to our own military policy.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. You're Free To Vote For Candidates That Oppose Aid To Israel

Good luck.

[k_jerome]

5. please vote for a candidate that opposed that aid...

I am sure they are out there somewhere. Probably somewhere where they have a lot of militias and white supremacists.

[Critters2]

6. Everyone who expects Israel to support itself

is a white supremacist? Talk about a broad brush.

Why can't all that money AIPAC gives to politicians go directly to Israel?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. How Much Money Does AIPAC Give?

Not billions I presume.

[onenote]

9. could you provide a link showing how much aipac gives and to whom?

[k_jerome]

10. no, just pointing out that you will have a hard time finding a ...

candidate that supports that view. they are there on the extreme right and, apparently, the extreme left.

[k_jerome]

12. the old song and dance about jews buying politicians...

it gets rather old.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. I Was Trying To Be Value Free

But, yeah, there aren't many members of Congress who oppose aid to Israel.

[k_jerome]

13. is there one? i would like to see who it is. nt.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. DUNO

But I repeat. The original poster is free to petition his government to anything he feels it should do.

[k_jerome]

17. I agree. nt.

[ShaneGR]

20. Ya, lol...

Might be able to find a Rep to come out against aid to Israel.... In Idaho or Montana. Maybe.

[k_jerome]

22. were David Duke in congress, I am sure he would oppose it...

I mean, he did get some votes ya know.

[onenote]

11. Do you think every line in budget should be voted on

or just aid to Israel?

[Philosoraptor]

14. Actually yes, damned good idea.

Its the main issue right now, wars, wars and more wars, and yes, I'd really like to see we the people vote on literally every issue that we feel necessary.

If you'll re read my post, you'll see I didn't single out Israel, I said it of any nation.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. Plebescites Aren't In The Constitution

I guess you have to do it the old fashioned way. By electing enough representatives who agree with your point of view.

[sgxnk]

16. on the national level

we have what is a "representative democracy"

hth

[Critters2]

21. I'd like to be represented

once in a while.

[onenote]

29. so not a single thing that ever happens is what you want

Not a single bill passes, nothing? You are never represented? Ever? What state are you from?

[sgxnk]

31. apparently

the state of discontent

im in the state of postlunch lethargy myself :)

[malaise]

25. representative of oil companies

and military corporations

[Demeter]

18. Of Course, Not, Silly! What Do You Think This Is: A Democracy?

Sheesh!

[meganmonkey]

24. Sad that it had to come to this for the US people

to realize where our tax dollars are going...

It's not like it just started this year :shrug:

[oberliner]

30. The Green Party has included that issue in their party platform

The Green Party platform is very clear on the subject:

"We reject the U.S.' unbalanced financial and military support of Israel while Israel occupies Palestinian lands. We call on the U.S. President and Congress to end all military aid to Israel, shifting much of that aid to ecologically appropriate local projects for economic and social development for Palestinians as well as Israelis. Until Israel withdraws from the Occupied Territories and dismantles the separation wall, we call on our government to suspend all other foreign aid to Israel as well."

http://www.gp.org/platform/2004/democracy.html#310677