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House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Musk and President Elect Trump were included in negotiations of the original bipartisan bill. As it was about to be voted on, Musk told Republicans that if they supported it, he would make sure they had a primary challenger. Republicans scuttled the bill. Trump responded in support of Musk about half a day later.

Musk was willing to shut the government down, which would have placed hundreds of thousands of government employees on temporary leave without pay, impacting the Pentagon, National Parks, NASA, and more. Essential federal workers would work without pay, including air traffic controllers and military personnel.

Finally, Congress passed a bill which was like the first one, but with some differences. Five bills that would have provided $190 million of funding to “combat” childhood cancer were removed, though Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia was able to sponsor the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0, totaling $63 million, which passed.

The win for “President” Musk came when Congress stripped a measure that would have restricted American businesses from investing in technology factories in China. Musk is building factories in China and wants to build a huge AI data center there, risking national security. He will be unencumbered by the original restriction.

Musk, with Trump’s approval, leaves the US open for business.

(Source: Heather Cox Richardson, Letters from an American, Dec. 21, 2024)

April George

White Salmon

Viva Denmark!

Denmark has offered to buy the United States and give us free universal healthcare and improve our educational system! In the meantime, Denmark has refused Trump's imbecilic offer to buy Greenland. They’re not stupid … Go figure!

According to the 2024 World Happiness Report, Denmark is the second happiest country in the world, with a score of 7.6 out of 10; the United States was ranked 23rd, with a Happiness Index of 6.7.

Denmark offers a high standard of living, with free healthcare and college education, a great work-life balance with generous vacation time, a safe and stable society with low crime rates, beautiful natural surroundings, and a strong emphasis on gender equality and family life. Their society is built around “we” — not just “me.”

Taxes are 7% higher than the US for the average wage earner, but millionaire's and billionaire's have to pay their fair share with a top tax rate of 56% versus 40% in the U.S. Life expectancy is 1.1 years longer in Denmark, you're 46% less likely to be obese, and 18% less likely to live below the poverty line.

Women are 76% less likely to die during childbirth, and infant mortality is 41% lower in Denmark. Denmark has a climate change law that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 70% below 1990 levels by 2030, with net zero emissions targeted for 2050 — hoping to make their children’s lives better, not worse.

Denmark is ranked a "full democracy" at No. 6 in the world with a 9.28 out of 10 score on the Democracy Index. The U.S. is ranked No 29 at 7.85 — a "flawed democracy," which has steadily declined from a "full democracy" score since the 2016 Trump MAGA presidency.

Long live Denmark — let’s start copying the Danish if you really want to make America great again.

Bob Yoesle

Goldendale

Editor's note: Columbia Gorge News staff thanks all of our 2024 letter writers and encourages letters in the new year. See our letters policy, this page, for submittal information. To see the list those who submitted letters for publication in 2024, see page 5.