As one of 20 million veterans, I charge President Trump with executive malpractice — naming his personal physician (who has no relevant management experience) as head of the Veterans Administration, the second largest government agency. Sadly, Trump values personal loyalty above President Abraham Lincoln’s promise in his second inaugural address “to care for him (and now her) who shall have borne the battle…”
As to the economy, it’s perking along, due in part to the tax cut and deregulation, both of which could come back to haunt America via enormous budget deficits and another great recession due to unchecked Wall Street “profit-taking.” But, contrary to Thomas Shields’ letter (March 15), Trump and Republicans did not “initiate” the recovery. President Obama’s first year in office, 2009, saw 9.9 percent unemployment. By his last year, it had fallen to 4.7 percent. The rate in February was 4.1 percent — building on success, not initiating it.
Also, despite campaign promises, Obamacare is still in effect; immigration hasn’t been reformed to meet White House wishes; and Congress just rejected many Trump proposals, including the wall that he said Mexico would pay for. And that $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan that Trump’s been touting? So far, just one percent has been authorized.
The fact is that Democrats, in the minority, got most of what they wanted in the budget, including continued Planned Parenthood funding. That wouldn’t have happened without many Republican votes.
Donald Trump isn’t just a poor role model for the nation’s children, he is also a failed political leader.
Dave Griffiths, Mechanic Falls
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