The “America First” Trump campaign touted to my MAGA friends also resonated with me. My personal search for an Executive Order promising to “redirect a very large portion of savings to provide shelter and treatment for homeless American veterans” never turned up. We appreciate the unorthodox DOGE “audit” showing savings. However, any highly preconceived “fraud” is yet to be uncovered, except for the millions recovered by legitimate government functions now jettisoned by this administration. And these “redirected savings” are going where? Obviously not to homeless veterans in a day-one executive order.

The Opposition has no budgetary control and seemingly less influence as the Republican Party uses reconciliation to raise the debt ceiling, extend lower inequality tax policy and eliminate tip and overtime tax. Responsible Republican Reconciliation (the three Rs) should not raise the debt ceiling if it is required to extend tax cuts; should not reduce spending on Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid; and should redirect DOGE savings to veteran homelessness and fulfilling America First promises.

The idea that my “kitchen table” budget would include nebulous future savings, like winning the lottery, to extravagantly spend what I don’t have specific accounting for is Republican Reconciliation Irresponsibility. This should be a Republican Reconciliation Responsible fiscal objective. Republican voters in the last election should be equally opposed to these Reconciliation proposals, and support the Opposition’s 3 Rs: Responsible Republican Reconciliation. This Opposition should include all of us.

Bob Thomas

Weare