President Trump is celebrating his first 100 days. It has been a whirlwind of actions, often compared to the first 100 days of President Franklin Roosevelt.
Will Rogers totally supported FDR in 1933. On May 9 he wrote, “I don’t believe there is a thing that this man Roosevelt couldn’t put over if he was a mind to. He is so strong with the people, and so convincing over the radio, that if he ever got in a fight with Congress, all he would have to do is to take it to the people, via the air, and he would lick any of ’em.”
We may learn in the next 100 days if Trump is equally powerful. Meanwhile, during the first 100, he has made a lot of folks happy and a lot of others mad.
Trump has shut down the border and is rapidly deporting criminals who came here illegally. Most Americans support this plan. But others, including a few judges, seem to prefer the Biden policy. With a President Harris, 100 days would have seen a million more sneak into the country.
Trump, with help from Elon Musk and the DOGE crew, has discovered billions of dollars of waste and fraud. Most Americans appreciate the potential savings that amount to about $1000 for every taxpayer. Others are disgusted because it was their favorite fraud that’s being cut.
Many are convinced their Medicaid will be eliminated. Question: should young, able-bodied working age men be freeloading off of Medicaid and SNAP? Would you believe that 6 out of every 10 in that group are sitting on the couch all day, essentially stealing funds intended for others who deserve it?
Tariffs are causing a strong split in the country. Trump does not like that we imported $1.2 Trillion more in goods a year than we export. He seeks to balance our trade with other countries, especially China, by threatening them with high tariffs. The trouble is that means imports will cost individuals more. And we have angered our closest neighbors, Canada and Mexico. Farmers are concerned that China and other countries will cut back on imports of our corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, almonds, beef, chicken and other products.
Trump’s tariff announcements on April 2 caused a major drop in the stock market. And if you had to cash out stocks on April 9 to pay income taxes, you’re mad because you probably lost about 20%.
Trump announced plans for a huge military parade on Flag Day to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Army. June 14 is also Donald Trump’s birthday. Many object to bringing 6000 troops and hundreds of Army vehicles to Washington. Will Rogers has a better plan, “If we really want to honor our (soldiers), why don’t we let THEM sit in the reviewing stands and make the people march by.” Another idea is to have all these Army soldiers honored right where they are with parades on June 14. Or since so many towns have scheduled parades on July 4, include a special tribute to the Army at that time.
Trump took a jab at Harvard. He not only threatened their federal funding, but uttered the ultimate insult to the revered Ivy League institution by ranking the Harvard Crimson below the Crimson Tide of Alabama.
Now I have a personal request of President Trump and his DOGE team: Reduce the so-called “Medicare open enrollment” period to 2 weeks instead of 12 months. I’m sure other old folks are as tired as I am of getting a dozen robocalls calls every day from solicitors. If they refuse to limit those calls to only 2 weeks, I suggest putting a tax of $1.00 on every call they make. That should shut them down for 50 weeks a year. But, if they balk and the calls continue, that dollar tax could pay off the national debt.
The 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe is this week. On May 8, 1945, German forces surrendered to the Allies and is known as VE Day. (Japan did not surrender until August, ending World War II.)
This occasion may be a good time to remind the French and other Europeans of the dominant role the U.S. played in providing their freedom.
Historic quote by Will Rogers:
“The more I see of politics, the more I wonder what in the world any man would ever want to take it up for. Then some people wonder why the best men of a community are not the office holders.” WA #146, Sept. 27, 1925