To the editor:
About 150 people turned out for a town hall meeting in Rolla on April 22 hosted by Voters for Informed Action. Veterans, farmers, teachers and many others spoke about how the federal government is affecting their lives.
A fired federal employee said her entire crew was laid off and some are now living in their cars. A veteran said you can “kiss your benefits good-bye” if the country stays on its current course. A professor said funding for important research is “in chaos.” A teacher said rural schools and their students will be especially hard hit by funding cuts.
You can see a video by going to the Phelps County Focus website, phelpscountyfocus.com, and searching for “Town Hall,” or by going to the “Voters for Informed Action” Facebook page.
Missouri 8th District Congressman Jason Smith received a full transcript and video of the town hall, to which he was invited. But he titled a recent column “100 Golden Days,” referring to Trump’s first 100 days in office. Recent polls, however, show Trump has the lowest approval rating of any president in the last 80 years after 100 days in office. Sixty percent of
Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, 70% oppose cuts to Medicaid, and consumer confidence has slipped to a level last seen in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.
Freedom of speech is a cherished right in this country. To halt our country’s slide into autocracy, let’s continue to raise our voices and insist that they be heard by our elected representatives.
Yours truly,
Polly Scott-Showalter,
Voters for Informed Action,
Rolla
