Dear Editor:

Let’s get real for a minute. I’m guessing that in Ouray County our interactions with federal government programs are connected primarily with Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, grazing allotments, and U.S. Highway 550. So why should we care that Elon Musk has issued an edict to all federal employees to explain their work or be fired? I’m suggesting it’s because this unelected, unofficial buzillionaire doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on, but he’s getting away with it because the constitutionally established arm of government intended to authorize and fund the operation of the federal government isn’t doing their job.

The U.S. Congress has the authority, and the responsibility, to authorize, fund and oversee all the programs determined necessary to implement the laws, also passed by Congress, that govern our nation. The president of the United States is the implementer of those programs, not their authorizer or their funder. That is the balance of power established by the U.S. Constitution as a check on an executive who would be king. So why is the U.S. Congress, including the people we elected to represent us, allowing Elon Musk to shut down congressionally established agencies, impound funds authorized by Congress, and bully government employees who have been charged with implementing laws passed by the Congress?

There are legal, constitutional ways for an administration with a majority in the House and the Senate to implement sweeping changes in policy, including changes in government programs and funding. But they require that our elected representatives take a stand on the issues as they are debated and voted upon. Shouldn’t we demand that our elected representatives do their job — do what we sent them to Congress to do: debate issues, vote on legislation and the programs and funding needed to implement that legislation? I recently heard a congressman interviewed on network news saying, “Oh, we intend to move on that, but first we need to get the information that Elon Musk is gathering so we know what’s at stake.” Since when does the U.S. Congress depend on the illegal theft of private citizens’ (our) financial, health, and political data by a man who knows that information is power? Since when does the U.S. Congress depend on information provided by such an individual to make “informed” decisions? We have serious issues to debate as American and Ouray County citizens; but I believe this is the biggest one.

Gail Slemmer

Log Hill Mesa