Leave Trump Alone

The first Democratic priority, if they take control of the House of Representatives, should be to move forward on legislative initiatives and not investigate Trump's malfeasance. Restoring citizen confidence in the value added of government will not be enhanced by political infighting.   This will be seen as government as usual, and will be subject to the false equivalence arguments put forth by the President and his cohorts.  The Democrats need to stand up to the President to be sure.  Perhaps more importantly, they also need to lay down legislative milestones- bills passed by the House of Representatives- that demonstrate what America can expect should the Democrats take control of the government in 2020.

It is not enough to talk tough.  To regain the Presidency and have a shot at a veto-proof Senate, Democrats in the House of Representatives have to provide concrete evidence of Republican intransigence -seen in the refusal of the Senate to pass bills passed by the House- in addressing national issues.  The 2020 political agenda would revolve around the merits of these specific measures as opposed to 'not Donald Trump'.   Moderates and independents need a reason to get to the polls in the numbers required to change the political balance.  They need to understand that their vote can result in a meaningful change in their lives.  Polling demonstrates that the majority of Americans want the changes favored by the Democratic party.

Specifically, the House should pass legislation that:

• Leads to a single payer system of universal health coverage.  Provisions can be included whereby existing insurance programs can piggy-back onto the system: everyone doesn't have to have the same level of health care coverage, but everyone should have access to basic health care.
• Brings an end to the debate over immigration. The 2013 Senate-passed bipartisan bill can be revisited, with changes to address issues of chain migration and border security.  We need to move forward on this issue,  providing an equitable, humane, and workable solution to those who have long been productive members of our society.
• Addresses the growing wealth disparity in America.  A bill should be passed that applies the same tax rate on unearned income - dividend and capital gains- as earned income - wages and salaries from one's labor.  This was true under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, a law championed by President Ronald Reagan. This bill should also tighten loopholes that work to the advantage of those with substantial wealth and salaries. 
• Provides for a livable working wage.  American taxpayers bear the costs of low minimum wages through payments to support housing, Medicaid, and the SNAP program.  It would be far better to have those who consume the goods and services provided by fellow Americans bear the impacts of higher minimum wage than the population as a whole.

These bills may go nowhere in the Senate: sobeit.  Their passage however will demonstrate to Americans that the Democrats mean business should they have the power to govern.  It will provide a concrete alternative to Republican policies put in place under the Trump administration.  It will give individuals a reason to go to the polls in 2020. Getting into the swamp with Trump does no one any good at all.

Driverless Cars and Trucks: Do we Need to go There?

Technological trends point to a fully viable driverless vehicle sooner rather than later.  Safer, cheaper, and more dependable than their living, breathing counterparts the replacement of drivers with automated systems seems only a matter of time.  Its probably useful - before the technology becomes perfected- to question the cost it brings in terms of lost career opportunities.  Technology progress has enabled the mechanization of farming and manufacturing: productivity gains have been substantial but so has the human cost as measured by lost employment opportunities.  Shouldn't we be addressing the human side of divorcing cars and trucks from drivers?  At some point should we embrace featherbedding, most recently associated with union instance on maintaining employment levels in areas where they were really no longer necessary, in order to avoid the human costs associated with massive technology driven unemployment?  Technological advances will continue to erode employment opportunities and societies need to advance accordingly in the way they treat those who desire to work but lack- through no fault of their own- the opportunities to do so.

A Middle Ground Exists in the Gun Debate

Battle lines have been drawn once again.  NRA seeks to arm teachers, increase the presence of armed resource officers, and harden the schools against an armed intruder while the far left wants to ban all semi-automatics.  Student involvement things may turn out differently this time around: something, in fact, may get accomplished. 

It seems to me that there is plenty of room for a compromise solution that goes well beyond the steps taken by the Florida legislature.  Compromise from the right entails a recognition that some steps need to be taken regarding weaponry.  Compromise from the left entails allowing the continued sale of semi-automatic weapons for hunting and target shooting.  These compromises can take place at the state as well as federal level.

Issue One: ensuring weapons don’t fall into the wrong hands.  Instead of having a background check conducted when the decision to purchase is made, insist that prospective buyers obtain prior-approval from the state.  Each state can establish its own criteria.  The bottom line is that weapons may not be sold, under any venue, to any individual lacking a state-issued permit.  Sellers who violate this rule will face a mandatory punishment, to include the loss of their ability to sell weapons for a substantial period of time.

Issue Two:  removing weapons from individuals deemed a risk to society.  Some states have enacted provisions whereby law enforcement are allowed to temporarily impound an individual’s weaponry based on reporting that said individual has demonstrated a predilection toward violence.  The weapons would be returned once the state has determined that said predilection does not or no longer exists.

Issue Three: limiting the ability of semi-automatics to be used in a combat like role (as opposed to hunting and target shooting).    A sensible proposal would be to prohibit the sale, purchase, or possession of large capacity magazines -bullet clips holding more than ten rounds. This would be reasonably sufficient for hunting and targeting purposes but limit the potential carnage possible with a semi-automatic weapon.  If done on a national level, a buy-back program would incentivize the return of illegal sized clips.   Punishments for possession would be severe, including –at a minimum- confiscation of all weapons owned by the individual in question.

