Arthur E. Sowers is a resident of Harbeson.
Since Donald Trump returned to office earlier this year, unemployment in Delaware has gone up. This quote, “Delaware Unemployment Rate is at 4.30% (for August), compared to 4.10% (in July) and 3.70% last year,” comes from ycharts.com. Delaware is one of 22 states said to be in a recession in this Oct. 5 article from MarketWatch: “Are we in a recession? Yes — if you live in one of these 22 states.”
A worst-case recession estimate is in a Newsweek article dated Sept. 5: “Recession Probability Surges to 93%: UBS.”
A pewresearch.org poll, dated June 11 and done in 24 foreign countries, revealed that 62% are not confident in Trump to do the right thing and only 34% are confident.
This MSNBC article, dated Oct. 6, says: “Despite campaign promises, White House eyes new changes to Social Security and Medicare.” Since Trump’s return to office, service has gotten worse, and additional policy changes are being developed that will end up decreasing or blocking many more benefits to more people.
From all of that, it looks like we are not getting Trump’s “golden age” as he promised. I appreciate that Trump may have played a big role in ending the Gaza-Israel hostilities, but I ask what happened to “America First”? Instead, we, here in the U.S., are going in the opposite direction.
According to this March 19 article, “Trump is busy finding the legal loopholes needed to reign supreme” and thereby cheat the letter or spirit of the law however he wants.
In this May 16 Slate article, “The Trump DOJ Tells SCOTUS Its Plan to Ignore the Courts.”
It didn’t take long. This July 16 article on thehill.com reports: “King Donald? Supreme Court grants Trump power to repeal laws at his whim.”
But did that matter? This has already been going on, according to this July 21 article in the (British) Independent, which says: “What order? Trump team ignoring 1 in 3 major judicial rulings against them, analysis finds.”
In this Oct. 7 article, we learn how the Supreme Court looks like it will allow POTUS to expand its power and diminish SCOTUS’ power: “The Supreme Court is headed toward a radically new vision of unlimited presidential power.”
Though polls are not favoring Trump, he may evade being voted out of office anyway. This Aug. 3 Brennan Center for Justice article is saying Trump may cheat on future elections: “The Trump Administration’s Campaign to Undermine the Next Election.”
An Aug. 4 article on peoplesworld.com gives a further explanation: “Trump plan to end free elections in 2026 and 2028 revealed.”
Trump has been expanding his power and punishing, suing and repressing former and perceived enemies. Indeed, several of many high-profile Trump enemies have already been indicted in what are described by experts as weak cases. For example, in this Oct. 11 MSNBC article, it looks like the details in the case against Letitia James make the case unconstitutional: “Why a jury may never hear the case against Letitia James.”
I think not all Republicans want what Trump is pushing. For example, a March 30 Newsweek article said: “Most Republicans Back Judges Reviewing Donald Trump’s Policies — Poll.” Trump’s absolute and continuous disdain for Democrats and perceived enemies has been publicly visible for years and is getting worse. At the Charlie Kirk death commemoration, Erika Kirk was generously and compassionately forgiving, but Donald Trump amplified his hate, as reported on the-independent.com in a Sept. 22 article: “Erika Kirk ‘forgives’ Charlie’s killer before Trump declares ‘hate’ for foes in politics-laden eulogy.”
I don’t know if Trump was having a “Pinocchio moment,” but an Oct. 13 Newsweek article said: “Donald Trump Says He Doesn’t Think He’ll Get Into Heaven.” History shows that people in high office sometimes admit to self-doubt.
Just for the record, all my life, from the Eisenhower administration up to about 2016, I was satisfied and comfortable with our political system, regardless of how the elections came out and who won. Before 2016, everyone “played nice.” Not anymore.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
