By Joel Mathis, Regular Opinion Correspondent
February 25, 2025
Senator Eric Schmitt, a Republican from Missouri, has recently defended the disruptive actions of President Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk towards the federal government. But as bold as Schmitt’s rhetoric sounds, there’s a troubling question that remains unanswered: What happens when disruption doesn’t lead to a solution?
Schmitt’s recent statement on social media, where he declared that the 2024 election was all about wanting “fighters to disrupt Permanent Washington,” reflects a common refrain among political figures who seem to embrace chaos as a method of reform. On the surface, it sounds daring, but the reality of what disruption means in real life isn’t nearly as appealing.
Disruption: A Buzzword with Real-World Consequences
In the tech world, “disruption” is a popular buzzword that promises innovation and transformation. However, in practice, it’s often more about causing chaos than creating something new. Just like the impact of the Great Depression, World War II, or the COVID-19 pandemic, “disruption” has historically meant hardships, not progress.
For many Americans, the idea of disruption isn’t appealing. Instead, what they really want is stability and the return to normalcy. This was reflected in the 2024 election, where the economy was the top issue for voters. According to Gallup, 52% of voters ranked the economy as “extremely important,” and another 38% considered it “very important.” With rising prices for everyday essentials like food, gas, and housing, many Americans were looking for a solution to the pain caused by inflation, not more disruption.
Did Voters Really Want This Kind of Disruption?
The disruption being touted by figures like Trump and Musk comes with very real consequences for everyday people. Take, for example, the layoffs at Haskell Indian Nations University, which resulted in students being left without teachers and the future of the institution hanging in the balance. Or the story of Maria Loconsolo, a woman who had only just begun her career in mental health services, only to find herself out of a job due to federal cuts.
And what about the farmers in Missouri and Kansas, who are now facing uncertainty about government subsidies just as they approach the critical spring planting season? Did these disruptions help them, or did they simply add stress during an already challenging time?
One of the most telling examples comes from the IRS, where 6,000 employees, including around 100 in Kansas City, were laid off right in the middle of tax season. This decision added more chaos during a time when people rely on the government to help with their tax returns, further complicating an already stressful process.
The Real Cost of Chaos
Schmitt may argue that the “status quo” benefits the elites and the powerful, and there’s truth to this. Many government programs do disproportionately benefit those who are already in positions of power. However, simply tearing down existing systems without a clear, viable alternative harms the working-class people these leaders claim to support.
When services like education, mental health care, farm payments, and others are slashed, who wins? Certainly not the everyday workers who rely on these services to live and thrive. The winners in this scenario are often the wealthiest individuals who can weather the storm while the average person bears the brunt of these cuts.
Schmitt’s vision of disruption seems to miss the point: the constant upheaval is not solving any problems. It’s simply creating more messes that people have to clean up. Disruption without a clear purpose or end goal isn’t reform — it’s just destruction.
A Call for Stability Over Chaos
It’s time for leaders like Schmitt to reassess their view of disruption. People didn’t vote in 2024 to see their livelihoods upended and their communities torn apart. They wanted solutions to their everyday problems, not more chaos.
In the end, the disruption we’re witnessing isn’t leading to better outcomes for most Americans. Instead of chaos and uncertainty, what the country really needs is stability, thoughtful leadership, and policies that focus on rebuilding and improving the systems that affect people’s daily lives.
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