What if a piece of legislation, wrapped in patriotic language and promises of tax relief, was quietly dismantling the very foundations of democracy, community, and environmental stewardship?
That’s exactly what many of us believe is happening with the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1), passed by the House this May. It’s been called beautiful. Bold. Even historic. But let’s be honest—when you peel back the layers, this bill is a full-scale blueprint for weakening the role of local communities, eroding environmental protections, and concentrating power in ways that run counter to everything I’ve spent my life advocating for.
1. It Rolls Back Environmental Progress
This bill guts clean energy programs and pours billions into fossil fuel exploration. It undermines climate resilience and cancels out incentives that helped communities transition toward sustainable practices. Conservation entrepreneurs, like myself and many of you reading this, know that protecting the land and using it wisely isn’t just good for nature—it’s good business. This bill turns its back on that truth.
2. It Punishes the People Closest to the Land
Farm workers, local food producers, and the people who take care of our natural resources—many of them immigrants or low-income families—are hit hard. The bill cuts access to basic programs like Medicaid and SNAP, adds punitive work requirements, and punishes states that support immigrant populations, even when they’re here legally.
If we want to build thriving conservation communities, we need to support the people doing the work. This bill does the opposite.
3. It Undermines the Courts and Our Ability to Push Back
One of the most dangerous aspects of the bill is that it limits the ability of federal courts to check executive overreach. That might sound procedural, but it’s not. Our courts have been critical to defending public land, clean water, and environmental justice. Without them, the door opens wide for top-down control with little accountability.
4. It Uses Populist Language to Mask Authoritarian Goals
Eliminating taxes on tips. Creating MAGA investment accounts. These might sound like wins for working people, but they’re just shiny distractions. The real impact? Massive tax cuts for the wealthy, reduced funding for social programs, and a deeper divide between those who have and those who don’t.
Authoritarian systems often use feel-good slogans to get people cheering while they quietly consolidate power. That’s what’s happening here.
5. It Undermines Local Resilience and Conservation Entrepreneurship
The heart of my work—whether through The Conservation Company, my writing, or local food and landscape initiatives—is about helping communities build resilience. This bill strips resources from towns, ties the hands of local leaders, and puts decision-making in the hands of a few powerful voices in Washington.
It’s the opposite of what we need.
Final Thoughts: This Isn’t Just Policy—It’s a Test of Our Values
We have a choice. Do we allow this kind of top-down, extractive, and regressive legislation to shape our future? Or do we push back with real solutions rooted in conservation, education, and democratic values?
The so-called Big Beautiful Bill is not beautiful. It’s a warning.
Let’s take it seriously.
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Ron Dodson
Founder, The Conservation Company
Publisher, The Nature of Things