1 week Ago
By Scott HuffmanLosing a loved one is one of life’s most profound tragedies. When we lose a family patriarch, we lose more than a person — we lose wisdom, guidance, and a cornerstone of our community and a friend who is irreplaceable. In these moments of shared grief, we come together, as generations before us have, to honor our dead and lay them to rest.
But today, that sacred act comes with a staggering price tag.The cost of a funeral already ranges from $7,000 to $12,000 — a financial strain for many working-class families. And now, under President Trump’s so-called “Liberation,” that cost is set to rise even further.
This hidden “Tariff on Death” is yet another blow to hardworking Americans — the working class.What’s most infuriating is the lack of thought behind these tariffs. Trump’s performance mirrors a jester in the King’s court.
The Liberation Day list includes absurd targets, like an island inhabited by penguins, while conveniently omitting Russia — a country whose actions have raised global concerns and invaded the sovereign nation of Ukraine. Why? Why wasn’t Russia included? It’s a question that demands answers.Just months ago, Trump inherited a robust economy.
Economic experts forecasted lower inflation and stability. During his campaign, he staged a table full of groceries, promising to lower costs on day one. Now, not only has he failed to deliver on that promise, but he’s openly admitted he doesn’t care if prices don’t come down.
His Liberation Day tariffs are already making things worse, further hurting the very people who make up the red, white and blue of our country — the working class. His tariffs wiped out $5 trillion in wealth — funds that could have revitalized American industry and jobs. Why can’t he simply leave the economy alone and spend more time on the golf course? Perhaps he’s aiming to break his previous four-year record.
Instead, he’s attacking the world — and those at home.This is more than an economic issue; it’s a moral one. At a time when families are at their most vulnerable, they are being forced to shoulder an even heavier burden.
The disparity between the working class—who make up the 99 percent of Americans — and the wealthy elite — the 1 percent — has never been more glaring. The 1 percent control the reins of capitalism, using figures like Trump to tighten their grip and extending more tax breaks for the 1 percent, blowing a hole in the debt. Look no further than Elon Musk’s meddling with our Social Security system to see how the wealthy exploit the backbone of America.
And who benefits? Only the 1 percent. The oligarchs benefit — through the use of fear. You know who else uses fear? Fascists.
That’s all they have: fear. Look at what fear did to Germany, to Europe and to our forefathers before us. My great uncles served in World War II, fighting against the very forces of fear and oppression.
History has proven that we, as a united people, can overcome and defeat those who wield fear as a weapon to oppress. Many of our family members who served this great country now rest in Rowan County’s National Cemetery, a solemn reminder of the courage and sacrifices made to protect freedom and democracy. Let us honor their service and sacrifice — and hope the jester in the king’s court stops using the Signal app for war plans.
Once again, it’s not the working class who benefits. Friends, it’s time to reconnect. I urge my friends and neighbors to stop learning about your neighbors vicariously through Fox News.
Talk to your neighbors, regardless of their political ideology. That’s where we start. That’s why we are not a Red County or a Blue County — we are a red, white and blue county.
Like I said, this tariff on death may not appear on Trump’s Liberation Day list, but make no mistake, it’s there, buried in the fine print they conveniently omitted—a mistake. However, it is a stark reminder of who bears the cost of irrational political decisions — and who benefits.Scott Huffman is a working-class, community leader, Navy veteran, director of information technology, small business owner and former candidate nominated twice for Congress.
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