Instead of Giving Into Despair Over Trump’s Big Evil Bill, Let’s Organize
Independence Day felt like a storm creeping overhead. All of a sudden I realized I could actually lose Medicaid. Already I have been struggling with getting to all my medical appointments – imagining that I may not be able to afford medical care at all, or getting the medications I need, is really scary. On top of that, my chances of getting on SSI Disability is becoming less and less likely. If I’m being honest, I’m actually pretty damn terrified.
For many, that storm has been pouring down for months now, years even, if not decades. In a lot of ways, it feels like it never ends. When we think “it could not possibly get any worse than this”, a new kind of evil manifests, and suddenly we are facing something even more sinister.
Trump’s Big Ugly Bill is harmful to everyone, but hurts the poor, as well as disabled Americans the most. It also slashes clean energy incentives, and instead focuses spending on tax breaks for the rich, the border wall, mass deportation, and the military. Here’s a quick rundown:
New work requirements for Medicaid, cutting spending by up to 18%. Work requirements won't kick in until 2026.
Changes to the Affordable Care Act would result in 12 million people losing their health insurance
New work requirements for SNAP (food stamps), cutting spending by up to 20%. Those changes will go into effect as early as this year.
The bill overhauls federal student loans, ending many repayment plans, requiring borrowers to repay more and limiting future loans
The bill repeals many of Biden’s clean energy benefits and targets solar and wind energy, singling out clean energy. Tax credits for electric vehicles and energy efficiency will be terminated this year
$175 billion will be devoted to immigration, including roughly $50 billion for Trump’s border wall
$45 billion for expanding the capacity to detain immigrants, and $30 billion for enforcement operations
The military will get about $150 billion from the bill too
Tax cuts in Trump’s 2017 bill were made permanent, hugely benefiting the rich
So now what? Start by calling and texting your friends and loved ones. Check-in with those you care about and see how you can help.
Now is the time to start contributing to mutual aid efforts – food banks and free stores may be a good place to start.
While some aspects of this bill won’t kick in until next year, cuts to SNAP/food stamps will start hurting communities very soon, if they haven’t already. In fact, many food banks are already struggling to meet ongoing demands. The cost of food has continued to be a challenge since covid. For so many, the current SNAP benefit hasn’t been enough to cover food costs in years. Cuts to SNAP/food stamps are going to leave many people hungry.
Cuts to medicaid means less people will have access to medical care, and as a result emergency rooms are going to be overrun, medical clinics will overcrowd, and these same clinics with income-based sliding scale payments will need funding.
Immigrants will need further access to legal help, and organizations that fund access to legal assistance for immigrants will need more funding to do this.
Overall, now is the time to seek out mutual aid networks and organizers who are responding to these issues.
If you’re wondering where to start, a good place is always in your own backyard. Check in with your local food banks, clinics, and legal aid organizations and find out how you can help. Whether it’s donating food, time, or money, there are ways to show up for your friends and neighbors near you.
I know it’s hard to have hope. It’s why I started this whole thing. The thing is, those who benefit from this bill, those who support it, they want us to despair. They want us to feel hopeless, they want us to feel helpless. They are counting on this despair, with hopes that it will prevent us from organizing, from resisting. But they are wrong to believe it. Let’s prove that they are wrong to believe it.
If you know of an organization that needs support, share it here in the comments.
I apologize for any typos. I am just a girl after all.
I also have a Ko-fi, where you can buy me a coffee for $5!
