Our government derives its power from the ‘consent of the governed’ – in other words, the people. We call on our leaders, both Democrats and Republicans, to use the power entrusted to them to improve the lives of ALL Americans. This is not a Democratic or a Republican value, but one that is part of the social contract in America.
In America, we deserve an economy that works for all of us – an economy where hard-working folks can earn a fair, livable wage, can unionize, and afford housing, health insurance, child care, and elder care. Where the richest pay their fair share of taxes, where schools are excellent regardless of zip code, and where no one lives on the street, or goes to bed hungry. A government where, regardless of wealth or income, all our voices are heard, where all eligible people can vote without roadblocks or fear, and where our right to due process is honored.
The current president, as a candidate on the campaign trail, promised to lower our cost of living, winning the election in large part based on that promise. He promised to tame inflation and to make America affordable again. He broke that promise by passing recent legislation that makes America more expensive for most of us, but especially for the poor and working families. The GOP promised NOT to cut our social safety net – programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. 
Life for many will now cost more because the GOP broke that promise, passing legislation that will eventually kick approximately 11.8 million folks off their health insurance due to $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts. The Medicaid program is a lifeline for rural hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics. They now risk closure from financial calamity, if their patients lose insurance and have no way to pay for their care.  
In addition, poor and working families will pay more, due to the new cuts to food programs, for the increased monthly costs for student loans for millions of borrowers, and because of cuts to programs that help us heat our homes.  The president’s tariffs will dramatically increase prices for ALL American consumers on a wide variety of goods.
Our president, as a candidate last fall, promised he would balance the budget, not add to our debt, vowing “to restore fiscal sanity” to our nation. His latest legislation – that provides huge tax cuts to America’s wealthiest citizens and corporations, while slashing programs that serve the rest of us – is projected to add nearly $4 trillion to our national debt. We know that fiscal irresponsibility throws gasoline on inflation – making the prices on all goods and services markedly more expensive.
In addition, our president campaigned on the claim he would be the “peace president.”   He promised to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours, to end it even before taking office. He promised to bring peace to the Middle East and end the war in Gaza, all while urging Israel “to finish the job.” 
Yet five short months later, the president was using war language, demanding an “unconditional surrender” from Iran. He then conducted U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities in response to the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
All political candidates make promises they don’t or can’t keep. Many promises are aspirational – where elected politicians try hard but will only make small incremental improvements in the lives of everyday Americans. But no other politician has made such sweeping promises and then dramatically worked so hard to achieve the exact opposite. 
No matter who you voted for, or which political party you belong to – we deserve a leader who cares about all of us and works to make our lives better. Yet, our President’s signature legislation is the largest and most radical transfer of wealth from the poorest and middle classes to the richest in American history. 
As a community, we must commit to helping our neighbors who will be the hardest hit by these cuts to our social safety net. While we have always disagreed vociferously on any number of issues, we have always come together as a community to help our Iron Range neighbors in need. Iron Rangers helped define the notion of mutual aid.
Valerie Myntti
Eagles Nest