TRUMP'S VIEWS: COMMENTS BY T.S. KHANNA JUNE 6, 2024

TRUMP’S VIEWS: COMMENTS

BY T.S. KHANNA, June 5, 2024,

FOUNDATION FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT

164-CANYON VISTS PLACE

ALAMO, CA 94507

 

Ref item: “If He Wins” by Eric Cortellesa, TIME issue of May 27, 2024

Note: Most of the frustration in the governmental operations, as pointed out by Trump, can be traced to the outdated Constitution – not the “irresponsible Democratic Party” or the “In-fighting Republican Party.” The problems are rooted in the undefined limits of freedom and individualism.

President’s powers to efficiently achieve his agenda are limited by the Constitution. Use of power beyond the Constitution and tradition would be challengeable and frustrating, further keep splitting the American polity.

Hereunder are our comments on Trump’s declarations:

1.    Trump: “I will fire top advisors instead of letting them resign.”

Sir, you will only create more and stronger enemies. We do not gain dignity by destroying others’. Be more personable: “How to win friends and influence people” by Dale Carnegie.

2.    Trump on illegal immigrants by use of detention camps & military.

Trump is justifiable if softer means do not work. The number of illegal immigrants is estimated at 18-22 million, not eleven million, as mentioned by Trump.

3.    Trump on Abortion: 

The Constitution supports individual liberty. We do not think the Supreme Court, or any other political or religious organization has powers to curtail that individual liberty for abortion. The roots of abortion lie in economic and social values, we have created by giving too much liberty to children before maturity. That has been destroying that old culture that made America great. Family values have been destroyed by emphasis on individual liberty without social, family, or moral responsibility. Too much individualism turns people into non-compromising, combative persons. That is now translating into political conflicts.

4.    Pardon for 800+ people found guilty of attacking the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. 

Such an en-masse pardon would create disastrous precedent for the nation that needs more discipline and better human relations. President’s obligation is to make the nation better united.

                  President Lincoln, under great stress said: “My paramount object in the struggle is to save the Union……… With malice towards none, with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds ……… to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.”

5.    Trump blamed for draconian policy for separating migrating families at the Southern Border. 

The blame lies not on Trump but on the parents who risked their children for illegal entry to the US. It is the parents who should be prosecuted

6.    Presidential historian, Douglas Brinkeley:“A second Trump term could bring the end of our democracy and the birth of a new kind of authoritarian order.”

Our democracy has been growing dysfunctional since the 1960’s. Trump has articulated it. Now that we have enough experience with democracy designed 248 years ago, we should be able to amend or rewrite a more suitable Constitution without losing the core democratic values and adopt it eventually.

7.    Trump’s emphasis on preventing non-citizens from voting.

We fully support Trump and such prevention may be built in our voting system.

8.    Trump’s Pledge of Allegiance is converting the ultimate symbol of national unity into a weapon of factional devotion, especially when rioters are honored as “J-6 Patriots.”

This is disastrous for the nation.

9. Enhancing Presidential powers by using “Unitary Executive Theory.”

                  American presidency was designed to do the job more through personal popularity and influence rather than officially designated powers. However, in a multi-cultural society with equal rights of varied values, it is not easy to gain personal popularity. Powers divided for checks and balances need adjustment. Emergency powers may be objective and time specific.

10. Control of the Southern Border:

                  We support Trump’s policy of controlling the Southern border rather than hunting out illegal immigrants. During the last five decades, while the border control measures have been in dispute by the two parties, many immigrants have settled in the US illegally. It is like a silent and soft invasion on the culture and economy of the country.

                  Posse Comitatus Act 1878, prohibiting military force on civilians may be revisited for its efficacy on non-citizens. Regardless, we recommend soft measurements to achieve the objectives when workable.

11. Policy of Protectionism: 

Under the philosophic consideration, “For Americans, America first” has merit in Trump’s proposal of Protectionism. However, this issue has strong ties to the powers of the Unions and the employers that must be limited by appointing Fair Wages Commission with adequate powers to assure fair wages as well as competitive quality and pricing in the free market. That would spur industrial renaissance in the USA.

12. MAGA: 

                  Making America great Again seems to have several perceptions: some believe it means making America white again by taking all non-whites out of America; others believe it means regaining the old values lost that made America great. Trump and his supporters’ perception of MAGA should be openly and clearly explained.

                  America has lost precious cultural and economic values but that is not because of non-whites. That is because of abdication of responsibility by parents at home and teachers at school of teaching the cultural and human relations values and disciplining the children. They seem to justify the abdication of this great responsibility in the name of liberty to the child. School children use this as an opportunity to develop their own ‘sub-culture of defiance’ in the schools. In that sub-culture they develop disconnected personalities without a sense of discipline.

13. NATO: 

                  The countries of NATO seem to have developed a culture of dependency on America for reasons best known to them; none of those countries have given their fare share of support to Ukraine. In resisting the Russian attack. US has spent $100 billion to defend Ukraine.

                  We support Trump’s foreign policy; every country must pay its fair share, no free riders. Shared values of political and economic freedom must be defended by the beneficiaries also.

14. Dictatorship V/s Democracy:

                  Frustration of Trump and many others with our present form of democracy is understandable. Look at

·      The open border: indecision and inability to control the Southern border for the last five decades allowing 18-22 million illegal immigrants to settle and vote in the US

·      The number of school children killed and high crime rate by easy availability of guns, even when more than 70% of the population wants gun control.

·      Abortion bans, cutting the very roots of individual liberty.

·      The growing mob-rule by misinterpretation of cherished principles of democracy. Democracy was designed for the ruled to have control over the rulers to avoid tyranny, not for the mob-rule.

·      The intended checks and balances design on govt. has become the cause of logjams in governmental operations.

·      Election process is no longer intended competition to improve the quality of candidates and it has become very abusive and divisive for the society.

Now we have 248 years of experience with democracy. Our scholars have the ability to pinpoint the weaknesses and strengths of our present form of our democracy. Our Constitution must be revisited and amended or re-written to suit the changed political conditions. 

         By encouraging equality of multiculturism, we weaken the values that made America great. Non-uniform values now are not likely to produce a constitution acceptable to all multicultural representative groups.

         This is the tip of the iceberg indicating reasons of frustration with our present form of democracy. The solution to our frustrations is there but it is a long term and not a short-term solution.