Playing Devil's Advocate
We have all heard about the negative side of President Donald Trump but are ther policies which could get him re-elected in four years time?
The first obvious policy is jobs* at home. This is a major issue worldwide and it all centers around how the capitalist system operates purely for profit and at the expense of the average individual - whether in the United States or in Europe.
I will not give you a lecture here but suffice to say 'the little man' (and woman) are unimportant where profit is the sole motive.
This means that if it is more profitable to produce a motor car, a shirt, or any item you can think of in Mexico (or elsewhere for that matter) jobs will move to that low-income high profit (for an elite few) part of the world.
The lie is that such 'transfers' uplift local economies in the underdeveloped world. If you look at those countries - mainly in South East Asia - in particular the ones which have prospered have not been those where low-income jobs have been at the core of their development.
Like Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam they are countries which have been very well governed and where some wealth has 'filtered down', where, unlike in Africa (by comparison) far less money has been 'wasted' corruptly making more available for the development of the infrastructural fabric. They are countries which have embraced the philosophy of universal education, health for all and poverty eradication programs (remind you of someone - FDR and LBJ perhaps?)
Yes there are of course 'two Thailands' and 'two Vietnams' - one for the privileged and the other for those not so well off.
So 3 key components to a successful home policy are Health, Education and Employment.
Note that I said 'minimize' corruption as opposed to, what the Left always say 'end corruption'.
China has the most rigorous and puritanically fanatical anti-corruption laws in the world - and indeed (much to the applause of some sections in the West!) used to execute their top and brightest entrepreneurs found guilty of corruption. There were private jokes in Europe and I am sure elsewhere (never voiced through the media) that at the rate China was going at one time with such 'public example' executions of top 'captains of industry' the West simply had just to sit back and wait, as with North Korea, for the State (China) to 'run' out of executives and simply collapse because there would be nobody left with initiative and imagination to run the country.
China has the most rigorous and puritanically fanatical anti-corruption laws in the world - and indeed (much to the applause of some sections in the West!) used to execute their top and brightest entrepreneurs found guilty of corruption. There were private jokes in Europe and I am sure elsewhere (never voiced through the media) that at the rate China was going at one time with such 'public example' executions of top 'captains of industry' the West simply had just to sit back and wait, as with North Korea, for the State (China) to 'run' out of executives and simply collapse because there would be nobody left with initiative and imagination to run the country.
[The average person knew very little about those key individuals in China against whom corruption charges were brought. Many such charges, as in Russia, were politically motivated, others were designed to bring back some order and deter criminality, yet others were individuals who, quite clearly, had been 'set up' - with trumped-up charges by political and business rivals.]
Trump's choice of very wealthy individuals as Cabinet members could be highly beneficial if they are prepared to limit the ability of corporate America to exploit the weakest in American society - the poor, those on extremely low-incomes struggling all their lives to survive with little hope, faith (in politicians) or prospects for any betterment of their lives and those of their children, condemned to crime and poverty because of lack of opportunity - lack of a good education, schools of excellence for those most disadvantaged, a first-class health service for all, regardless of income; jobs, good quality homes at affordable rents, and above all, cheap medicines for parents, grandparents, children so that affordable health care is a right not a privilege.
So putting people back to work and offering hope for those most disadvantaged through real wealth distribution and laws limiting 'corporate excesses' at the expense of jobs and investment at home, should be key components of U.S. domestic policy.
You might say to yourself : 'but what this guy (me) is saying is so obvious why is he even saying it?'
It is because greed has forgotten (or just left behind) the 'little man'. Just watch any 'silent' 'Charlie Chaplin' film and you can still today compare excesses of wealth with impoverishment, crime and exploitation of the poor, the young, the weak and the elderly. Not a lot has changed for those at the bottom - despite the promises of politicians in America over the past 50 years.
***Obamacare was a real attempt to provide universal health coverage for all Americans. He was thwarted by the Republican Party, by 'big business' the 'pharma' and private health care lobbies - who ultimately destroyed all plans for health care for all at an affordable price - because Obama sought to limit the profits of powerful industry groups through real wealth redistribution.
Trump will know this and they will similarly move to politically destroy (or render unenforceable) any policies which he likewise proposes which gives similar priorities to those who could benefit most (the low-paid average working and middle-class Americans.)
Indeed, in my opinion, better offer health care and education (to University level) with no direct charge to any American (or European in Christendom) but financed through taxation than the existing iniquitous system of 'unaffordable' education and health care for nearly 45 million Americans.
