A common refrain heard of Donald Trump during the campaign and now that he is president-elect, has been a change from business as usual inside the Beltway is welcome. Also, that he being a successful businessman will translate well to governing.
Perhaps. Let us hope he is successful in leading the nation, and, from a reasonably pragmatic point of view, the world itself. For whatever failings that may have occurred in the United States, it remains the most powerful nation among the 196, if Taiwan is included — and Trump seems to think it should be.
Money and the military have impressed Trump to this point in his run-up to moving into the White House. Generals and billionaires have been choices for cabinet posts and other important positions within his administration.
The “swamp” certainly hasn’t been drained, and there’s no reason to think it entirely should be. Continuity is important from one administration to another, even as new ideas and differences surface with the new kid on the block. A multitude of programs must be maintained for the good of citizens, which should be the ultimate goal at any level of governance.
A clear example is the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). An editorial from the Washington Post eloquently noted in Monday’s Register that the ACA must not be repealed out of hand. Rather it should be kept in place until an adequate revision or even a new approach altogether is formulated. A multitude of the nation’s most vulnerable folks have come to depend on the insurance it provides.
Even staunch supporters agree President Obama’s signature legislation needs tweaking. What program in its infancy doesn’t?
The Register is well aware of several — probably many, truth be known — Allen Countians whose lives were saved financially by the ACA becoming law. Some literally.
Trump’s rhetoric in regard to “a beautiful wall” on the U.S.-Mexican border has lost some of its luster, and now it is being referred to as a fence.
No one should doubt that among the people who slip across the border some have bad intentions, but the vast majority of the 11-plus million illegals are here with one thing in mind, to earn wages that will lead to better lives for them and their families.
Control of foreign nationals coming into the country is necessary, but there are better ways than blacklisting for social, religious or political reasons. We had enough of that in the early 1950s with Sen. (Tail-Gunner Joe) McCarthy. A humanitarian approach has long been a great appeal of the United States, and it should continue to be so.
The national debt and budgets in which expenditures fly far above revenue are critical concerns for the nation, and a good many states. Thankfully, Kansas operates with a cash-basis law that makes it illegal for governments, state or local, to out-spend revenue that comes to their budgets.
The new president may be able to make some positive advances in financial matters, but we doubt that can be accomplished by cutting taxes — see Gov. Brownback’s failed approach — while significantly building up the military (much less rebuilding, as Trump said), by most accounts already perfectly capable of carrying out any mission it is given.
The real test of Trump’s ability to lead begins on Jan. 20.
— Bob Johnson
