Echoes of Appalachia

Yesterday, Trump’s long-promised “big, beautiful” tax bill passed through Congress with roaring approval from Republicans. It’s being touted by its backers as a win for economic freedom and job growth, but for the average American—especially those in rural and struggling regions like Appalachia—it’s a ticking time bomb. While the wealthy celebrate permanent tax breaks, working people are left with short-term gimmicks and a future filled with loss.

This bill hands millionaires and billionaires a lifetime of financial protection. Corporate tax rates are slashed for good. Real estate developers, hedge fund managers, and multinational corporations walk away with new loopholes and deeper pockets. Meanwhile, the working class is handed temporary scraps designed to disappear quietly.

Take the “no tax on tips” provision—good for only two years. After that, it vanishes unless Congress renews it, which history shows is unlikely. The exemption for Social Security income only applies to seniors earning more than $70,000 a year, leaving the majority of retired Americans with no benefit at all. Overtime pay? Still taxed. Workers are told to be grateful they can claim a deduction at the end of the year, assuming they can afford the time and help it takes to navigate an increasingly complex tax code.

But what the bill gives away to the rich, it claws back from the rest—especially the poor. Nearly $1 Trillion will be cut from Medicaid and SNAP. In Appalachia, where poverty is widespread and many rely on government-backed health coverage, this is a death blow. Rural hospitals, already stretched thin, will be forced to cut services, lay off staff, or shut down entirely. These facilities often serve as the only source of emergency care, prenatal services, mental health treatment, and addiction recovery support in their counties. Without them, people will have to travel hours for care—if they can afford it at all.

Clinics and nonprofit health centers will also be hit hard. Many rely on Medicaid reimbursements to survive. Without them, they’ll be forced to reduce hours, limit services, or close their doors altogether. The ripple effect will be devastating: fewer checkups, longer wait times, and entire communities left without basic care.

The pain doesn’t stop at health care. SNAP benefits—lifelines for working families, seniors, and children—are being slashed. Food pantries, already operating at full capacity, will be overwhelmed. And without adequate federal support, many community-based nonprofits that provide meals, shelter, and other emergency services will no longer be able to meet the rising need. Some may be forced to shut down altogether.

These aren’t luxuries. They are life-saving resources in regions where jobs are scarce, wages are low, and the cost of living keeps climbing. This bill makes survival harder for people already doing everything they can to stay afloat.

And yet, the architects of this bill are counting on voters to forget. They’ve deliberately scheduled the most painful cuts to take effect after the midterm elections. It’s a political trick—delay the damage long enough to survive another campaign season. But Appalachia isn’t blind. People here know what betrayal feels like. They’ve seen factories leave, mines shut down, and promises broken. They know when they’re being sold out.

Let’s be clear: this was done by the Republican Party. They chose permanent tax breaks for the rich over stable lives for the working class. They voted to take healthcare, food, and security away from the most vulnerable. And they did it with smiles on their faces, hoping no one would notice until it was too late.

But it’s not too late. Not yet.

These elected officials were put in office by the people, and they can be removed by the people. It’s time to stop treating politics like a spectator sport. These career politicians have made their fortunes while the rest of the country suffers. It’s time to replace them—with younger voices, fresh perspectives, and leaders who haven’t forgotten what it means to struggle.

Appalachia needs more than slogans. It needs real change. It needs lawmakers who will fight for healthcare, not cut it. Who will invest in people, not corporations. Who understand that government exists to serve all of us—not just the wealthy few.

This tax bill is a turning point. The question now is: what will we do with it? Will we forget, or will we fight back?

Appalachia is watching. And it’s time to rise.

-Tim Carmichael