Some states have already adopted these or similar proposals, including Connecticut, and California.  There is no reason why other states can’t follow their lead.  There is no need to wait for Federal action along these lines: it will be a long time in coming.

When You Rock the Boat Some will get Seasick

11/16

You can't have change without change.  Everyone is up in arms, legitimately, regarding Trump's seeming disdain for political norms.  refusing to divulge tax returns or provide fulsome health record, living in Trump Tower, security clearances for children, tweeting, picking highly controversial advisors and cabinet officers.  Others will focus on his inability / unwillingness to establish effective blind trust.

I believe America needs to let this play out, albeit within bounds.  People want change and it is important for these groups to recognize, first hand, that change is not necessarily what they expected. They don't believe the mainstream media, feel the government cooks the books, and that insiders control government to their detriment.  In order bring back the credibility of these institutions they have to see Trump fail:  alternatively, should he succeed the lessons will be learned by the establishment.  Either way let him try.

Presidential Tweets: The New Normal?

11/20

At first I was dismayed by Trump's continuing to tweet after winning the election.  I thought it was un-presidential by its nature and, to me anyway, the tweets were somewhat unsettling. ”That said, what's wrong with the President sharing his personal, as opposed to 'presidential' views on issues as long as the two can be sorted out?  Can you imagine how much more interesting Obama would have been over the last eight years if he tweeted out his personal feelings and views while taking the more deliberate and presidential stance when it was called for?  How funny was the WH correspondents' dinner skit with his 'anger manager'?

We all know that beneath the Presidential demeanor of relative detachment from the day-to-day happenings lies someone who is peaked at the news coverage, treatment by Congress or the like.  As President he  needs to take the reflective, big picture, high road: it's what is expected if not demanded. What if the President could also let his hair down and share his true feelings?  Sure, it will get him points with some and lose points with others, but it will provide information on what he is thinking and feeling even if no 'presidential' action or statement is forthcoming.  At a minimum it will provide good gist for pundits and social media. Historian Brinkley, for one believes “The words of this guy just don’t matter.”   “I think we’re going to have to wait and see what his actions are and judge him by his record.”

Vent away, president-elect Trump, on your success in keeping jobs in America, the wrongs done to the vice-president elect, the crappy coverage of the NY Times, your rationale for settling your Trump University lawsuit, and the quality of the SNL skit.  I can tell the difference between a personal rant and presidential decision.  For better or worse, I want to know what you're feeling.  It helps me understand the human side, for better or worse.

Donald Trump vs the Fourth Estate

11/22

Donald Trump's attacks on "failing NY Times" seem  incessant.  If he can win this battle by causing the NYTimes to think twice about the the tone of their news and editorial coverage, he may well believe the rest of the print media will fall in line.  Alternatively, if he can convince his base that NYTimes reporting is biased, the power of NY Times' investigative reporting is diminished.  Today's tweets saying NYTimes changed the terms of the scheduled meeting -which included and on the record session-are strongly denied by the paper: a case of he said she said at this point.

The adversarial relationships between Trump and the media will continue unabated, I believe, as Trump seeks to discredit reporting on the backgrounds of his appointees, involvement of his children in his administration, conflicts of interest regarding his businesses and the like.  Presidents have traditionally accepted the fact that their every thought and deed will be 'unfairly" treated in the media:  imagine how Obama felt about Fox News coverage for example, never mind Trump's attack on his citizenship.  I'm not sure Trump has the temperament to  recognize that such coverage is not personal: it just comes with the job.  His unwillingness to deal with the adversarial relationships with the press that come with the job explains his aversion to press conferences.  Can you imagine his response to some of the questions that certainly would be forthcoming and having these responses displayed on television?

Trump's Distain over US Intelligence

11/28

President-elect advisor Conway says not to worry about Trump's turning CIA briefers away since he is receiving information from a variety of sources. I guess Trump feels CIA cadre were all hired by Obama and are peddling what must be biased analysis (since said analysis does not square with his personal convictions/understandings).  I would be amazed if he even  understands how the intelligence collection, analysis, and dissemination cycle has been honed over decades to cull out false information and analyst bias.

If Trump disdains considered analysis from experienced intelligence professionals in favor of the views of those who are peddling their points of view and/or unverified "facts" we are in real trouble. The Iraqi intelligence 'failures' were due, in part, to the Pentagon's use of sources deemed unreliable by the CIA. Can you imagine establishing our policy towards Iran based on the views of Israelis and the Iranian diaspora? At least Pence is receiving the briefings, but we don't know what role Pence plays in decision making.

This sad state of affairs was predicted by Robert Gates in a September WSJ editorial.   He criticizes the GOP standard-bearer as “willfully ignorant about the rest of the world, about our military and its capabilities, and about government itself.” “He has no clue about the difference between negotiating a business deal and negotiating with sovereign nations,” Gates writes. “A thin-skinned, temperamental, shoot-from-the-hip and lip, uninformed commander-in-chief is too great a risk for America.”