Self-Glorification Projects Won't End Wars or Bring Down Prices

 

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

Donald Trump has us trapped in a pointless and tragic foreign war that he walked our nation into basically on a gut instinct or whim.  Trump's war on Iran, which US forces have been fighting along side Israel since  February 28th of this year (more than six months!) has now, according to Pentagon and Congressional Budget Office figures, cost American taxpayers almost $40 billion - and a "burn rate" to American taxpayers of approximately $37 million per hour - with no end or "exit strategy" in sight.  Eighteen American servicemen and women have been killed and more than 800 others wounded, stockpiles of American military missiles, drones, and weaponry are running dangerously low, and there has been extensive damage and casualties at American bases throughout the Middle East.  

The war is all of that and a constant torrent of hell raining down on civilians caught  in the crossfire, many of whom are children.

Donald Trump also has us deeply dug into a trade war with Canada, historically one of our most reliable trading partners and allies.  Trump's petulance and buffoonery toward our northern neighbor has forced the Canadians to look to Europe for dependable allies and to focus their trade and tourism dollars elsewhere. (This week it was announced that Canada may become the first "associate" member of the European Union,)   The major victims in Trump's petty pickpocketing and aggressive humiliation of Canadians isn't our neighbors to the north, the victims are American taxpayers and consumers who live and work damned hard south of that international border.

The President of the United States used to be regarded as the unquestioned leader of the free world.  Today, with Trump's openly slavish adoration of authoritarian leaders in places like Russia, North Korea, and even China, when people  search for "free world" leadership in North America, they are more likely to focus on Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada than they are on Trump.  Carney is dependable and reliable in promoting democracy and freedom on the world stage; Trump is not.

So with US prestige and position as a world leader literally crumbling at Donald Trump's feet, is he focused on ending the war in the Middle East or strengthening economic ties with the rest of the world?    Sadly (and unbelievably) Trump's primary concern as he prepares to enter the final two years of his presidency, is establishing a legacy, not through using the power of his office to empower or improve the lives of anyone other than himself, but rather to get his name on as many monuments as possible and to leave a trail of gaudy and tasteless architecture and interior design in his immortal wake.

Donald Trump can't be bothered with ending the war in Iran, even if he was smart enough to do it.  Nor can he waste time or energy focusing on lowering costs to American consumers and benefiting American factories and businesses by ending trade wars that he caused.  No, Donald Trump can't be bothered with that because he is laser-focused on getting his name back on the Kennedy Center - a beautiful landmark building in Washington, DC, that was dedicated as a living memorial to another President, John F. Kennedy, more that 50 years ago.  

Trump wants HIS name on Kennedy's memorial building, that's HIS priority, at least for today.   He doesn't have time to focus on missiles and drones that pose no imminent threats to any of HIS properties - or the prices of gas, and diesel, and poop lettuce.  Those are little people issues, let the states deal with them.   Trump has begger things on HIS plate: skyscrapers of cement and steel and glass reaching to the heavens, golf courses for the richest and most idle among us, bronze statues gilded in gold - things with his name on them.  That's Donald Trump's idea of a "legacy" - not some crackpot war that Bibi Netanyahu convinced him to help start, or a pissing contest with Canada.

Yesterday, after a federal judge again blocked Trump's efforts to get his name of the Kennedy Center, the board in charge of running that cultural venue, mostly appointed by Trump, announced that it would be closed for an extended period of time for remodeling.  The board also indicated that the remodeling could be delayed because it would be easier for them to raise remodeling cash if Donald Trump's name was on the building (a clear clue as to whom they would be approaching for donations).  Members of the board have also floated hints that the building might ultimately be demolished and replaced with an outdoor venue with a grand view of the Potomac River.

And that is perhaps the bottom line of this particular on-going tantrum:  put Trump's name on the building or he'll be bringing in the damned bulldozers!  Can't happen, you say?  Tell that to the people who used to have their offices in the East Wing of the White House!  

Self-glorification projects won't end wars or bring down prices.  Our nation has been torn asunder by a narcissistic bully.  Repairs and restoration will be long and arduous, but they will begin in earnest on Tuesday, November 3rd, with the election of a new Congress and other various local and state officials throughout thee United States.   Show up at the polls early and bring friends.  We've got a helluva lot work to do!