The Big Beautiful DISASTER

The Big Beautiful Bill Is a DISASTER — Even If You Think It Won’t Touch You

Dear Readers,

I want to talk to you heart to heart, not as a pundit or a political junkie, but as a neighbor, a fellow American.

This past week, something big happened in Washington. You might’ve heard the name floating around: the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—a title only a marketing team or a dictator could love. It's long, it's sweeping, it's loaded with shiny promises and terrible consequences.

I know what some of you might be thinking, and I recently heard it from a neighbor:
“It won’t affect you or me.”
You're a United States citizen. You’re working, you’ve got insurance, you don’t rely on government help. Maybe you even liked the tax cuts. Maybe you trust the people in power.

But let me tell you—this bill will touch everyone, whether you feel it today or two years from now.

What’s Really Inside This Monster?

The bill is nearly 900 pages long. It makes massive tax cuts permanent—mainly for the wealthiest Americans and corporations—and then it claws those billions back by gutting the programs many Americans rely on to survive.

• Over $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts

• Harsh work requirements to stay insured—80 hours/month

• Copays for the poor? Yes. Even children with asthma will need to budget.

• SNAP (food aid) slashed, new restrictions added

• Medicare sees $490 billion in cuts by 2034 unless Congress intervenes

• Green energy incentives? Gone.

• Healthcare for the disabled? Jeopardized.

Who Voted for It?

• In the Senate, it passed 51–50, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the deciding vote.

• In the House, it barely scraped by 218–214.
  Every single Democrat voted no. Two Republicans broke ranks. The rest pushed it through without a second thought.

And now, it’s law.

What It Means for People Like You

Let’s break this down. You may not be on Medicaid now. Maybe you never used SNAP. Maybe you’re healthy. That’s good. I’m glad you’re doing okay.

But here’s the truth: you’re not an island.

Let me paint a picture:

• Your elderly mom suddenly can’t afford her medications because Medicare cuts kick in next year.

• The veteran down the street can’t get seen at the VA because wait times have exploded from the influx of newly uninsured patients.

• The nurse at your kid’s school leaves because her hospital job was eliminated when Medicaid reimbursements collapsed.

• That young woman at the diner, the one who serves your coffee each morning, loses her food stamps. Her kid goes to school hungry.

• A disabled neighbor misses work because she can’t get to her doctor—her coverage quietly expired under new work rules.

• Anyone who fails to complete all the new paperwork required under this bill will lose their benefits. Elderly and disabled people doing paperwork is a disaster by design.

And what happens next? You step in because you're a good person. Because you care. But now you feel the strain.

This isn’t theoretical.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, over 11 million people will likely lose health coverage. SNAP cuts could force millions off food aid, and not all of them will survive that.

One health economist said bluntly: “We expect over 50,000 avoidable deaths per year due to coverage loss.”

That’s more than the Vietnam War every single year.

And even if you have insurance? Prepare to pay more. Premiums on the individual market are projected to rise by an average of $1,300 per year, and out-of-pocket costs are expected to increase in tandem. Why? Because with millions more uninsured, hospitals and providers shift the costs onto those still insured. That means higher deductibles, steeper copays, and fewer covered services, especially for plans bought on the ACA marketplace. So even the “lucky ones” with coverage are about to feel the squeeze.

What About the Veterans?

Veterans’ health wasn’t directly touched in the bill, but don’t be fooled. When millions lose access to care, the VA becomes the safety net, straining an already stressed system. Dual-eligible veterans (those with both Medicare and VA benefits) may now face rising costs and reduced benefits.

And what happens when you throw more sick, uninsured people into the ER? Veterans waiting for treatment may end up waiting even longer.

So when they say, “We didn’t cut VA care,” ask them how the system handles the overflow from the wounded left behind.

And the National Debt?

All this, and we haven’t even mentioned the price tag.

The bill adds between $2.4 trillion and $ 3.4 trillion (that's TRILLION, with a T) to the deficit over the next decade. Yes, trillion. Not because we invested in infrastructure or education but because the wealthiest Americans demanded permanent tax breaks.

That debt? Your grandkids will be paying it while watching their neighbors starve.

Why I’m Writing This

I’m writing this because I’ve had enough of the lies. The cruelty. The condescending language that says, “If you’re poor, it’s your fault. If you’re sick, try harder. If you’re hungry, work more.”

This bill isn’t about freedom. It’s about sacrificing our weakest to protect the richest.

I’m writing this for the dad who’s just trying to afford insulin for his kid. For the grandma raising her grandchild on Social Security. For the young woman working three jobs, still choosing between rent and groceries.

I’m writing this to you—even if you think this doesn’t affect you—because sooner or later, it will.

And when that time comes, I hope you’ll remember that a few of us were trying to warn you. Not to shame you. Not to win an argument. But because we care about what kind of democracy we live in today and the country we leave behind.

We either look out for each other, or we don’t.

I try to end all my columns with a call to action or ideas on what you can do today. Please read my earlier posts, "The Power of Protests" and “Independence Day Letter from Ben,” for some immediate ideas.

With truth and hope,
- Citizen Ben

If this message resonates with you, share it. If you can afford $5, become a paid subscriber. Independent voices like this are more essential now than ever.

Support Independent Journalism and Citizen Ben by Subscribing Today.

Related Article: