America is still unsettled about our new president, and is continuing the rant at a high pitch. While generally discussions of important topics are productive, too much of it can just be beating a dead horse. Much of what I read and hear now falls into that category. Much of what is being said is confusing blather; let’s not be part of it for now. Now is the time to sit still, listen, and just digest what we are hearing, and let the dust settle. When it does settle, we’ll be able to see more clearly. If we become caught up in the frenzy, we won’t do our best thinking.
After all, it is going to settle down; things always do. There are many upset people over the election right now; you may be one of them. It is helpful to ask ourselves, what is feeding this tumult? By and large, it is the forces which were displaced by Clinton’s defeat. Their strategy is clear: feed the fever as loud and long as necessary until they can restore their lost fortunes.
Early indications are, however, that that strategy isn’t working. In the four special congressional elections since Donald Trump took office, Republicans won every one of them; the efforts to depict him as a total incompetent have failed with the voters. Let’s not lose sight of the fact that Trump was put into office by middle America, who wants Washington’s burden on them reduced. One of his efforts is to get our allies to spend more on defense. Three years ago the NATO partners pledged to spend 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense, but still most aren’t. The U.S. spends more than all other NATO nations combined.
U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis told the 27 other defense ministers, that “Americans cannot care more for their children’s future security than you do.” Restating Trump’s position, Mattis said that Washington would “moderate its commitment” to the alliance if countries fail to fall in line. “This is not the U.S. telling Europe to increase defense spending,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told them, noting they committed themselves to this three years ago.
To my way of thinking, Trump is serious about reducing our disproportionate burden. If all he did was complain, our allies would ignore him, just like they disregarded our prior presidents when they complained.
Now let’s go to all this discussion about health care for a moment. The prior Congress and administration put it in, but even though it drove insurance premiums sky high for many, it is broke and requires far greater infusion of tax money to keep it afloat. The Republicans don’t want to be seen as the bad guys, taking away benefits from people, so they are in a dither. They’ll work it out.
So let’s settle back and heed the words of Rudyard Kipling, to keep your head when all those around us are losing theirs.
Art Hall
Words alone won’t command attention. From the Bible: “I have five brothers. Let Lazarus warn them so they will not also end up in this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let your brothers listen to them. Luke 16:28-29
