When Policy Becomes Harm — Why the “Big Ugly Terrible” Bill Is a Direct Attack on Our Families
The U.S. Senate has passed what many are calling the “Big Ugly Terrible Bill,” and we couldn’t agree more with that name. At Roots of Wisdom Scholars, we work every day with young people and families across North Carolina who are already carrying the weight of systemic inequities. This bill doesn’t just miss the mark—it delivers a devastating blow.
Here’s what’s at stake:
Over 20 million Americans risk losing healthcare access
More than 2 million families could see critical food assistance slashed
Meanwhile, the wealthiest individuals and corporations stand to gain major tax breaks
This is not fiscal responsibility. This is fiscal violence—a brutal reallocation of resources away from communities in need and toward those with generational wealth and institutional power.
The North Carolina Impact
In our home state, the stakes are even higher. North Carolina has long struggled with access to affordable healthcare, particularly in rural areas and Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. According to the NC Justice Center:
Nearly 1 in 6 North Carolinians still lack comprehensive health coverage
Over 800,000 NC residents rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table
Children of color in North Carolina are already disproportionately affected by poverty, housing instability, and school underfunding
This bill puts those same children and families on the chopping block.
At Roots of Wisdom Scholars, we’re not just talking about abstract numbers. We see the young people who show up to our programs hungry, anxious, or with untreated medical conditions—not because their families don’t care, but because the systems meant to support them have been gutted over time. The passage of this bill threatens to widen those cracks into canyons.
Our Call to Action
We are urging our community—and especially our North Carolina families, educators, and youth advocates—to speak out now:
📞 Call your U.S. Senator and demand that they vote against final passage or any related reconciliation measures.
📲 Share the National Parents Union’s social media posts and raise your voice online using the hashtags #StopTheBUTBill and #ParentPower.
🎥 Tell your story. Whether you’re a parent, youth, or educator, your truth matters. Tag @RootsOfWisdomScholars and @NationalParents so we can amplify it.
We Fight Because We Love
Our work is rooted in a love for our communities that refuses to be quiet. This bill is not just a legislative failure—it’s a moral one. And we believe in a North Carolina, and a country, where no child goes to bed hungry so billionaires can get another tax cut.
This moment demands all of us—our voices, our solidarity, and our action. We are proud to stand with the Parent Power Collective and the National Parents Union in saying: Enough.
Let’s rise together.
✊🏽 In Solidarity,
Roots of Wisdom Scholars
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