OPINION: The story of sacrifice: Whose greater good?

It’s becoming increasingly clear that one fundamental difference between Republicans and Democrats lies in their views on the federal government’s role in serving society — or, perhaps, consuming it.

Governments were established as an unspoken social contract. By working together, we collectively strive toward a more perfect union, raising all boats. Yet, Republicans have taken this idea of collective sacrifice to a disturbing extreme. 

Recent rhetoric from their ranks glorifies the concept of “self-sacrifice,” claiming that economic pain under policies like Trump’s tariffs is necessary to achieve long-term government reform. On Friday, my Republican counterpart likened the economic suffering of Americans to the pain of removing a cancer — a temporary agony worth enduring for the supposed greater good.

But let’s unpack this analogy. Who, exactly, is being asked to make the greatest sacrifices? Not Trump. Not Elon Musk. Certainly not people who have been blessed economically and are beyond the trenches of raising families and making the rent. And certainly not the billionaires poised to profit from these policies. 

The heaviest burden will fall on everyday Americans — the service workers in restaurants, stores, and government offices, salespeople who work from home, the nurses who staff the local VA Hospital, teachers in our schools, corrections officers, construction workers, and thousands of others who maintain public infrastructure, and keep our communities safe. These are the people already struggling to pay rent and feed their families, and they are the ones being asked to accept a spot on the brink of economic disaster.

How long will this pain persist? And for what purpose? So that Trump and Musk can reshape the federal government in their own image? 

On the other side of this so-called reform, what will life look like for the average American? Public schools could vanish, safety nets may be shredded, and the promise of a collective good replaced by a reality where billionaires hold all the power.

The irony of Republicans preaching “sacrifice for the greater good” is striking, particularly when compared to how they criticize Democrats. Democrats are mocked for advocating policies that feed the hungry, house the homeless, provide medical care, and eliminate grocery taxes. Somehow, acts of public service are spun as self-serving — lining our own pockets, they say. 

But here’s the truth: Local Democrats have never profited financially from their tireless efforts to lift others up. We sacrifice our time, talents, and resources to secure basic necessities for as many people as possible.

Contrast this with Republicans, who devote their time and treasure to dismantling government safeguards and redirecting the money saved by their “reforms” to the top. Musk, for example, conveniently lands a $400 million contract to provide armored Tesla trucks to the U.S. government. Whose interests is he serving? Is it truly selfless to “reform” government when doing so enriches your own coffers? 

If Republicans insist Democrats are lining their pockets through aid programs, they should show the receipts. Where’s the evidence? Meanwhile, the corruption benefiting Trump and Musk is public knowledge, easily verifiable, and unapologetically blatant.

Republicans’ call for personal sacrifice is not about the greater good; it’s about consolidating power on the backs of struggling Americans. It is the rhetoric of dictators, not public servants.

If DOGE obtains access to personal taxpayer data, it should expose Trump’s long sought after tax returns. DOGE should demand accountability from anyone who profits so handsomely under the guise of reform.

Don’t ask Americans to sacrifice for the “greater good” when the only beneficiary is a billionaire's bank account.

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Evan Koch is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.