19 Comments
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Mike Hahn's avatar

Many of these "line items" are smaller than a presidential birthday parade or monthly Mar-a-Lago golf tab. This malarkey (yeah, I said it) is not, and never was, about relief for you and me, the disappearing middle class. It is about enriching the ultra-wealthy. When they say "trickle down," best look up and see what's spewing.

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Sage Phoenix's avatar

Thank you - Wes, for shining light on what trump and his team have been cooking up to fund tax cuts for billionaires while jamming through trumps “big beautiful bill” As painful as it is to watch the demolition derby of our former democratic infrastructure and systems being completely reconstructed by grifters and DOGE. Some of us will not abandon the future of our planet and will follow your well researched facts to actively plan a better future, Wes. So We will be Staying tuned in to your substack news letter🙏🙂

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Wendy McLean's avatar

Hi Wes and readers. I am so sorry to hear this as I've spent alot of time travelling in the US National parks and had hoped to do so again one day. These are world treasures too, not just American treasures. As someone from the Absolutely NOT-51st state I, like my country-people am busy keeping alfoat (and preventing similar problems here), as is the rest of the world. I think I can speak for many when I say: The people of the United States have to fix their democracy and fast. It has to come from within and before too many people and things are destroyed. There must be some way to stop the madness?! Our thoughts are with you.

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Michael's avatar

Couldn't agree with you more, Wendy

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Patricia Domingo's avatar

Breaking America down and selling her for parts 💔🤍💙

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Cheryl Ramette's avatar

This is truly fucked up. Among the worst of it, the idea that the "intended purpose" of forests is to produce timber ... wow, that's about as out of touch with the reality of life on earth as you can get. Humans wouldn't even exist without trees, without forest filled with trees. I'm pretty sure dipshit (sorry, my name for the guy) has never in his life spent an hour in a forest let along a day or a week or longer. Definitely not in Oregon where the forest is downright magical. And don't even get me started on the DIA situation.

Maybe you'd like to be his guide to the forests? Introduce him to the Redwoods and the coast range and the interior forests where one can breathe. Maybe you'd like to advise him that ... cough cough ... the forests, the underlying structure of the forests, doesn't exist within state lines. That in fact, no life exists within state lines. That's why this is a country. There is only more information now, scientific and experiential, that this is true.

What is wrong with this guy? Oh yeah. That's right. Everything.

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Elle J's avatar

That ‘intended purpose’ line struck me too. How dare they?

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Michael's avatar

Infuriating, frightening, causing dispair.. enjoy them while you can. A very important essay Wes. Must have taken a lot of work and we thank you.

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Ronni's avatar

Gut wrenching

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Michael's avatar

My reaction too

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hell-bent_media's avatar

Heartsick.

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cory's avatar

Makes me wonder how many govt programs benefit the golfing world; I'm guessing none of those are being cut back nor shut down

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Janet W.'s avatar

I can't breathe!

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Pgrabo's avatar

Trump and his cohorts and this administration are f-ing a-holes. They only care about enriching themselves, not about the USA or our citizenry.

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Pgrabo's avatar

Trump and his cohorts and this administration are f-ing a-holes. They only care about enriching themselves, not about the USA or our citizenry.

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Pgrabo's avatar

Trump and his cohorts and this administration are f-ing a-holes. They only care about enriching themselves, not about the USA or our citizenry.

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Maxwell E's avatar

Absolutely disgusting, miserable, wretched behavior. I can't put into words how furious I am. All of the pressure will be on Susan Collins now.

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Jillian Jarvis-Piper's avatar

oh no. thank you for keeping us informed.

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Danny Baker's avatar

Amazing how the GOP has stolen from the American people for 40 years now & yet still retain power.

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