**The Enduring Shadow of the “War on Terror”**
There is both good and bad news for critics of the United States’ expansive 21st-century military apparatus. The good news is that the so-called “war on terror” appears to have ended. The bad news is that it has transformed into a kind of zombie war, continuing to expand even as the original threats that justified it have faded from public consciousness.
One of the most striking examples of this transformation is the continued support for the Saudi government despite its direct involvement in the September 11 attacks. Despite evidence of its complicity, the Biden administration has pledged American resources to defend it, and top comedians have accepted its funding to help improve its image. This lack of accountability reflects a broader pattern where the original justifications for the “war on terror” no longer hold sway.
In Syria, the U.S. government has embraced an al-Qaeda-linked leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, despite his group’s history of terrorism. Al-Sharaa was once a target of U.S. military action, but now he is welcomed at the United Nations, with former CIA Director David Petraeus praising him. This shift underscores a growing indifference to the ideological foundations of the war on terror.
The Trump administration has further expanded the scope of the war by applying anti-terrorism tactics against drug traffickers in Venezuela, labeling them as terrorists. This approach raises serious legal and ethical concerns, as it blurs the line between legitimate law enforcement and militarized conflict.
Domestically, the war on terror has also been repurposed to target political dissent. The Trump administration has threatened to deploy the military against domestic critics, suggesting that First Amendment-protected activities can be classified as acts of terrorism. This trend reflects a broader erosion of civil liberties and an expansion of executive power.
These developments align with warnings from civil libertarians over the past two decades. The powers granted under the “war on terror” have been used in ways that were never intended, including the suppression of political opposition. As the original threats fade, the mechanisms of the war continue to operate, often with little public scrutiny or accountability.
**The Struggle for Clean Energy and Environmental Protection**
The nation’s slow progress in transitioning to clean energy is another area of concern. President Donald Trump’s hostility toward environmental initiatives has hindered efforts to address climate change and protect public health. Without decisive action, rising temperatures will have severe consequences for ecosystems, economies, and communities.
Some politicians advocate for deregulation, claiming that reducing environmental protections will spur economic growth. However, this approach risks repeating the environmental degradation seen in the past, with devastating effects on public health and natural resources. The Pennsylvanian Green Amendment offers a model for balancing development with environmental protection, ensuring that communities have a right to clean air, water, and a healthy environment.
Regulatory rollbacks threaten to undermine these protections, allowing industries to avoid responsibility for their environmental impact. This not only harms communities but also perpetuates a system where profits are prioritized over people and the planet. A more equitable approach would focus on advancing clean energy without empowering fossil fuel interests.
**The Impact of Wealth Inequality**
Extreme wealth inequality has far-reaching consequences for individuals and society. Billionaires influence politics, control media, and shape policies that benefit the wealthy at the expense of working people. Their actions affect everything from housing and healthcare to education and the environment.
Billionaires often shift tax burdens onto the middle class, block meaningful climate action, and exacerbate social divisions. They also exploit sectors like healthcare, pet care, and food production, using their wealth to dominate markets and limit consumer choice. Philanthropy by the ultra-wealthy is often criticized for distorting the nonprofit sector and reinforcing existing power structures.
To combat these issues, there must be a collective effort to reform tax policies, invest in public services, and support community-led initiatives. By advocating for fairer systems, citizens can challenge the concentration of power and work toward a more just society.
**The Cuts to Community Development Programs**
Amid the recent government shutdown, the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund has been eliminated, despite its long history of supporting local economies and working-class families. This decision highlights a troubling trend: the dismantling of programs that help people build wealth and access capital.
For three decades, the CDFI Fund provided essential financial support to small businesses, rural communities, and underserved areas. It helped create jobs, build affordable housing, and strengthen local economies. Its elimination represents a significant loss, particularly for communities that rely on such programs to thrive.
The decision to cut the fund contradicts claims of limited government and market-driven solutions. Instead, it reflects a preference for policies that prioritize punishment and control over investment and opportunity. If the CDFI Fund remains defunded, it will signal a broader rejection of government’s role in fostering shared prosperity.
As the shutdown ends, Congress faces a critical choice: restore the CDFI Fund and reaffirm its commitment to supporting struggling communities, or allow this vital program to disappear permanently. The outcome will reveal whether the rhetoric about helping working people is genuine or merely performative.
If the CDFI Fund is restored, it will serve as a powerful reminder that government can be a force for good when it invests in people rather than punishing them. The real cost of its elimination will be measured in homes not built, businesses not started, and communities that lose faith in their future.
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