Trump’s First Year

President Donald J. Trump has been in office a full year and will be giving his first State of the Union speech tomorrow night. I encourage you to listen carefully to what he says, and to what he doesn’t say. Silence can be very telling.

So, what have been his accomplishments?

Getting Neil Gorsuch confirmed to the Supreme Court was a big deal, and that he appointed, and had confirmed, eight other Federal Justices, who appear to be conservative, or true Originalists, is also good.

Withdrawing from the TTP trade negotiations was a plus, and starting re-negotiations on NAFTA is another, provided any deal reached is much better than the present one.

The Tax Reform was perhaps his biggest accomplishment, in my opinion, as it gives Americans more cash in their pockets and keeps it out of the hands of politicians. As a side spin-off benefit that was not expected, many companies are giving bonuses of $1,000 to $4,000 to their employees. This should help folks stay afloat better, as the economy is seeing large numbers of store closings and the auto industry is stalling.

The “progressives” decried the lowering of the business taxes, but Apple and other Tech firms announced they will be repatriating up to $400 billion dollars they have held offshore, as foreign business taxes were far less than American taxes. Apple has announced it “plans capital expenditures of $30 billion in the U.S. over five years and will create 20,000 new jobs at existing sites and a new campus it intends to open“. That repatriated cash will be taxed at the new 15.5% rate, which means  $62 billion in taxes that were not available as long as that money was held offshore.

Other companies have announced they will increase capital spending since the tax cut passed. Capital expenses are the engine of economic growth. Some companies are bringing manufacturing jobs to the US, also.

Trump will most likely claim the Stock Markets sharp increase in valuations was the result of his policies, which may, or may not, be true, Regardless, the health of the Stock Market has little to do with the health of the economy. If the money invested in the Stock Market were, instead, invested in new plants and equipment, thus creating new jobs and productivity, the US economy would be in much better shape. Paper wealth in the Stock Market is meaningless to the average American.

What else? Trump has seriously gone after ISIS, which Obama refused to do. It is about time! ISIS has been decimated and virtually defeated in Syria and Iraq.

On the negative side.

Trump has failed to repeal Obamacare, though the repeal of the individual mandate was a success.

He has failed in his efforts on illegal immigration, for the most part, though much of his failure can be laid at the hands of Congress and the courts. Funding for “The Wall” has not been forthcoming. Illegal immigrants still flood into this nation, and cities and States are proclaiming themselves to be “Sanctuaries”. The globalist opposition continues to block him.

Draining the Swamp.

While Jeff Sessions basically sits on his hands, there has been some movement to Drain the Swamp. Several FBI and DOJ investigations into Uranium One, the Trump Dossier, the Clinton Foundation and the hoped for release of the infamous FISA memo are all grounds for some optimism, but where are the indictments? Only one man has been indicted, thus far, in the Uranium One scandal. When will more indictments be forthcoming in all the various scandals? When?

Finally, it should be pointed out that Donald Trump has been a master at changing the narrative. He plays the opposition as a chess master would. He attacks, waits for a counter-attack and mounts a more furious attack in response. The opposition is fixated on him, and becomes more laughable as they desperately seek to destroy him, but lack the wherewithal. They don’t understand populism/nationalism, since they reject both. They, after all, are globalist/collectivists. Trump was elected because he represents the growing anti-globalist upsurge in America. Some people, (like the globalist opposition), think it is about Trump. It is not. It is about the pride he voiced in America. It is about the awakening of Americans to the desired destruction of America and its values and heritage. It is about the Constitution and the Rule of Law. Trump is merely the figurehead. It is we, the people, who are revolting against corruption and the globalists.

 

 

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