The American political theater has once again produced another show worthy of our intrigue. The Senate narrowly passed President Trump’s massive tax and spending bill Tuesday after a near-endless series of amendment votes that lasted more than 24 hours, delivering what appeared to be a significant victory for the president and bringing the signature piece of legislation of his second term one step closer to his desk. They call it the “big, beautiful bill,” a phrase that is certainly not without bias or partisanship, though one should not expect that in today’s political landscape. But when we dig beyond this glamorous title, a less “beautiful” reality emerges: a harsh yet recurring reality in which the working man receives less and less, while executives and elites receive more and more.
Let’s start by examining the numbers. According to Yale’s Budget Lab analysis, the Senate version of the bill will result in an overall decrease in income for individuals at the bottom of the wealth distribution by nearly $700. At the same time, those in the top 20% of the wealth distribution are projected to see a near $5,700 increase in income, with most of that going into the top 1-2% of the distribution rather than in the top 5-20% range, which would be more impactful. The same Yale Budget Lab’s analysis reveals more concerning aspects of this bill: changes to taxes and Medicaid and SNAP spending proposed by the Senate budget reconciliation bill would result in a decline of 2.9 percent (approximately $700) in income for the bottom quintile, but an increase of 1.9 percent (roughly $30,000) for the top 1 percent. Despite the flaws these programs may have, there is no doubt that they are absolute necessities for millions of Americans.
This is a clear assault on the dignity of hard-working, lower-income Americans. While struggling families lose $700 they desperately need for groceries, rent, and for the health of their family, the wealthiest in our society pocket an additional $30,000. The beauty promised in this bill’s title becomes increasingly grotesque when viewed through the lens of ordinary working people. If the struggling family was prioritized in this bill, as they should have been, then this bill would actually show signs of promise. Clearly, they were not the priority.
The legislation goes well beyond flawed tax cuts. The legislation includes increased spending for border security, defense, and energy production. These initiatives certainly seem reasonable, but they don’t absolve the legislation of its disregard for the poor and working class. The irony is clear: while global corporate interests and the wealthiest of elites receive permanent tax relief worth trillions, the programs that keep families and communities fed and healthy face budgetary cuts. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected that the legislation would result in 11.8 million people losing their health insurance by 2034 if enacted. While one shouldn’t automatically trust that number as fact, even one American citizen losing their health insurance for unjustified reasons is one too many.
Now, let’s consider the morals, or lack thereof, behind such a piece of legislation. A nation that
can afford to extend massive tax cuts to the wealthiest in society, sends mountainous sums of money overseas (some of which are more justifiable than others), yet somehow cannot afford to maintain basic healthcare coverage for the most vulnerable in our society. This is not an economic necessity—it is a choice, a deliberate decision to prioritize the comfort of the wealthy elite over the survival of the common man.
The defenders of this legislation will undoubtedly point to economic growth projections and trickle-down theories that have been thoroughly debunked by decades of evidence. They may make claims regarding job creation and investment incentives, painting a picture of prosperity that will eventually reach every American household. But the Yale Budget Lab analysis reveals the harsh truth: “The overall effect of these policy changes would be regressive, shifting after-tax-and-transfer resources away from tax units (members of a household filing a tax return together) at the bottom of the distribution towards those at the top.”
This should not be seen as a promise of shared prosperity, but rather the ugly reality of concentrated wealth and the influence elites have over policymaking. Every dollar that flows upward to those who already have plenty is a dollar denied to those struggling to make ends meet. The authors of this legislation have succeeded in using the power of government to further saddle the average American household.
The cuts to essential programs reveal the true priorities of this legislation. While some Republicans had taken issue with the legislation’s impact on the deficit, others cited concern with some of the steep cuts to Medicaid, which the CBO has said would leave nearly 12 million more Americans without health coverage over the coming years. These are not abstract numbers on a spreadsheet—they represent real American families who will lose access to healthcare, real children who will, to no benefit to the country or anyone else, go without adequate nutrition, and real seniors who will struggle to afford their medications.
Meanwhile, the wealthy beneficiaries of this bill’s tax provisions will see their already substantial fortunes grow even larger. The legislation ensures that capital gains, dividend income, and inheritance wealth face reduced tax burdens, creating a system where money itself generates more money with minimal contribution to the common good. This is wealth without purpose, prosperity without production, and a system that rewards having over doing.
The tragedy extends beyond the immediate financial impact. This legislation represents a fundamental rejection of the principle that government should serve as a force for economic justice. Instead of using the power of the federal government to ensure that every American has access to basic necessities—food, healthcare, education, housing—this bill transforms government into an instrument of wealth concentration.
What makes this legislation particularly deceptive is its timing. In an era of unprecedented wealth inequality, when the gap between rich and poor has reached levels not seen since the late 1800s, this bill is almost guaranteed to widen that gap. Under the guise of economic prosperity and opportunity, this bill seemingly takes a legitimate societal and economic concern and exacerbates it.
The real beauty this nation needs lies not in tax cuts for the wealthy, but in policies that ensure every American citizen has access to the tools of prosperity. This is not to say that any and all tax cuts are inherently bad, but the tax cuts must prioritize those in society who would benefit from those cuts the most. When American citizens have access to fundamental necessities – universal healthcare, childcare, fair wages, the ability to afford a home and provide for one’s family and community – only then will we be able to restore the authentic soul of this country.
The question facing our nation is simple: Will we accept an economic system designed to concentrate wealth among the few, or will we demand policies that ensure prosperity reaches every American? If we truly seek to rebuild communities, families, and cultures, how can we expect that to happen when so many people are being weighed down by the crushing force of economic distress? President Trump is often cited as a populist politician, yet this bill is anything but populist. A true populist would recognize the inherent flaws in this bill and seek to correct them. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that it will happen anytime soon.
