J.D. Vance broke a tie in the U.S. Senate to pass a bill that will support the wealthy and bring devastation to the lives of many Americans.  We know that the bill, now passed in the House and headed to President Trump for signing, will result in more than $3 trillion added to our national debt, an irresponsible consequence in itself. 

It will also result in over 17 million individuals losing their health care, including many low-income and disabled persons, and many more losing benefits that will have a deleterious impact on their lives.  SNAP programs will be cut, affecting low income families and increasing food insecurity across the country.

Planned Parenthood, which generally provides the only preventative healthcare services in rural areas, as well an estimated 300 rural hospitals, and an unknown number of nursing homes throughout the nation, may be forced to close with the drastic reduction in Medicaid funding.  Veterans benefits have also taken extraordinary losses which will impact vets across our country, many of whom are already at risk with physical and mental health issues, addiction, and the risk of suicide. 

I’m not sure if I am more enraged by this heinous act which deprives individuals and families of the support they need, and which is a blatant betrayal of moral American values, or by the sordid measures which provide tax breaks to billionaires to enrich their wealth, and to support their greed and lust for power on the backs of middle and working class families.

As I contemplate the passage of this bill, I am more convinced than ever that it is an alarming display of Social Darwinism.  Yes, only those with personal resources, “the fittest” in our society, will survive these draconian measures, which raises another question of why legislators would approve such legislation.  The term is typically used to justify social inequities and competition according to common definition, which suggests that “the most successful in society are inherently superior, and others less successful, are naturally less fit.”  It is frightening to consider that this ideology has made its way into our democracy, indeed, into the halls of our government.

Prior to the vote in the Senate, the data clearly extrapolated the dire consequences of this bill on the American people. It is now reasonable to predict that millions will be denied social services and health care, mental health and addictions services, preventative care and treatment, palliative and elder care services, and disturbingly, that many will die. Yet, members of the U.S. Senate, knowing the consequences of their vote, voted to pass a bill that denies benefits to their constituents, rather than to betray loyalty to the president and risk retribution. In truth, they abandoned their constituents to preserve their political power.

We have seen the degradation of democracy in recent years, as well as a decline in moral values, and there are now unmistakable signs and patterns indicative of authoritarian rule.

We are witnessing a clear diversion from American values, that we are no longer a country committed to caring for the less fortunate.  There is no longer “the golden door,” the lamp to light the way, for “your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”  America, wake up to what we have become.  Will you sit on your hands, complicit with all that is wrong, or will you take action now to restore kindness and morality to a country that has lost its way?

Claire Walsh lives in Killingworth.