Thinking of the next generation

The last 10 days mark an unprecedented assault against America’s children and their future.

The most obvious example is Republican leadership’s refusal to fix the expired Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), despite the overwhelming admitted need to protect the health of our children. This, at a time when Trump and his cronies have been waging an assault on the Affordable Care Act, destabilizing insurance markets and driving up premiums—and now under the GOP tax plan, threatening the care for 13 million Americans who could lose insurance over the next 10 years.

Trump went to Utah and celebrated his decision to shrink national monuments that are so important to all Americans, especially to our indigenous communities. These national monuments, some of our most precious places, are part of the heritage of our children and should be protected, rather than attacked.

We are witnessing Republican leadership rushing through their tax legislation, which will be the largest transfer of wealth in our nation’s history. This gift to the richest 1% of the population, the largest corporations, and huge private businesses will be financed by borrowing $1.7 trillion. And it’s our children and grandchildren who will be burdened. Unlike past efforts to deal with an economy in freefall, this deficit spending buys us nothing – no infrastructure, no medical research, no relief for working and middle class families. Worse, it provides permanent benefits to those who need it least—the wealthy and big corporations—and provides temporary and modest benefits to middle class families. In fact, under this plan, the majority of Americans will actually see their taxes go up in the next 10 years.

Thanks to Donald Trump, America stands alone, more isolated than ever. He capped off the week with a decision opposed by even his advisors to move ahead with the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. Our allies in Europe and in the Middle East are horrified. In the past, American leaders shamefully discussed this to gain political points at home, which I lament. But every president has had the good sense not to move forward with the idea to avoid further inflaming the most volatile situation in the Middle East. Trump crossed that line this week. There will be devastating consequences. This, of course, continues the reckless approach of America going it alone and surrendering our international leadership. He is leaving the mess for others to correct and threatening peace for our children’s world.

The week concluded with the dramatic resignation of Senator Al Franken—which was appropriate. I believe Donald Trump should be next to resign for sexual misconduct. Not only are accusations backed by Trump’s own words, but also the words of 19 women. While denying his own responsibility, Trump has also embraced someone who faces serious and credible allegations of child abuse and inappropriate behavior with teenagers. 

This may be the worst threat of all to our children’s future—people in power who are not just playing with the next generation’s economic fate, environmental future, and world peace, but shattering the norms for acceptable behavior. Somehow, we are going to have to repair all of this if we are going to be able to heal, correct the damage, and protect our children’s future.

Courage,
Earl Blumenauer
Member of Congress