“Trump goes too far, but he’s delivering a prosperous America” was the opinion headline that caught my eye. These articles are hard for me to read, but I do because I want to try to understand the unwavering loyalty millions of Americans still have to our President. As an opinion piece, I hoped from some insight as to this blind loyalty that seems to have gripped our country.
It was a tough read, to say the least.
The author, Tim Swarens, gives a few instances of the good the President has done but then took too far. He concludes Trump’s border policies and actions to stop “unchecked entry” were all successful. But Trump took it too far by cutting off “legal channels for refugees.” Mr. Swarens followed this assertion with a patriotic reference of welcoming huddled masses from the Emma Lazarus’ poem, “The New Colossus,” displayed on the Statue of Liberty.
Mr. Swarens also touts Trump’s handling of foreign policy, citing a peace deal in Gaza, stopping Iran’s nuclear ambitions, etc. But, he thinks Greenland was going too far.
His opinions are certainly debatable.
He conveniently doesn’t mention the thousands of children separated from their parents in Trump’s first term. In his second term, Trump is continuing to separate families by deporting parents. This is simply and plainly immoral. There is no ethical justification for separating families.
Mr. Swarens also fails to mention that not all avenues for refugees were cut off. White South Africans, so viciously persecuted in their native land, are being welcomed with open arms.
As for foreign policy, people are still dying in Gaza. While there may have been success in Iran, there is not enough information to say their nuclear enrichment facilities were “completely and totally obliterated” as stated by the President.
And Greenland isn’t the only “too much.” Trump has bullied, belittled, denigrated, and alienated long-time allies while cozying up to and praising dictatorships.
Then, Mr. Swarens goes on to turn the “too much” tables. He says, “. . . one of the best things Trump has going for him is his most rabid critics in the Democratic Party and the news media. They are so unrelentingly over the top in their attacks on the president and the 77.3 million Americans who voted for him in 2024 that they discredit themselves.”
Mr. Swarens steals from the Trump playbook of using inflammatory, over-the-top adjectives to discredit his detractors when, in reality, such language discredits the speaker. There is no need for such language if an argument is valid.
I think the idea Trump is delivering a prosperous America is debatable. But, even if it were true, prosperity should not come without regard for the cost.
Here are just a few of my issues with the president:
- He seems to want only two things as President: to enrich himself, to exact revenge on those who defy him.
- His disregard for humanity (e.g., abolishing USAID, separating families, holding human beings in deplorable conditions)
- His disregard for truthfulness and the truth.
- His treatment of women (e.g., stating he can grope and kiss women without asking, having to pay damages to a woman he sexually assaulted)
- He is a convicted felon.
- His lack of respect for the Constitution and fidelity to the oath he swore to uphold.
Which leads to the 77+million who voted for him. There are just so many issues with this President. How does one support him considering any one of these issues on its own, let alone as a whole?
First, I have to note the millions of those voters who have soured on Trump. Not surprisingly millions regret voting for him. Incredulously, though, millions don’t. What is more astonishing is the number of Trump voters whose lives have been completely upended by his policies and yet Trump is still their guy.
I don’t get it. But, let me be specific on just one issue.
If you support his crackdown on immigration then you also support families being torn apart, communities being terrorized, people including US citizens being detained and deported illegally, people dying in detention facilities, and now US citizens being killed by federal agents. Because you can’t separate one from the other. This is what this administration does. There is no restraint. Everything goes too far.
Mr. Swarens ends his piece by saying:
“Bottom line: It’s been a messy, at times ugly, often frustrating year. At the same time, America is stronger, safer and more prosperous than a year ago. Trump is like those drugs advertised on late-night TV: Side effects may include mood swings, irritability, loss of appetite and hair loss. But he still beats the alternative.”
Messy?? Ugly?? Frustrating??
Forget about illegally imprisoned/deported US citizens, rising prices of food and other essential goods, unaffordable healthcare. People are being killed by the government, for heaven’s sake. (Mr. Swarens forgot to add death to the list of side effects.) And he calls that “messy and frustrating.” I’ll agree it is all ugly, hideously ugly.
I have to wonder what alternative doesn’t beat Trump?
Stealing a thought from a Facebook post by Tara Connolly, if you don’t have a problem with any of the this, you ARE the problem.