DESTRUCTION: What will take its place?

Destruction requires little more than impulse. But to build something of value demands patience, foresight and care. It takes time to lay foundations, to reinforce, to design with wisdom. Too often, what is lost cannot be replaced, like air traffic controllers, special education teachers and doctors counseling suicidal veterans.

Before tearing something down, we should ask: What will take its place? What do we hope to achieve? Are we prepared for the effort it will take to build something better? These questions separate thoughtless destruction from intentional transformation.

It is the job of Congress to manage the budget and oversee government actions. Yet, the representatives of Idaho have chosen to sit in the bleachers and cheer on the DOGE Demolition Derby. In light of being woefully derelict in their duty, shouldn’t Risch, Crapo, Simpson and Fulcher be the first to submit their resignation? Let the fired veterans, biologists, firefighters and caretakers tell us what can be done to make government more efficient. Not oligarchs.

May God bless and keep our veterans safe and whole while we allow what they have risked their lives for to be trampled and destroyed as our representatives hit the mute button and hide. Amen.

RUBY STROSCHEIN

Elk River