Lies and Policies

 After the hurricane hit North Carolina, Mr. Trump lied about FEMA. He claimed that FEMA was unfair in allocating its help. His lies were so destructive that some victims refused to accept  FEMA's help.

Trump seems now to believe those lies. He is contemplating closing down and abolishing FEMA (Trump says states should manage disasters and weighs shuttering FEMA, New York Times, January 24, 2025). That would be a big mistake.

President Trump muses about letting each state be independent and stand on its own two feet. Does that mean no more Massachusetts money going to red states? Perhaps Massachusetts would like that; but I don't think so: from John Adams on down, Massachusetts has always believed in the United States of America.

 Senator Graham believes it was wrong for President Trump to pardon the January 6th rioters. I agree.

In that case, why on earth did he vote for Mr. Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, the unqualified Secretary Hegseth?

Doesn't he know that the "tit for tat" strategy (i.e., a vote against the nominee) is the best way to stop someone from doing the nation harm?

Maybe next time.

Trump's punishment

 

I think the appropriate sentence for soon-to-be President Trump is community service  (A New York Judge Upholds Trump's Conviction, New York Times, January 4th., 2025: A1, A15).

For one day each week of his Presidency he should help clean the streets of New York or Washington, DC. This would substitute for his golf-playing or entertaining tech moguls.