Many people, myself included, stop listening when they hear a string of large numbers. Despite this, it would be wise if Americans would consider what the “big, beautiful bill” will do to our lives via the national debt.

Currently our national debt, at $36.2 trillion, is so large that each American would owe $230,000 if we were to pay it off. Already, before what the bill would add, we spend more in interest on the national debt than we spend on our defense budget. If the bill passes, our national debt would increase between $3 trillion and $5 trillion over the next decade.

Every administration, except one, since 1980 has increased the national debt. The problem now is that President Trump wants to increase it much more than prior administrations, and we are at a point where the U.S. will have to borrow money to pay the interest on the debt. This is a vicious cycle. When that happens investors and countries who now buy U.S. government bonds because they have trusted America may stop buying them and even cash them out.

If this happens, the interest rate in the U.S. will increase dramatically, and we will become a less successful, poorer, less respected country. Also, the bill will increase energy prices up to 20% for electricity because it will move us away from transitioning to cheaper renewables.

Please consider calling Sen. Collins and our other legislators and asking them to vote against the bill.

Nancy Hasenfus
Brunswick