​Blog 531 – 01.21.2017

Changing Of The Guard

Today we in the United States have a new President, Donald J. Trump. I think, if the long primary and election season are any indication, that we are in for an interesting ride. A friend of mine posted her disappointment in the seventy some Democrats in Congress that decided not to attend the Inauguration in protest of Mr. Trump’s legitimacy as President. I thought it ironic that Trump himself came to political prominence by claiming falsely that Barack Obama’s Presidency was illegitimate because he was not born in the United States. And as far as her cry that the Democrats should work with President Trump I remember the Republican leaders in Congress vowing the night before his inauguration to make a new President Obama a one term President and to oppose any program he proposed.

I think it is very unrealistic to expect a lot of cooperation from Democrats on programs that they do not favor. That is not how politics works. It only works when common ground is found, win -win situations, deals. As long as either side is unwilling to find that common ground or to make compromises, or to make deals it will be business as usual in our government and little will be accomplished. President Trump and a Republican majority in the Senate and House of Representatives have two years to prove to the American people that their ideas and programs will make this country better. I wish them well. It is a far easier job being the loyal opposition, being against, pointing out why things will not work. It is far more difficult to make changes that people will perceive as good for everyone. “Trust me or trust us” will not count for much if two years from today we are still arguing about who won or how they won the election. Way passed the first two years of the Obama Presidency, Donald Trump and the “Birthers” that he lead were still questioning the legitimacy of President Obama’s election. A changing of the guard is supposed to be like a passing of the baton. When the pass is faulty the race is seldom won. When the changing of the guard is faulty the security of the country is at risk and little positive forward movement happens.

I don’t see a lot of positive signs from either side that government is going to get its act together. The clock is ticking. The American people are watching. Mid-term elections are coming. It is your turn, Republicans, show us that you’ve got what it takes to improve on the last eight years. But remember, We the People, not the spin masters will be the judge of how well you do. Good luck.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White