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“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.” Bertrand Russell (1872 –1970), British philosopher 

The fools and fanatics currently in control of our country have no understanding of what government is about, how it operates or the importance it has for people and society. But they are “certain of themselves” and their anti-government ideology. 

Many people are going to be hurt and many will literally die from their ignorant, mean spirited, shortsighted actions. 

John Adams explained the purpose of government 250 yeas ago. He wrote, “Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men.” 

Today these principles are being totally ignored. Here are just a few examples of the harm Trump and his wrecking crew are causing.

Dying from measles
In March two children died of measles, a preventable disease. There have been over 250 confirmed measles cases along the west Texas-New Mexico border. Most of the cases (95%) were school age children who had not been vaccinated.

Measles used to be considered eliminated in the U.S. thanks to a safe, effective vaccine. There were occasional cases and small outbreaks, but the disease was under control. Measles are highly contagious and require at least a 95% vaccination rate to prevent outbreaks.

Since the first Trump administration there has been a huge increase in mistrust of government, misinformation about vaccines and opposition to long established, successful public health programs. The current “fools and fanatics” are cutting  funding and firing staff in public health agencies while the measles outbreak has spread to 15 states.

The rural west voted for the “fools and fanatics.” I wonder about the feelings – the regret, the guilt – of the parents of these children. Are they still true believers? Or are they cursing themselves and the false prophets they followed?

Killing rural America 
Federal budget cuts and firing of federal employees will dramatically impact small town and rural areas across the country. These people elected the current fool. Federal budget cuts will trickle down to hurt people, create job loses and hurt small businesses in rural communities.

Government is a major employer in rural areas. Federal, state, county, town and school district jobs are the largest “industry sector” in many rural areas. These jobs provide steady, family supporting income that are critical to local private sector businesses.

Federal dollars come to rural areas from many sources including agricultural subsidies, local spending by federal agencies, various grants, food stamps, Medicaid and Medicare payments to local health providers and Social Security checks for retirees. Many state and county activities are partially funded with federal money.

Local school districts typically get around 10% of their funding from federal money. Wisconsin’s schools received $841,878,833 last year. The state’s 422 K-12 school districts spend 70% of this money on employee salaries and benefits which largely fuel the local economy. 

Rural hospitals and clinics depend on federal money and are another source of good jobs in small town and rural areas. Rural areas have higher participation rates for food stamps (14.3%) than urban areas. For many reasons cutting “big government” will be a disaster for rural America. 

Medicaid is essential
Nationwide Medicaid spending supports 83 million people and cutting it will impact people, state budgets and health care providers nationwide. Medicaid paid for one fifth (19%) of all hospital care in 2023. Hospitals employ 6.7 million people and are the sixth largest “industry sector” in the country. Cut Medicaid and many people – and not just the poor – will be hurt.

In Wisconsin 1.5 million residents live in rural areas and small towns. Medicaid plays a critical role in supporting access to health care in these communities. Proposed cuts to Medicaid will result in the closure of many small hospitals and clinics. Rural people will have no local access and will have to drive long distances for care.

One million Wisconsinites depend on Medicaid. There are 17,500 nursing home residents in Wisconsin and 63% receive assistance from Medicaid. One third of children and one third of disabled individuals are covered by the program. Without Medicaid people will lose access to health care, and their residences, resulting in more suffering, illness and death. 

But the “fools and fanatics” want to cut taxes – again – on the extremely wealthy and don’t care about the costs for average Americans or society. Medicaid is seen as welfare for undeserving poor people and, therefore, politically expendable.

No one wins trade wars
Trump’s erratic actions on tariffs are going to inflict a lot of financial harm on people and the economy. Everyone knows that consumers will ultimately pay for this foolishness with higher prices and job losses. Economic studies tell us Trump’s tariff increases during his first administration raised prices, reduced production, hurt employment and resulted on a net loss for the economy.

Trump says, “We’re going to raise hundreds of billions in tariffs; we’re going to become so rich we’re not going to know where to spend that money.” But this is not realistic. 

Tariffs are a tax imposed on imports that will ultimately be paid by either consumers or American businesses. In 2023, revenue from tariffs was only $80 billion,1.8% of total federal revenue. Currently tariffs on the value of imported industrial goods are only 2% and half of industrial goods imported are duty free. 

Obviously Trump’s 20% tariffs would raise more money but  the amount will still be negligible (the nonpartisan Tax Foundation estimates $300 billion in 2026). The tariff revenue will not be worth the negative impacts of high tariffs. 

Economists tell us high tariffs reduce net economic growth and employment. Tariffs don’t reduce the trade deficit or shrink the federal budget deficit. Tariffs are not good tools for raising government revenue. Threats of high tariffs are not good tools for negotiating non-economic issues like curbing migrants or drug smuggling or for fostering good relations with other nations.

Once again the “fools and fanatics” don’t know what they are doing or care about the consequences. Being rich doesn’t mean you are smart. Owning a business doesn’t mean you can run a government. 
So why do we keep electing these fools?