A false mantra exists that what happens in Washington is not a local issue. This is wrong! What happens in D.C. has direct and indirect impact on residents of the Rogue Valley and Congressional District 2. Here are three examples:

Maybe the most ignorant claim from D.C. is that tariffs imposed on foreign nations result in their paying the charge. The local problem with tariffs is that they are nothing more than a tax on consumers — all of us. As a result, as anyone buying food or other goods will know, inflation is ramping up again. According to our Constitution, Congress alone is authorized to impose taxes. Unfortunately, the Republican-controlled Congress, including our Rep. Cliff Bentz, has abdicated responsibility to act as a check and balance on the president.

Trumpian reliance on anti-science hoaxes in developing policy impacts us because it’s the science of weather forecasting that allows us to learn about weather extremes and fire risk. Without alerts, we cannot prepare.

The mindless attacks on Medicaid, Medicare and nutrition directly affect many of us. The cessation of Medicaid for many will likely result in assisted-living facilities and rural hospital closing because many are funded by Medicaid patients.

Repealing the finding that greenhouse gases cause global warming will eliminate programs and rules that address runaway global warming and likely end life here and across the planet as we know it by the end of this century.

There are many more examples.

Resist this insanity!

Trisha Vigil

Medford