Odds are against the Trump regime’s proposed budget passing. But it’s nevertheless an important focal point for persistent attacks because it shows exactly what damage the overlords would engineer if they had the political clout and internal party unity to pass their budget proposal as is. Devastating as it would be, It provides the resistance with countless targets for our persistent protests.
It should not be forgotten, however, that this slash-and-burn proposal with its bloated defense budget is not an outlier, not a fringe product of the current occupant of the White House and his extremist staff. Although Pr*sident Trump has been bolder about it than the regulars in the party have so far dared, this is the Republican budget, very much like what Republicans have been arguing for years needs to happen. And the resistance should frame it that way every chance we get.
In opposing such a budget, It’s quite easy to become entangled in the numbers, the percentages, and the process, while losing sight of what is really at stake for individuals because of all the whacks at federal or federally assisted programs being proposed. Stories of these individuals need to be told every day until this proposal—and every future proposal like it—has been turned to ashes. Sabrina Tavernise and Trip Gabriel briefly tell a few such stories Saturday.
For example, there’s Regina Feltner, a 57-year-old retired nurse and recovering cancer patient who faced having her heat cut off in the midst of a cold winter. She stayed warm because of assistance with her heating bill from the Highland County Community Action Organization. Funding for that assistance came from the federal Home Energy Assistance Program, budgeted this year at $3.4 billion and zeroed out in the Trump proposal:
Now, that program is on the chopping block. It is one of many cuts in President Trump’s new budget proposal that would inflict the deepest pain on the most vulnerable Americans — a great number of whom voted for him.
“I understand what he’s trying to do, but I think he’s just not stopping to think that there are people caught in the middle he is really going to hurt,” said Ms. Feltner, 57, who was a nurse for 25 years and voted for Mr. Trump. “He needs to make some concessions for that. I was a productive citizen. Don’t make me feel worthless now.”
The regime’s leaders don’t care if Feltner, or anybody else who now stays warm because of the program, will shiver and feel worthless when it’s axed. The harmful impacts are not their concern. While not all the programs headed for the shredder directly affect the fundamental well-being of those “most vulnerable Americans,” behind most of them are countless personal stories that protesters and elected Democrats alike should work relentlessly to spread in the coming days and weeks.