Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has been eager to propose federal budget cuts that purportedly save taxpayers money, but as the proposed cuts trickle down to the neighborhood level — like closing the U.S. Social Security Administration office in Franklin — residents are just as eager to show their disapproval.

To the Editor:

I did not vote for Elon Musk, and I am pretty sure that no one else did either as he was not on any ballot.  Then, why is this man able to disrupt and make changes in our governmental system and programs?  Sens. Tillis and Budd, and Rep. Edwards, do your jobs!

To the Editor:

Trump and his sidekick billionaire know exactly why our Constitution was intentionally designed with three branches of government. The speed with which they look to dismantle our checks and balances is proof that they look to install a government like Victor Orbàn has done in Hungary.

To the Editor:

The recent outrage by an ever-increasing number of Democrat talking heads about actions by Elon Musk and DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) brings to mind a play by William Shakespeare.

To the Editor:

I made granola today. I know that doesn’t sound like news, or even worth a letter to the editor. But it’s pretty significant for me because my anxiety has been so high, that I haven’t been able to do the everyday things I should be doing — like making the granola I’ve been out of for the last two weeks. 

To the Editor:

Trump and his puppet master Elon Musk are killing our economy that was recovering better than any other major nation after the terrible worldwide COVID experience, an economy with bipartisan infrastructure investments that were good for working people and poised to take off in a measured and secure way with inflation down and jobs up.

Often called “America’s best idea,” the National Park System founded more than a century ago has given generations of visitors from across the country and the world a unique opportunity to come together amid the bountiful natural beauty and historical dignity this nation has to offer.

To the Editor:

It has been hard to keep up with the news cycles during the first week of President Trump’s administration, but a few things deserve public ridicule. In his infinite wisdom, Trump pardoned and released about 1,500 January 6 criminal defendants into our communities to do violence and organize their militias.

To the Editor:

I asked Rep. Chuck Edwards about the massive changes made in our names by Elon Musk and others to reduce the size of government and he assured me that “Social Security will not be touched.” How can that be?

On a holiday meant to honor the nation’s presidents — past and present — demonstrators in Jackson and Haywood counties joined others who gathered in cities across the country to protest what they describe as a dangerous concentration of power under Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.