So...what's going on in the US!!??

Ted. Judy and I work hard to avoid commenting on politics or religion in our blogs. However, we feel compelled to contribute our often different perspectives on recent events in the US since we have so many friends around the world who are asking this very question. We do find a bit of irony in the fact that we left the US on January 31 and are writing this post from Málaga, Spain. 

While President Trump makes a lot of nonsensical comments that nobody understands, there is a great deal of debate about some of the actions he is taking. I personally believe that he likes to throw a whole bowl of spaghetti at the wall just to see which pieces stick. Those issues end up being where he spends his time. 

Judy. Unfortunately, this spaghetti throwing is a distraction--a ploy I think Trump understands very well. We need to be better at focusing on real issues.

1. Immigration 

Background: With the exception of Chinese people (banned in 1882) the US had open borders until early in the 20th century. Regulations began to control the flow about 100 years ago. The last significant legislation was passed about 40 years ago. Total estimates vary but of the 340,000,000 people currently residing in the US, roughly 14 or 15% are foreign born and maybe 1/3 of those are “undocumented.” 

Ted. As a grandson of immigrants, I love people who choose to move to the US and believe they make our country stronger. I wish we could come up with a system that would allow everyone to have a simple legal path to citizenship but don’t see that happening. I think President Trump’s actions in this area are very popular and will not change. 

Judy. I think Ted's right, and it's too bad. I also think ICE is targeting legal as well as illegal immigrants. 

2. Executive orders/DOGE 

Background: Since the US Constitution was established in 1789 there has been a constant tension between the three branches of government. Many Presidents have been accused of usurping the power of the legislative branch (Congress) and the judicial branch (our federal courts). Several that I can think of include John Adams, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt. Thus, the current accusations that President Trump is overstepping his authority are not without a lot of precedent. 

Ted. I believe that President Trump will win some of his current battles and lose some, depending on the actions of the courts and Congress. Like most people I know around the world, I am frustrated by the size and inefficiency of my government, but would prefer an organized assessment and reduction. 

Judy. Absolutely agree. I'm also frustrated that over the years Congress has allowed the President--any President-- to take over some of the Constitutional responsibilities of Congress itself.

3. Ukraine/Russia 

Background: The citizens of the US have traditionally been loathe to engage in “entangling alliances” with foreign powers. Many folks have always opposed the use of troops outside our borders such as the war with Spain in 1898, WWI and WWII. Treaties and foreign aid have also been widely criticized for over 200 years so this reversal of support for Ukraine has many fans. Sadly, we also have a tradition of abandoning countries such as South Vietnam and Afghanistan. When that happens, our government rarely suffers much domestic criticism. 

Ted. I tend to think that President Trump is waiting to see how the American public responds to this change of policy. If he doesn’t sense a lot of resistance to his approach with Putin, he will continue to move in that direction. If he sees a hue and cry from members of Congress who feel pressure from their constituents, he will back off and move on to something else. Meanwhile, I think it is a good thing that many European countries are beginning to join Poland in taking responsibility for their own security. 

Judy. Boy, there's nothing like being here in Europe to feel the fear of Russia taking over Ukraine. Or Greenland, Panama, Gaza, or Canada. But, like Ted, I'm glad to see countries stepping up to the plate.

4. Gaza/Panama/Greenland/Canada 

Background: We’ve invaded Canada twice and neither time ended well. 

Ted. I think Trump throws these statements out just to see what will happen. Sometimes there are unintended consequences that can be a good thing such as reawakening patriotism in these countries and the Arab proposal regarding the governance of Gaza. 

Judy. And sometimes we deeply offend our closest allies over made-up theories.

5. Tariffs and international trade policies 

Background: The US government has a long history of using tariffs to generate income for the federal government and to protect US manufacturers. Many economists believe that protective tariffs turned the stock market crash of 1929 into the worldwide Great Depression that lasted for many years. Free worldwide trade and economic treaties have only been common in the US in the last 75 years in our country and are not universally popular. 

Ted. I think the people in the US are curious as to how this will affect their pocketbooks. The majority of working class people in the US voted for Trump, based on the hope that he would do a better job of lowering prices and inflation. Middle class and wealthy voters were swayed by other issues. If inflation and prices continue to rise, he will soften the tariffs. 

Judy. Boy, the stock market isn't happy. And now he's saying we might have a recession, but all will be well in the long run. As goes the dollar, so goes the world. Scary.

6. Final thoughts

Ted. I think Trump is a jerk but, then again, I really had to hold my nose when I voted for Harris because I thought she would make a bad President for different reasons. Sadly, many people in the US feel they have to vote for the lesser of two evils every four years. 

I do not see democracy ending in the US. The pendulum will swing back and forth as it always has and there will always be issues and personalities about which our citizens are upset. This has always been the case here. For example, the Presidential election of 1796 when John Adams defeated Thomas Jefferson was one of the bitterest elections in our history. 

In just a few months, campaigning will begin for the midterm congressional elections in 2026. Any major changes in policy will need to be completed by then so we will see just how revolutionary these times really are. 

My two biggest hopes for the near term are that the US can somehow support a lasting peace in Ukraine and that the US economy will remain stable. 

My biggest long term fear is that the US government does not address our debt load which now stands at $36 trillion! That’s 133% of our GDP and we are approaching a tipping point that will crash our economy. If that happens, none of these other issues will matter and we will drag the whole world into a another horrible economic depression.

Judy. Agreed on the debt load. As to democracy ending, I think the jury is still out. Too many Republican members of Congress are too afraid of Trump to speak out, and the Democrats are completely disorganized (as they have been for years--and I'm a life-long Democrat). Friends in Europe ask me why the American people aren't stopping him. That's hard to answer. It has taken years to get to this point.

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