“Hide under your desks.” Directions given to students in 1950s air raid drills seem to be our Democratic senators’ response to MAGA bullying and menacing. Their support of the Continuing Resolution (H.R. 10545) passed under House Majority Leader Mike Johnson legitimized cruelty and destruction straight out of Project 2025. By voting with the MAGA House majority, Senators Shaheen and Hassan signaled approval of activity that would transfer Social Security and Medicaid dollars to plutocrats who pay no taxes — and eventually the funding of Medicare — from accounts we built with money taken from our paychecks. For many retirees and disabled people, that’s a death sentence, as even those of us who planned ahead rely on Social Security to meet basic expenses. Without Medicare or Medicaid, we cannot afford even basic medical care. For all their talk about veterans, our senators approved deconstructing the Veterans Administration at a time when many vets need extra services. No excuse is adequate in the face of capitulation to the party of greed, grift and despotism. Only fear explains their votes. Neither party stands up for us at the moment. It’s time for “good trouble,” as John Lewis would say. Attend a rally on April 5. Pick a topic: education, veteran’s affairs, Social Security, health care, environment, science, national security or any other one under attack. Resist! Our senators betrayed us. We have to defend ourselves. The cavalry isn’t coming.

Christine Hague

Weare