What happens at top

Leaders often set the tone, and the leaders of this country are no different. What we see happening at the top becomes normalized and modeled by others. So what type of message is our leadership sending? Well, let’s have a quick review of recent events.

The president of the United States has praised an election victory in Montana where the victor not only physically assaulted but literally body- slammed a reporter for asking an uncomfortable question. Republicans continue to consider massive spending cuts to vital public services, including to the Children’s Health Insurance Program, but will probably increase spending for the president’s unprecedented travel and time spent at his private properties, which he is also using to benefit financially on the public dime. President Trump’s brash behavior and rhetoric on his first international trip where he publicly lectured NATO and our allies seem to be the tipping point for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is now distancing Germany from the United States in foreign affairs.

Instead of America First, what we are seeing is Republicans and Trump First, and they are willing to use any means necessary to get what they want, whether that be throwing punches, isolating our allies, or taking away health insurance from the very people who voted for them. COLBY QUALLS

Little Rock