In Canada we do not get the full scope of issues going on in
the United States. Unless you read the New York Times or Washington Post, or
watch MSNBC, we don’t get the full picture of how Donald (I love tariffs) Trump
is trying, and in many ways succeeding, to reshape America and the world. His method
seems to consist of lies, misinformation, acting against his critics, usurping
the law, enriching himself, making Executive Orders appear to be laws (they are
not unless passed as a bill in Congress), and exhibiting misogyny and prejudice
against just about any individual person or group he doesn’t like.
Some recent ridiculous examples.
He has removed a number of female generals and admirals from
key positions in the military. He is also trying to politicize the military as
his own private army.
He and his supporters have openly lobbied for him to receive
the Nobel Peace Prize (Lester Pearson would roll over in his grave). And on
another note, his Trade Representative is lobbying for Trump to receive the
Nobel Prize for Economics “for his commitment to ‘restructuring’ global
trade rates. (Apparently excessive tariffs on the entire world is somehow
laudatory).
The USA is hosting the G20 Summit next year. Trump wants it held at the Doral golf resort,
which he owns. As he has done in the
past, even with his own security detail, he will expect all of the delegates
and their staff to pay for their accommodation and meals at the resort. And I’m
sure there won’t be any special deals during this event.
And then there was, and still is, DOGE, Department of
Government Efficiency. It has been reported that it has wasted $21.7 billion
since its inception six month ago by paying employees not to work. To try to blunt this department’s ongoing
onslaught, Democratic lawmakers are advancing a bill called, ‘Pick up after
your DOGE Act’. The name may be humorous, but the intent is not.
Have you heard of Laura Loomer. She is a reasonably attractive 32-year-old
Trump admirer who peddles conspiracy theories and gets people fired who she
thinks are not loyal enough to Donald Trump.
She has no official position in any government office but appears to
have the president’s ear. She has apparently
been responsible for at least twenty people getting fired including some
Republican stalwarts.
He has also found time to take control of the Kennedy Center
for the Performing Arts and wants to rename it the Trump Centre, cowed several prestigious
universities into paying large fines and changing their programs to suit his
fancy, bragged about the non-existent savings because of tariffs, and tried to take
control of the Federal Reserve Bank (the Fed) so he could lower interest rates.
You have to admit, he is changing the United States. It will be interesting to see what he does in
his third presidential term. When he starts that, he will be my current age.
