1. United States
2. S.D.
3. Letter

I’m writing to express deep concern about the current state of our country. It feels like we are dismantling the very systems that create trust in government and community. As a South Dakota-grown small business owner and parent, I depend on strong public institutions—arts programs, libraries, parks, and spaces that encourage diverse perspectives—to build a vibrant, safe, and inclusive place to raise my family and contribute to the economy. I’m alarmed by the erosion of oversight in critical areas: public education, food safety, environmental protections, and healthcare access. My ability to make informed decisions about my mental health, birth control, and overall wellbeing feels increasingly restricted, while the cost of care continues to climb. Funds and important roles are being stripped from essential institutions with little regard leaving the people who most need support—our kids, elders, low-income families, and immigrants— in a cloud of confusion, anger, and fear. These aren’t just policy concerns. This is about the kind of country we want to live in. One that upholds dignity, safeguards public health, supports families, and values community care. Right now, it feels like the entire US is slipping into a state of disarray that will be impossible to recover from. I urge you to protect the systems that hold us together before we lose them, and our country, entirely.