To the Editor:

We the people are inadvertently funding the dismantling of our democracy — As April 15th approaches let’s follow the money. Our tax dollars have been paying Musk and his companies, SpaceX and Starlink, with the promise of more government contracts to come. Tesla has also benefited from federal subsidies.

We fund the (In)Justice Department, which is no longer concerned about the rights of regular people but charged with supporting the president and his agenda. They are also making sure Musk is protected against any investigations into his operations and vowing retribution if Tesla dealerships are damaged.

Musk and DOGE are on the hunt for waste, fraud and abuse. Programs and departments designed to help average people, which we pay for, are being dismantled or in some cases gutted. NOAA, FEMA, Social Security, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the EPA, etc are being replaced by a new program called YOYO – You’re On Your Own.

For example, the ability to forecast storms will be diminished and once the damage is done there will be no FEMA to help in the recovery. YOYO. From this crowd it’s unlikely that you’ll even get the perfunctory “thoughts and prayers” message that usually follows any kind of disaster.

These cuts are needed to partially offset the costs of the tax cuts that the uber-wealthy and corporations have been promised by Trump.

Armed with new contracts and tax cuts, Musk will have even more money for his quest to buy new congressional supporters and judges who will promise to suppress any individual or entity that fails to bend the knee. The goal is to guarantee total government control by the executive branch. No more democracy.

So, the rich get richer, the US debt goes up, and for the rest of us — well YOYO!

BTW — Trump likes to golf at his own resorts so we the taxpayers have spent an estimated $26 million to accommodate his desires since he took over in January. Is this waste, fraud, abuse or all of the above?

Happy Tax Day!

Kathy Quinn

Newtown