If Democrats have discovered something from Republicans and their voters in the course of the first chaotic weeks of Donald Trump’s presidency, it’s that authorities spending is horrible, the worst, simply out-of-control, and itshould be frozen or lower—WAIT! NO, NOTTHAT SPENDING.THAT SPENDING IS GOOD!
That’s the distinction between us and them. Republicans solely care when they’reimmediately affected, and now it’s Alabama’s flip to endure the implications of their lopsided65-34 vote for Trump in 2024.
“Alabama’s junior U.S. senator mentioned she is going to work with President Donald Trump’s well being secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to ‘guarantee our nation stays on the forefront’ of innovation, analysis and care after funding cuts introduced Friday night time by the Nationwide Institutes of Well being,”reported AL.com, Alabama’s major media outlet.
That junior senator is Katie Britt, who you would possibly keep in mind from that creepy State of the Union rebuttal speech final 12 months (which wasmocked so nicely by Scarlett Johansson on “Saturday Night time Stay”). It seems Trump’s funding cuts to the NIH will deeply have an effect on the College of Alabama system.
Freedom-loving Alabama’s college system relies upon closely on federal {dollars} (from blue states, thoughts you). The truth is, the College of Alabama-Birmingham bragged that in 2023, it was among the many high 1% in recipients of federal analysis {dollars}—to the tune of $774.5 million. Taking a break from preventing socialism, the college bragged that “This milestone marks a $247.5 million enhance in funding over the previous 5 years and a 73 % development over the previous 9 years.”
However hey, maybe I’m being unfair. Universities are bastions of pointy-headed elitist intellectuals. After allthey would love issues like “science” and “medication” and “analysis” and socializing these prices—all issues that fashionable Republicans supposedly despise and oppose. So we will assume that the state’s all-Republican congressional delegation could be cheering the cuts, proper? Isn’t this what they voted for and supported, in spite of everything?
“Each cent of hard-earned taxpayer cash ought to be spent effectively, judiciously, and accountably—with out exception,”Britt advised AL.com. “Whereas the administration works to realize this objective at NIH, a sensible, focused method is required so as to not hinder life-saving, groundbreaking analysis at high-achieving establishments like these in Alabama.”
Ah sure, the analysis in Alabama that’s life-saving and groundbreaking and should not be hindered, not like all that different inefficient analysis that’s funded haphazardly in all the opposite states with all the opposite packages. I’m certain Britt’s concern has nothing to do with the truth that the College of Alabama is thestate’s largest employer, proper?
It’s so bizarre that the most importantmoocher states like West Virginia, Louisiana, and Alabama abruptly love socialism—so long as the {dollars} are spent on them and nobody else. And Alabama, theeighth-biggest moocher state within the nation which gobbles uptwice as a lot in federal funds because it pays in taxes, actually must be taught a lesson. Trump’s draconian cuts (instigated by his co-President Elon Musk and his shady DOGE cabal) gained’t damage blue states as a lot as they’ll decimate purple states. If Republican legislators and voters alike need these federal {dollars}, possibly vote for the occasion that believes in sharing the wealth and uplifting everybody?
Which brings us again to the distinction between us and them: We’re able to empathy, even when one thing doesn’t have an effect on us immediately. Republicans solely care when it does.
In the meantime, the College of Alabama might want to pinch pennies. Perhaps they’ll begin with soccer coach Kalen DeBoer’s $10 million annual wage, which can add as much asover $80 million by way of 2031.
