What our best hope is

After the 2024 election and before they assumed office, I made a list of hopes for the administration and Congress. It's time for a review.

I hoped that those of us who aren't billionaires would see our personal finances improve. Instead, average wage increases are not keeping up with inflation, and there's widespread concern about the cost of living.

I hoped for clean air and water. Instead, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is lowering and removing the standards and regulations the could prevent pollution.

I hoped that the Republican-controlled Congress would fulfill its responsibility as a branch of government. Instead, we have a Congress that can't or won't say "no" to the president, leading to some questionable Cabinet members. For example, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services has a bias against vaccines, and now we have the highest number of measles cases in the last 35 years.

I hoped that red state laws that deny appropriate health care for transgender minors would not become national laws. However, federal agencies are trying to achieve their anti-trans agenda by manipulating funding and Medicaid rules.

Last, I hoped that all of us would protect and defend our First Amendment and other constitutional rights. These rights are being challenged regularly, but it's good to see that organizations and individuals are standing up to defend them.

Our best hope is for people to continue to stand up for these rights in any way they can. Vote, donate, root out the truth, spread the word and/or protest to make your opinions known.

Kathy Sutton, Elgin