MAGA counterpoint

Reading Mrs. Matua’s March 20, 2025, opinion, it appears to refer to familiar rhetoric from DFL elected officials and supporters or left-of-center media. For decades those opposed to U.S. first or taxpayers first policies have shouted: Republicans are for tax breaks for billionaires, social security is being stolen, Medicare cuts will kill Granny, healthcare will be destroyed, education investment will enhance academic outcomes, or government agencies are necessary to protect democracy.

In the last two months we have seen changes. Some are overdue, some curious, and others have exposed waste, fraud and abuse. Since January, $611 million in fraud has been discovered in Minnesota yet no government employee or department head has been held accountable. Minnesota is facing a $6.9 billion deficit after a taxpayer surplus of $19 billion and $10 billion in new taxes have been spent. Where is the author’s outrage?

Record Minnesota education spending [$17,277 per student per year] has resulted in 45% math proficiency and 49.9% reading proficiency. Dropping Minnesota’s ranking to 45th in the United States. Reading and math are both concerns in Minnesota, as 96% percent of students are in districts whose average math achievement in 2024 remained below their own 2019 levels and 98% are in districts whose average reading achievement in 2024 remained below their own 2019 levels, reflecting a national trend. COVID cannot be blamed. Turning to our national education system; millions of successful citizens were educated before 1979, the year the Department of Education was established. Test scores, education costs, academic outcomes and student graduation rates reflected an effective educational system in comparison to today’s outcomes. Where is the author’s outrage?

Nationally, DOGE has discovered $140 billion in waste, fraud and abuse without touching agency spending. Another $4.1 trillion in undesignated funds were spent without accountability or tracking. Then it was found USAID tax dollars were being used for transgender education in Peru or DEI musicals in Ireland and hundreds of thousands of meals sent to al Qaeda-affiliated fighters in Syria. Where is the author’s glee?

Like Minnesota, the United States is in debt. $37 trillion. In five years, under existing Federal budgets, the U.S. debt will increase to $45 trillion with interest on the debt becoming the #1-line item budget payment in the United States fiscal budget. In 2025, interest payments on the debt load is $550 billion and will be near $1 trillion by 2040. Imagine the government programs for the elderly, our veterans or disabled if these interest payments were returned to those needing government services most. We have a spending and debt problem, not an income problem. Government is bloated and it is time for accountability.

The opinion piece worries about “this could happen,” “this may happen” if the government spending is cut. Fair enough. However, where is the concern for future generations? Within five years or 10 years, our children and grandchildren will face hardships never seen before. Well, except for Germany. Germany suffered more than any other nation because of the recall of U.S. loans, which caused its 1923 economy to collapse. Now replace U.S. loans to Germany with Japan or China loans to the United States. As of late 2023, China held approximately $759 billion in U.S. debt, making it the second-largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasury securities, after Japan. Japan currently holds the most U.S. debt, with over $1.1 trillion.

So, taxpayers, make your choice; valid government program cuts, controlled spending, moderate taxes, financial stability and a secure border or endless spending, higher taxes, unrecoverable debt, bloated government, and 4.8 million non-citizens seeking future Social Security payments. Hopefully readers choose the better choice.

With respect, live days to remember, Brian Tommerdahl Fair Haven