On Sunday March 9, 2025, at 2:30pm at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield, there is the “No Kings in America – Rally for Democracy.” Billed as a rally against Trump, it sold out – 1700 seats – in what seemed like minutes.
Maybe it indicates that what people really want, is something that will express their opposition to the present administration; that will provide signs that democracy has teeth, that the laws can impose limits, and that doing “bad” things has consequences.
Wait, what about the 76,000,000 who voted for Trump? What about my good pal up from Florida who thinks this administration is cutting waste? What about my girlfriend who brought homemade chocolates and takes care of the frail elderly? She loves Trump, and is afraid to say so because, she thinks, then everyone will hate her? They too are part of our lives and our community, what do they want and need? It seems like the greatest of great divides, but is it?
First, folks on both sides of the seeming divide agree these are challenging times. The National Catholic Reporter, headlined: Catholic Charities Warns millions of Americans who rely on this life-giving support will suffer due to the unprecedented effort to freeze federal aid supporting these programs.”
Locally, the Nonprofit Center warned, “This is without a doubt the most disconcerting time for nonprofits who fear they may lose a third or more of their funding.” Does the administration demure or deny? No, they agree.
President Donald Trump said that Americans could feel “some pain” from the emerging trade war triggered by his tariffs. Trump’s White House ordered a pause in all federal grants and loans, a sweeping decision that could disrupt Medicaid and education “med-ed.” Elon Musk says Americans must suffer “hardship” from his cuts.
So, we have an agreement on the shape of the problems to come. There is another thing we will agree on: as government services are taken away and folks begin to be homeless, hungry or must file a medical bankruptcy, we will all want to help – Democrats, Republicans, MAGA or Independents. That is who we are. That is our common ground. We don’t have to seek common ground – we are standing on it.
What people really need and truly want is to find a way to go forward together even when there is more than one side. They want to figure out how.
Without forgetting that Stockbridge Updates’ mission is to provide local news, right now, national politics is having a major impact on us locally. It will continue to. So, SU dedicated this issue to wondering how it is affecting us and what we can do about. We hope some of it is useful, and hope, if you have something to add, you will jump right in and join the conversation.
Editors note: Both the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid have recently been cut.
Carole Owens
Executive Editor
