US: The Grim Reaper Wins.

By John Perkins

This newsletter is short – three recent news items that tell the story of American priorities.

From Democracy Now!, Oct 20, 2021:

On Monday, a Senate Appropriations Committee panel approved an additional $29 billion for the Pentagon — $10 billion more than was requested and bringing its annual budget to nearly $726 billion. That’s more than twice the annual cost of the Build Back Better Act, even before any cuts. The Build Back Better Act would vastly expand the social safety net and combat the climate crisis in large part by taxing corporations and the wealthiest Americans. (1)

From The New York Times, Nov 12, 2021 – after the first round of cuts:

A proposal in flux. President Biden’s social safety net and climate bill is back on hold, though the House plans to vote on the $1.85 trillion spending plan the week of Nov. 15. (2)

And finally, from NPR on Nov 14, 2021:

President Biden signed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill into law Monday, enacting a key piece of his domestic spending agenda that will funnel billions to states and local governments to upgrade outdated roads, bridges, transit systems and more. (3)

The total amount for the infrastructure bill is an average of $200 billion a year to make better lives for all of us – compared to $729 billion a year for the military-industrial complex! What does this tell you about America’s priorities?