Republicans in Congress passed their Big Budget Busting Bill, which Donald Trump signed. Despite voicing minimal concerns about the effect on the deficit and cuts to Medicaid, the vast majority of Republicans caved to their “leader.” They always do.
The consequences will be god-awful: Medicaid cuts that will result in 11 million people losing their health insurance, and a blow-up of the nation’s deficit (adding $4 trillion) by cutting taxes on billionaires and corporations.
In Ridgefield, 2,161 residents accessed Medicaid in 2024, according the Department
of Social Services; 381 people received SNAP benefits—that is, assistance buying food.
The cuts to these programs are going to hurt. Someone you know here in town is at risk of losing health insurance coverage. Your neighbor who checks on your pets when you’re away? She will end up in the hospital seeking care for a health condition that could have been treated before it became an acute emergency. Someone else you know here in town won’t be able to pay for basic necessities.
Why? So very rich people can get an even bigger tax cut.
Are there times when it is advisable to run large government budget deficits? Yes. During a pandemic, for example, when there is a severe recession and millions of
people are out of work. This is clearly not the case now.
Cutting taxes on the rich and corporations enshrines fiscal red ink as far as the eye can see. The increase in national debt will cause long-term interest rates to rise. Ridgefield will feel these effects, as few young families or elders on fixed income can afford housing.
Ridgefield has experienced ravaging pain like this before. Wars, some pitting neighbor against neighbor. Economic collapse. Pandemics. Natural disasters (remember the nine days of no electricity, thanks to “Snowtober”?). Historically, when disaster strikes—and the takeover of our Federal government by oligarchs and a wanna-be king is a disaster–Ridgefielders remember their basic humanity. We help one another. We show up to keep the fundamentals—including our representative democracy—intact.
Remember that as we enter our nation’s 250th year. Honor that by helping your neighbors in need. Commit to that by doubling down on voting for Democrats for local office in November. Find out what they really stand for. Don’t accept vague platitudes from Republicans. Find out what the candidates stand for. Good governance under representative democracy starts from the bottom up, with you and me. By holding hands—and when needed, locking arms—with our neighbors.
We the People. It’s up to us.