u/Brilliant-Duck-6010

I understand why this district has voted Republican since 1981. Smaller government, fiscal responsibility, Christian values. I understand these principles. But I've been looking at what's actually happened over the past year+ and this is not what's being delivered. These values are weak at best right now. Here's what the numbers actually show:

The tariffs were ruled illegal. The Supreme Court — not liberals, not the media, a 6-3 Supreme Court that has overwhelmingly supported Trump in recent decisions — ruled Trump's tariffs unconstitutional in February. The government now owes $166 billion in refunds to businesses that were illegally overcharged, racking up $22 million in interest every single day. Trump replaced the illegal tariffs with new ones the same week, also deemed illegal. Prices stayed up. The deficit still grew by $250 billion this year despite collecting record tariff revenue, and the deficit will grow further when taxpayers pay back these illegal tariffs. That's fiscal irresponsibility, and taxpayers will bear the brunt of these poor decisions.

We're paying for a war that didn't have to happen. $29 billion and counting. Gas over $4.50/gallon — up $1.30 since February. In 2018, Trump pulled out of the deal that was keeping Iran's nuclear program under strict inspection and hard limits. After he left, Iran accelerated its enrichment and got closer to a bomb than it had ever been while the deal was in place. The war we're now funding — with our tax dollars, troop lives, and money in our wallets at the pump — was made significantly more likely by that 2018 decision. When asked last week how much Americans' finances motivated him to end it, Trump said on camera: "Not even a little bit. I don't think about Americans' financial situation. I don't think about anybody." He was asked about it on Fox News and said: "That's a perfect statement. I'd make it again."

Cliff Bentz voted with all of it. Every single time. He is not leading. He is a sheep. He is showing he does not care about fiscal responsibility or veterans. He voted yes on the Big Beautiful Bill — which independent analysis shows will cut healthcare for up to 70% of children in this district. He voted yes anyway. He's canceled his town halls. He won't take the Vote Smart political positions survey. He's the only person in Congress representing us, and he's made himself hard to reach while voting to cut the programs rural Oregon depends on most.

I'm not asking you to vote a certain way, but please vote for your values. If your reason for voting Republican is fiscal responsibility and straight talk — it's worth asking whether that's what we're actually getting.

Sources on everything above, happy to share.

Over the past year+, I've been frequently discouraged, frustrated, and often just plain angry with the leaders of this country. Unlike any other time in my life, I've realized that what's going just pushes hard against my values.

Values like integrity, love for fellow humans, learning, love for nature, humility, kindness, goodness, and generosity are being pummeled. I don't think it's an exaggeration when people say that our country won't be the same after another 2 years without checks and balances on Trump and his cabinet. I've learned a lot recently about how government works, past and present, and how money influences decisions, and we're heading in a dangerous direction--again, if you value things like the above. I'm not a partisan voter. I've voted Republican in the past--for leaders that I thought shared similar values.

So a few questions--

1. How are you coping with the tension of trying to not let this bring you down and impact yourself, family, friends while also trying to do something to make a change?
2. What is the status of the midterms locally? It would be good to know if there's even a chance to unseat Bentz. We actually live in a district that, if turned, could make the difference in the future of our country and world.
3. Why is there no widely supported boycott to induce change? Or is there? Money is really the only thing that makes this administration change anything.

TLDR: Every time I think that something he or his cabinet does would have some serious consequences for Trump, it never happens:

• convicted of sexual abuse (still elected, twice)
• 5 civil lawsuits against Trump for abuse or sexual assault (still elected, twice)
• accused in official FBI documents in Epstein files of child molestation (no consequences)
• convicted felon--falsifying business records to hide his adultery with adult film star (still elected)
• largest single day protest in US History, squarely against Trump (no real change, big beautiful bill passed shortly after major protest)
• 2 citizens murdered (no official discipline/consequences for the ICE agents involved)
• drug boats blown up over international waters with no proof, well beyond what our country legally does to drug traffickers (we do not execute people in US when caught selling drugs)--(we continue to blow people up and make fun of it with no real Congressional pushback)
• began illegal tariffs that increased inflation, and when these were deemed illegal, taxpayer dollars will foot the bill to the tune of $2000-$4000 per household (the only real pushback in the past 1.5 years--Supreme Court ruled illegal--but no real consequences for Trump, and we continue to pay the price, literally)
• starting Iran war for no valid reason, and putting troops in harm's way unnecessarily (no real congressional pushback)
• 13 troops killed (Iran war continues)
• 100+ children killed in Iran by US at least partially caused by poor planning and cuts by DOGE (Iran war continues)
• numerous conflicts of interest identified with administration profiting off of policies (no consequences)
• Trump continually makes a mockery of most Christian values (still elected and supported by Christians)