As we approach the 100-day benchmark of the Trump Presidency, one may ask if we are better off than we were 4 months ago. Trump was swept into office on a wave of promises to lower prices, deport criminal aliens, end the Ukraine war, cut government spending and deliver retribution … all on day one.
Today, his foolish tariffs have spiked inflation, while stock markets have had the worst year since 1932 and global trade relations are shambolic. His deportation policies have neglected due process and the rule of law, while provoking a conflict with the judiciary branch where he loses 93% of his court cases. The war in Ukraine rages on and the DOGE spending cuts from the 280,000 layoffs of federal employees and program eliminations have totaled 150 billion dollars. The original target was 2 trillion, then 1 trillion dollars.
When will the leaders of the GOP and the captains of industry speak out about the havoc which has been wrought on the country? What matters most to voters besides the economy? I don’t think it is tax cuts for the top one percent of wealthy people.
Immigrants are being picked up and deported without notice or access to the courts for due process. Our reputation as a reliable ally, trading partner, friend and neighbor is in shambles. Our ability to adhere to the rule of law and maintain checks and balances is in the hands of a one-man wrecking ball in the White House. It begs the question if we can remain a free country. Trump continues to overplay his hand with attacks on anyone who displeases him, even though he chose them to be in his administration. Some of his woefully unqualified Cabinet picks have demonstrated their incompetence. His Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegspeth, has jeopardized national security two times by using the unsecured Signal app for transmitting classified information to people without security clearances; yet Trump stands behind him with no compunction.
People are gathering all over the country in town halls and public rallies to protest the present sad state of affairs. The message is loud and clear. The levers of government should not be solely in the hands of one man who has no regard for anyone’s interests other than his own insatiable desire for the power to dismantle our government and bend the populace to his will.
Don Hiddleson, Millcreek
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