Mounce: Independence from Cuts 

“Food, glorious food” sang the hungry children in the Broadway play, “Oliver,” based on the story, “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens. The inspiration: Oliver’s plea in that story “please, Sir, may I have some more porridge.” The context: poverty and dreary work houses for children in England’s Industrial Revolution.

It seems the nasty past is repeating itself. Food is scarcer, more expensive, and threatened by current threats from the national government. Washington is  ousting willing workers. Texas is cutting supplies of  food (Montoya: “Cuts Catastrophic for Rio Grande Valley,” Rio Grande Guardian, 1 Jul 25). 

All over the world, children feel the pain. The stark reality of the struggle for life without America’s help will soon be felt by the cuts of food from USAID (Agency for International Development). Expect the deaths in the near future of 88 human beings per HOUR! Fourteen million who could have been saved (Soumerfield, The Independent, 1 Jul 25). 

The cuts are not all about food. How about cuts from defense against nuclear attack? The Air Force is being forced to shift $400 million in funds from its nuclear missile program to refit Trump’s golden jet–an unconstitutional gift from Qatar (Schmidt, Business Insider).

A different type of “food”–nourishment of the mind–is in peril. Educators all across the U. S. express “shock and outrage” as the Department of Education withholds billions from schools for afterschool programs (Bedigan, The Independent, 1 Jul 25).

Some ignore or actually rejoice at the Musk/Doge/Trump cuts. Many others deplore the ignorance or willful viciousness of these and other cuts. How did your own Senators vote? Read about their votes and their rationalizations (Jacobson, “Elected Officials Bankupting the Government,” The Hill, 1 Jul 25). 

Do more than read. React. Who favored you? And who favored the super-rich with huge tax breaks? Who militarized our Rio Grande Border? Who deplores the confiscation of lands, which shrinks the size of Texas? Who arrests and expels citizens as well as non-citizens? Who champions the rights and cause of the working forces? 

Investigate.Then, discover who is for you, who is against you. It may actually be quite easy. It will be he or she who supports the Constitution and Common Sense.Then talk among yourselves, organize. When you can vote, vote for the Declaration of Independence, inspired by the Independence Day we are now celebrating. Two Hundred and Fifty important years; let them not be cast aside.

That document cherishes the notion that America should have “No Kings.” It contends that a truly good government should provide for the “public good.”

May those principles guide you. 

Tired of “cuts, cuts, cuts?” Me too. Instead, vote, change the wrong direction in which we are headed. Then, say “thank you/gracias” to a majority of good, rational American voters. Thank you for returning us to America’s traditions. 

Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by writer Dr. Gary Joe Mounce, a professor emeritus (political science) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He can be reached by email via: gjmounce@gmail.com.

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