As the government shutdown looms, Capt. Matthew Hoh offers a silver lining if Congress fails to meet the most basic constituent needs, as 2022 marks the highest one-year increase in the poverty rate: 

“Successive Congresses and White Houses have massively funded the Pentagon and weapons industries. We outspend adversaries, maintain more than 95% of the world’s overseas military bases, and now export more weapons than we do agricultural products. Meanwhile, a failure to invest in healthcare, education, infrastructure and climate change response has weakened the American economy and limited potential growth and progress. The reality of US politicians consistently choosing to fund war over the welfare of the American people is creating a crisis outside of DC much larger than the politically constructed theater playing out in the Capitol.”