Tuesday, February 28, 2017
A vision for 250 years
The President just gave us his first joint session with a more upbeat message. His vision of what we look like at the age of 250 was optimistic but still divisive when it comes to immigrants. I'm not sure why we need to demonize one group so we can elevate another. Fortunately, I still see that our dedication and commitment to veterans is unwavering.
Friday, January 20, 2017
My Way
I reviewed my post from eight years ago on Inauguration Day and am fascinated at the hope that was portrayed at that time when President Obama came to office. He ultimately brought our country out of a tailspin of financial decline and into a much-needed economic recovery. Obama spearheaded the largest initiative for healthcare reform since the 1960's and brought a new era of acceptance for gay and lesbians in the military and beyond. His foreign policy lacked direction and we are still quagmired in the Middle East. Perceived weakness of effort and resolve on behalf of American interests bolstered Russia, China and other adversaries to think they can bully their neighbors or even take over parts of their territories. It's a more dangerous world with significant uncertainty.
The election was rough and ripped at the very seams of our country, pitting rural versus city, black versus white, Christians versus Muslims and even men versus women. A Women's protest march is even planned for tomorrow, essentially challenging the very legitimacy of our democratic process. Regardless of whether foreign meddling was involved in the narrative of the election, President Trump outplayed Hillary and the Democrats in a populist view that had only been portrayed on the Left by the lovable but marginalized Sanders.
The interesting thing is that he has started his Presidency by denigrating members of the establishment on both sides of the aisle. The irony is that a New York economic elite thinks he can somehow dismantle the political class of elites... if they are actually really separate at all. His solution is patriotic allegiance and international protectionism to solve the challenges of both diversity and economic empowerment. Patriotism is great and I feel a strong affinity for our country as well, manifested most significantly by my own military service. At the same time, I have personally experienced the danger of non-critical loyalty to a cause with dangerous overtones that ultimately led to fracturing an entire continent for decades and wiping out millions of lives based solely on their religion. Underpromise and overdeliver is not a part of President Trump's vocabulary or rhetoric. The hyperbole continues with statements from the Freedom Ball like: "There's never been a movement like this anywhere."
Strangely, our new President decided to use the song of "My Way" as his first dance with the First Lady. It sets the stage for what I believe will be his apparent strength and conviction initially but ultimately the source of his frustration and potential failure in the long run. He likes to pursue a path that is his way with very little regard for contemporaries who may have different ideas or thoughts. He has never held government office and will be incredibly impatient with the glacial pace that elected officials and bureaucratic processes happen. He has picked some very interesting and some very experienced cabinet members, particularly the military veterans, but I don't see them tolerating a leader who is so autocratic and unpredictable in a sustainable way. Resignations from partial dissidents inside the cabinet will contribute to the otherwise chaotic nature that we have already experienced during the campaign, logically flowing into what will be a disjointed administration full of confusion.
The song pick could ultimately be prophetic: "And now the end is near, so I face the final curtain..." ... "and I did it my way." If we make it through four years and renew the contract for another four due to his expertise in reality manipulation, 2024 will be a predictable pendulum swing the other direction. I just hope and pray that we, as Americans, can find the middle ground and ensure a clear path is forged out of the crucible of the great and enduring American Experiment.
The election was rough and ripped at the very seams of our country, pitting rural versus city, black versus white, Christians versus Muslims and even men versus women. A Women's protest march is even planned for tomorrow, essentially challenging the very legitimacy of our democratic process. Regardless of whether foreign meddling was involved in the narrative of the election, President Trump outplayed Hillary and the Democrats in a populist view that had only been portrayed on the Left by the lovable but marginalized Sanders.
The interesting thing is that he has started his Presidency by denigrating members of the establishment on both sides of the aisle. The irony is that a New York economic elite thinks he can somehow dismantle the political class of elites... if they are actually really separate at all. His solution is patriotic allegiance and international protectionism to solve the challenges of both diversity and economic empowerment. Patriotism is great and I feel a strong affinity for our country as well, manifested most significantly by my own military service. At the same time, I have personally experienced the danger of non-critical loyalty to a cause with dangerous overtones that ultimately led to fracturing an entire continent for decades and wiping out millions of lives based solely on their religion. Underpromise and overdeliver is not a part of President Trump's vocabulary or rhetoric. The hyperbole continues with statements from the Freedom Ball like: "There's never been a movement like this anywhere."
Strangely, our new President decided to use the song of "My Way" as his first dance with the First Lady. It sets the stage for what I believe will be his apparent strength and conviction initially but ultimately the source of his frustration and potential failure in the long run. He likes to pursue a path that is his way with very little regard for contemporaries who may have different ideas or thoughts. He has never held government office and will be incredibly impatient with the glacial pace that elected officials and bureaucratic processes happen. He has picked some very interesting and some very experienced cabinet members, particularly the military veterans, but I don't see them tolerating a leader who is so autocratic and unpredictable in a sustainable way. Resignations from partial dissidents inside the cabinet will contribute to the otherwise chaotic nature that we have already experienced during the campaign, logically flowing into what will be a disjointed administration full of confusion.
The song pick could ultimately be prophetic: "And now the end is near, so I face the final curtain..." ... "and I did it my way." If we make it through four years and renew the contract for another four due to his expertise in reality manipulation, 2024 will be a predictable pendulum swing the other direction. I just hope and pray that we, as Americans, can find the middle ground and ensure a clear path is forged out of the crucible of the great and enduring American Experiment.
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