[In India there are programs which facilitate those most in need of emergency surgery and health treatment but who are too poor to afford it by 'cross-subsidizing' the private medical sector - with tax breaks and other incentives - because this is where the best and most talented of India's medical professionals are to be found working - not in the State-subsidized medical sector (which has a poor reputation for service and delivery.) I do not wish to generalise here. I have met caring professionals who, having made a good living in the private sector in India and who do excellent work. One of such highly qualified medical professionals confided to me that he was returning to where his 'true vocation' really was - providing care for those most in impoverished and most in need of his expertise but who could never afford it. I have to say that he is 'the exception' rather than 'the rule', in India. ]
I was intrigued in one particular region of India where at night hundreds of (mainly younger individuals and students) would 'gather' around 'relay' 'poles' or boxes by the beach and in local restaurants for 'free' high-speed wi-fi access - courtesy of the local (municipal) government administration.
Despite the fact that this is not a particularly rich State, there are multiple public-resourced buildings - the equivalent of 'Halls of The People' (my coined phrase) very large in size, pointedly unique in design attributes where, for example, a couple can marry at one building (at a subsidized cost) and have their wedding party or reception at the next (again State-subsidized) then go on to another Reception with a local dignitary in attendance - or to a Recital of Vedic Music at yet another grand building - all in close proximity and all at a highly subsidized cost to local people - courtesy of the State.
[That particular local administration is very popular.
I was arriving at the airport on the same day a senior political figure was returning home and there were literally thousands of well-wishers at the airport in a carnival-like mood, with baskets and garlands of flowers (rather than Molotov cocktails or guns or bombs!) ready to throw in celebration of his arrival - with posters of him festooned everywhere together with fluttering streamers and multiple garlands on poles and boards, in the pattern of the flag of India, all the way from the airport building to the exit road. A sight you rarely see in Europe or America these days for politicians.]
If it's good enough for India, then why not Europe or the United States? Greed, or should I say more accurately, excessive greed, unfortunately; that's why.]
Despite the fact that this is not a particularly rich State, there are multiple public-resourced buildings - the equivalent of 'Halls of The People' (my coined phrase) very large in size, pointedly unique in design attributes where, for example, a couple can marry at one building (at a subsidized cost) and have their wedding party or reception at the next (again State-subsidized) then go on to another Reception with a local dignitary in attendance - or to a Recital of Vedic Music at yet another grand building - all in close proximity and all at a highly subsidized cost to local people - courtesy of the State.
[That particular local administration is very popular.
I was arriving at the airport on the same day a senior political figure was returning home and there were literally thousands of well-wishers at the airport in a carnival-like mood, with baskets and garlands of flowers (rather than Molotov cocktails or guns or bombs!) ready to throw in celebration of his arrival - with posters of him festooned everywhere together with fluttering streamers and multiple garlands on poles and boards, in the pattern of the flag of India, all the way from the airport building to the exit road. A sight you rarely see in Europe or America these days for politicians.]
If it's good enough for India, then why not Europe or the United States? Greed, or should I say more accurately, excessive greed, unfortunately; that's why.]
In Singapore they have a 'super internet highway' as a right for every citizen. Yes Singapore and many other countries realise the internet is so important to their future growth and development that they are recognising it as a 'right' for all not a 'privilege' for the few.
So there are many programs - including safer cities and communities - with local public-law enforcement cooperation initiatives - where Trump could actually make a real and positive difference to the lives of all Americans.
The problem is that despite Trump's personal wish and desire to 'heal' 'crippled' America, his choice of Cabinet members are more indicative of 'partisan politics' which will, more likely than not, give rise to a more divided, embittered and unequal society, than fulfil the dreams for real change, for those who placed so much faith in his vision of 'the promised land.'
©Patrick Emek, February 2017
***CNN and Fox Networks try to 'fool' the general public, where there as mass protests, by calling Obamacare 'The Affrodable Care Act' in the hope that you will miss the mass protests nationwide to retain Obamacare and be 'mentally confused' as to what the 'Affordable Care Act' actually is. Remember when they (mainstream media) attempt to fool you when you see mass protests:
Obamacare = The Affordable Care Act
*when I refer to jobs, I am talking about decent paying full-time jobs which enable a person to work Monday to Friday and collect a living wage to bring up a family and pay all the bills without having to 'moonlight' in two or more part-time jobs just to survive. (And if you are religious, as a right, in a Christian country, other than the emergency services, have Sunday as a day of rest.)
It is so ironic that the extremists want to abolish a woman's right to an abortion - yet having kids for most underpaid women in America can be itself a 'death sentence' - in terms of impoverishment, lack of financial subsidized State support to single parents and families to enable a dignified life free from financial hardship and eternal 'servitude' or serfdom.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crippled-America-Make-Great-Again/dp/1501137964