How beautiful is it in reality?
Much discussion recently has been the logic and repercussions of our attack on Iran.
Yet, what’s not discussed is the impact of Trump economics and the big beautiful bill (BBB) now being discussed in the U.S. Senate. In rural states MAGA economics will devastate rural states like Montana.
Montanans like to think of ourselves as self-reliant. The fact is: poorer, more rural states are greatly assisted by richer states. MAGA economics is Robin-Hoodism in reverse. The way Republicans glow over this bill would make North Koreans blush.
Brutal cuts to Medicaid and food stamps for the poor—“it’s a great bill”!
Not. Medicaid covers 40% of births in America. The greatest portion goes to rural America.
The damage to rural states like Montana will be increased by adding work requirements. History teaches us that such requirements are often punitive, because they create bureaucratic hurdles for beneficiaries.
Work requirements create bureaucratic hurdles for beneficiaries that adversely affect rural America—hurdles that rural Americans, often burdened by limited formal education and internet access, find it difficult to overcome.
Rural America has had a challenge providing hospital care. It’s improving, but extremely difficult for rural hospitals in Montana to stay open. How many of the 46 rural hospitals in our 56 counties can sustain these cuts before they close?! What about the health and economic impact like emergency health care in rural Montana in places like Wolf Point, Anaconda, Libby or Eureka?
Rural Montana agriculture relies heavily on hired workers—two-thirds are immigrants and/or undocumented. Even if you are a legal resident or even native-born citizen, will Montanans really feel safe when ICE thinks you look like an illegal immigrant?
There are reports of widespread ICE raids on farms and workers refusing to work for fear of arrest and deportation. President Biden introduced a program offering grants to farmers who bring in foreign workers legally—but Trump froze funding for that program, including money that had already been promised, leaving Montana farmers on the hook for thousands of dollars.
Can immigrant workers be replaced with native-born workers or legal immigrants? Probably not, since few native born Americans would be willing to do these jobs unless they were paid much higher wages. In sum, Trump’s anti-immigrant policies are and will severely hurt Montana’s farmers, consumers and Montana’s economy.
Montana’s congressional delegation of Daines, Zinke, Sheehy and Downing should know how badly our state will be affected.
If not, they are not only irresponsible and badly informed, they are unqualified to represent the state and people of Montana.
One side question though, was America’s attack on Iran intended to divert public attention from the devastating effects of the MAGA tax cuts on rural America?
David R. James, Eureka, Montana