Much will be learned as Trump Administration takes shapeDate: 11/18/2016 I saw a good friend after the election. She asked me if I was going to hate her for voting for Trump. I replied, “Why would I hate you?”
Many decent Americans, some in my own family, voted for Trump for a variety of reasons. I don’t hate them, nor do I hate my friends on Facebook and otherwise, who voted for Trump. I disagree with them and hope that any future political discussion could be civil and seen within the overall context of our relationships. I think there is plenty on which we can agree.
The simple fact is all of us will have to wait to actually see what a Trump Administration will be like. Over the next few weeks we will see whom he appoints to cabinet positions and will begin to see a more formal agenda for legislation.
Already there have been plenty of reports that campaign rhetoric is not translating into policy. That’s standard operating politics for many presidents, not just Trump.
It may develop into being a problem for him as many of his supporters view him as a Washington DC outsider who speaks his mind and goes against the establishment. What he is doing is very traditional.
Repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and replace it with something better? Well, on his “60 Minutes” interview aired on Sunday, Trump admitted there were elements of the ACA that he likes and approves.
Appoint a special prosecutor to put “Crooked Hillary” in jail? Here is the exchange between the president-elect and Lesley Stahl:
Lesley Stahl: You called her “Crooked Hillary,” said you wanted to get in jail, your people in your audiences kept saying, “Lock em’ up.”
Donald Trump: Yeah. She did –
Lesley Stahl: Do you –
Donald Trump: She did some bad things, I mean she did some bad things –
Lesley Stahl: I know, but a special prosecutor? You think you might –
Donald Trump: I don’t want to hurt them. I don’t want to hurt them. They’re, they’re good people. I don’t want to hurt them. And I will give you a very, very good and definitive answer the next time we do 60 Minutes together.
Build a border wall? Here is that exchange:
Lesley Stahl: They’re talking about a fence in the Republican Congress, would you accept a fence?
Donald Trump: For certain areas I would, but certain areas, a wall is more appropriate. I’m very good at this, it’s called construction.
Lesley Stahl: So part wall, part fence?
Donald Trump: Yeah, it could be – it could be some fencing.
Please note that while Trump can be seen as a populist, many of the people who now surround him are not. Do you think the Republican Party regulars really would support terms limits for Congress, for example? Ah, no. Neither would entrenched Democrats.
Much has been made of the people who are protesting the election. I saw the turnout in Springfield on Sunday. It is an act of fear and disappointment, which will have little impact on the Trump Administration. Remember, if the protest is legally done, the people have a constitutional right to do so. If Clinton had won, I’m sure in today’s climate, there would have been protests.
There is much to do to make this country a better place. We need to improve our infrastructure, which in turn would create jobs. In light of climate change – the droughts in the Midwest and far west – we need to return to more localized agriculture. To fulfill the demand for precision manufacturing and construction jobs, which are going unfilled, we need to increase our vocational education and recruitment policies. The move away from fossil fuels to renewable sources protects the environment and creates jobs and business opportunities.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
I am now a card-carrying member of the loyal opposition. I will support the policies with which I agree and I will work against those I don’t. I hope the people who did not vote for Trump will join me in a continuing effort to talk about issues and take appropriate action.
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