The passage of President Trump’s budget bill marks a devastating moment for the American working class. With over $1 trillion slashed from health care programs, particularly Medicaid, the consequences of this legislation will ripple through communities that are already struggling to make ends meet. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, this bill is a tool for massive upward redistribution, with the richest 1% receiving a staggering gain of $30,000, while the bottom quintile faces a net decline in resources.
Deficit Fears Are Only a Tool for Control
It is essential to recognize the first leg of the Three-Legged Scam—deficit concerns that suddenly become paramount when a Democrat occupies the White House. Republicans have long weaponized the narrative of deficits to undermine social programs that support the most vulnerable. Under President Biden, they opposed essential social spending that could uplift families during a pandemic while now promoting a budget that will balloon the national debt by $3 trillion. This hypocrisy is glaring; when it suits their interests, deficits are disregarded, and tax cuts for the wealthy are promoted as the magic cure for economic woes.
Tax Cuts Are a Mirage for the Working Class
The second leg of the scam involves the deceptive promise that tax cuts for the rich will stimulate economic growth. Trump continues to push the narrative that these tax breaks will generate revenue that offsets lost tax income, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. As reported by Paul Krugman, the accounting methods used to justify this claim are comically absurd. Tax cuts overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy, while the meager tax relief for low-income earners is often nullified by cuts to essential services, leaving many to struggle even more.
US House narrowly passes Trump's sweeping tax-cut bill, sends ...
Work Requirements Target the Vulnerable
The third leg of this scam is the implementation of work requirements for Medicaid, which targets the very individuals who are most in need. Republicans claim these requirements will eliminate fraud within the system, but the reality is that over half of those affected already work. This legislation is a betrayal, especially to Trump’s own voter base, many of whom rely on Medicaid for their health care. The framing of Medicaid recipients as 'scammers' perpetuates harmful stereotypes and ignores the systemic issues that have caused economic disenfranchisement. Instead of addressing the real problems of economic inequality, the GOP is doubling down on stigmatizing the working poor.
The Political Calculus Behind Timing
As this budget takes effect, the timing is calculated to shield Republican lawmakers from backlash during upcoming midterms. The immediate benefits of tax cuts will be felt right away, while the detrimental effects on Medicaid won’t kick in until 2027 and 2028. This strategic delay is designed to insulate them from the inevitable fallout of their policies. It raises critical questions about accountability and the moral implications of prioritizing political gain over the welfare of constituents.
White House outlines President Trump's 2020 budget proposal at press ...
Trumpism Is a Tool for the Elite
Trump’s promises to disrupt the status quo have been exposed as an elaborate facade. The supposed repudiation of Reaganomics has only served to reinforce the existing plutocratic framework that continues to enrich the wealthy at the expense of working families. As Jamelle Bouie notes, Trump has successfully convinced many that he stands for working-class interests while accelerating policies that undermine workers’ rights and welfare protections. The betrayal is stark, and the implications for those who believed in a new economic approach are dire.
