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Trump’s Words A Day After

by John on 01/21/2017

trump-speech darkTrump’s inaugural speech was short, a break from tradition, but no different than his campaign.  But it raises so many questions and concerns.

Even conservative commentators are worried.

Now that you have had a day to mull it all, what are you thinking?

I have a number of conflicting reactions.

  • The first is to scoff at a lot of conservatives who I recall pushing for George W. Bush because he was somebody we could talk to a barbecue. Trump, to me, is a reaction to the folksy innocent politics from both parties that gave us little in return.
  • Second, I like Trump’s work attitude. Stop the pageantry and roll up our sleeves.  So this is where I say: let’s give him a chance but be vigilant in what he is doing.  It won’t be easy because we now have three parties: GOP; Dems; and Trump.
  • Three, maybe we need to change to an entrepreneur for the first time that throws crap against the wall and sees what sticks.
  • But, four, I admit his speech frightens me.

It is dark and angry; that’s not American.  It is loaded with populist and nationalist sentiment; that scares many of us who studied the 1930s.  No, he is not anti-Semitic. He is really anti-immigrant and pro-Middle America.  But there are echoes of pro-white that scare a number of my sources who happen to be American Jews.  Here’s one text from a frightened friend.

Trumps way CAN NOT be the only way.  It’s when good people start giving into bad ideas that you begin on the track to horrendous events.  The end does not justify the means, no matter how desirable the end is.  We CAN NOT allow discriminating because of anyone’s religion, color,  etc etc. We’ve seen that script before and it NEVER comes out good. I get very nervous when I hear good people begin to slide over to very bad solutions because they believe it’s the only way. Too many holocausts have resulted in this way.  We have to continue to wage war against bad individuals and not initiate racism against groups of people committed to peace.  There has to be some moral character somewhere,  if not here than where? If we lose this than we have lost that greatness we have fought wars to protect and preserve.  

His speech creates economic uncertainty.  Sure, trade agreements have hurt Americans, especially in the Midwest, who voted for Trump.  But I think Trump misses what is happening economically.

Trade agreements brought progress and innovation to the worldwide economy – and yes – helping other nations develop.  But we Americans failed to take care of our citizens who lost jobs and opportunity who eventually voted for Trump.  Both parties missed this.  The media missed this.  And give credit to Trump, he has a brilliant politic ear.  And he cornered a small but effective market – those voters in Michigan for instance – and got them to buy in.

That’s good politics.

But as far as looking for solutions, good politics and populism probably fails.

Populism feels good at first, but historically it fails to produce.  Those jobs, most would say, are not coming back.  The steel mills and coal mines are not going to open: there is no market; and the costs will make the companies uncompetitive.

If some of these companies acquiesce to Trump and re-create those jobs, you could see a rise in prices of goods produced here. That could lead to an economic downturn.

I don’t see too many CEOs or shareholders putting up with that.

What happens when those workers are not employed in their old jobs?

The Trump populism, I think, cannot defy the worldwide economic movement in years to come.  Shifting U.S. jobs overseas also creates innovation to produce new technologies at new jobs. This is Creative Destruction.

Plus, by keeping immigrants out of the United States, Trump could also stifle innovation in the U.S.  He might be chasing some of the would-be entrepreneurs to stay at home using technology and cloud innovations.  And if we have closed our doors to them, they may close their technologies to us.  Of course, he could be creating more entrepreneurs in the developing world that could turn those countries around.

In addition, I worry that many of our displaced workers, expecting these new Trump jobs, will need to be taken care of by government hand-outs.  Don’t see conservative Republicans going for that.

So, Trumps needs to implement two solutions.

  • The first is massive retraining. These workers need skills that work in the 21st Century economy.
  • Second, we need incentives to encourage new green technologies. Trump’s silliness of promising to open the coal mines and bring back the steel factories is so out of touch with the worldwide economy. Even China is moving ahead in green technology with massive investments.

What do you think Trump should do?

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