Steve Benen remarks on the problems of funding for future pandemic crises being cut from the various bills by the Senate, ending with:
The politics are admittedly tricky: it’s tough to lobby in support of funding for a future crisis that doesn’t yet exist, especially given the pressures to address pressing problems that many are addressing right now. But the future will thank the present if lawmakers do the right thing.
Uh, no.
If you’re a naive idealist about these things – a category I probably fall into – then you and I just have to point at defense spending in response. That is the quintessential funding for future crises, whether it’s prevention or addressing same.
If you’re more of the jaded, cynical type that believes defense spending is simply a matter of lobbying and corruption, then first defense spending must still be justified.
I think I’ll stick with being a naive idealist.
