President Donald Trump is crazy like a fox, delivering on commitments and taking the heat from the left and right. His State of the Union address gave both sides the opportunity to expose their true feelings.
The president cited the many economic improvements: lower unemployment (the lowest recorded unemployment rates among blacks and Hispanics), bonuses and pay increases in response to tax reforms, huge increases in retirement and education savings plans, and increased business spending and jobs. Conservatives cheered. Democrats sat stone-faced and grimaced, clearly angered that economic successes threaten their voter support from those benefiting by finding work, having more income and ending their dependence on government handouts.
Trump’s immigration proposal met all demands of illegal DACA immigrants. Some conservatives were unhappy about a path to citizenship. Democrats appeared willing to abandon DACA immigrants rather than accept the provisions to secure borders, increase immigration control resources and replace open-ended chain migration and the visa lottery with a merit-based system. Democrats obviously care less about Americans and national security than losing potential voters dependent on government welfare, trapped with low or no incomes.
Democrats seemed opposed to increased defense spending to correct critical deficiencies in our armed forces. They dissed Trump’s appeal for having respect for the U.S. flag and National Anthem, ignoring their oaths of office to the American people. One representative left when the audience chanted “USA.”
The liberal agenda has failed in the United States and many other countries. Who needs it? Not me.
Peter Cipolloso, Oxford
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