According to a CNN Election 2024 exit poll 97% of Harris voters identified the word “scared” concerning their feelings if Donald Trump were to be elected president. I am also scared . Trump tends to be narcissistic, ignorant and erratic. He is a threat to the future of democracy in our country. That said, it is not inconceivable that Trump will do some things that will be good for America. This column will take a look at some of them.
Controlling Federal Government Expenditures
Trump has established an advisory commission, Department of Government Efficiency(DOGE) to recommend ways to reduce federal government expenditures and increase efficiency. One possibility is examining the Pentagon budget which is rife with waste and inefficiency . For example, a government contractor lost two million spare parts of the F-35 fighter jet The Pentagon followed up on only twenty thousand of them. Some civilian expenditures just don’t produce much and need to be examined. For example, the $7.5 billion allocated for EV charging stations has resulted in only 44 stations being built nationwide so far.
Foreign Affairs
For years our country has pressed our NATO allies to expend a greater share of their GDP on national dense. The goal is to make our allies take on more of the financial and military burden that has been borne disproportionately by the US. Under President Biden many NATO countries have been increasing their defense expenditures but not yet to a sufficient level subsequent to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine . Trump is credible when he says that those allies who don’t carry their share of the military burden don’t deserve an American guarantee to come to their defense. Because of the possibility of US withdrawal from its commitments to NATO European countries now seem more willing to increase their defense preparedness.
Britain and Ukraine recently signed a 100 Year Partnership agreement. It indicates a stronger commitment by a NATO country to the defense of Ukraine.
It is worth noting that Trump was instrumental in pushing Bibi Netanyahu into accepting an Israel/ Hamas ceasefire.
Illegal migration:
Trump has spoken of deporting 11 million people who entered our country without prior permission and may even have remained after receiving deportation orders. Such a massive deportation would be morally abhorrent . However , some policies would legitimately enforce our borders , which is the right and obligation of every sovereign country.
One of these is the Laken Riley Act named for a 22 -year old nursing student who was murdered last year. The murderer had been arrested in 2022 for entering the US illegally. The murderer was “ paroled and released for further processing” according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The LRA will require ICE to issue detainers and take into custody undocumented migrants who are charged with committing crimes like robbery. It passed the House by 264-159 with 48 Democrats voting for it . In the Senate the LRA already has the support of six Democrats .
Iran: This enemy of America has been developing nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them for years. Some restrictions were placed on Iran’s nuclear program by the JCPOA agreement of 2015 signed by Iran, the US and several other world powers. In exchange Iran received sanction relief. However the agreement was deficient in what it covered and in its enforcement. Trump withdrew the US from the JCPOA in 2018 . Iran began ignoring whatever limitations the JCPOA called for and Trump imposed significant economic sanctions. Several factors make a new, comprehensive and enforced agreement possible. Iran is in serious economic trouble and its strategic position has been weakened by the loss of its allies Syria and Hezbollah . A public offer of economic sanctions relief coupled with an implied threat to use military force if necessary may convince Iran to put is nuclear weapons program under comprehensive restrictions and safeguards that are enforced
Tariffs. Trump pledged to impose heavy “ universal tariffs” on everything imported into the US. That would be an economic disaster. However the Washington Post reports that a significantly different policy is under consideration. It would impose tariffs based on national defense and protecting critical domestic supply chains for the production of medical supplies and energy production (e.g. batteries and solar panels). Given the supply chain disruptions experienced during the Covid epidemic that would be a very good idea and would piggyback on the policies of the Biden administration.
It may be that the second Trump administration will effectuate the worst policies he spoke about during the presidential campaign . That would be a disaster for our country. However, some policies beneficial to our country may be on Trump’s agenda. Let’s not reject policies that are good for America simply because it is Trump that is pursuing them.