The below list was accomplished by our President, in office for only two years, despite furious opposition by the Democratic party, by the mainstream media, and by a substantial part of the Republican party. One can only imagine what he would have done had he had any cooperation.
- After decades of blackmail, Trump stopped North Korea missile intimidation. “My red button is bigger than yours.”
- After decades, Trump moved our embassy to Jerusalem. Congress approved it, but no president had the courage to proceed with it. After it was moved, the Democrats, who voted for it, refused to attend the dedication.
- Finally, after decades, someone finally confronts China and their theft and violations of copyright and patent law. American technology will no longer be stolen in such a brazen manner.
- While Obama did nothing to stop China from militarizing and seizing the South China Sea shipping lanes for themselves, Trump is confronting them. Those sea lanes have been open access to all for centuries.
- Finally, after decades, someone confronts Canada and other countries, for their deceit in demanding permission to make generic copies of our pharmaceuticals. Until now, it meant Americans must pay higher drug prices to subsidize lower prices for the rest of the world.
- Destruction of the Iran deal and the application of sanctions. Iran threatened the Europeans not to go along with the sanctions or they would expose who they bribed to approve the deal in the first place.
- Finally, after decades, someone stands up to NATO and demands they pay for their own defense. We pay for Germany’s defense while they buy their natural gas from Russia.
- Obama’s criminally incompetent policy that undermined a victory in Iraq and allowed for the formation of ISIS. Continued incompetence allowed ISIS to thrive into a mini-state. Trump defeated ISIS in nine months.
- Refused to sign the Paris climate accords. There would then be a great expectation and burden on the United States resulting in rising electric utility bills and slower economic growth. China, the world’s biggest polluter, is still increasing emissions and little in the accords was demanded of it.
- Repealed Obama’s ruling telling public schools not to report criminal violations of students as it would be “racist.” If disobeyed, federal funds would be withheld from the school. Nikolas Cruz, of the Parkland High School massacre, had a behavioral record “screaming” to be uncovered but had his “privacy” protected. Trump has rescinded this order.
- Intensified pressure on MS-13 gang members
- Finally, after decades of neglect, someone finally improves the Veteran’s Administration treatment of our injured and traumatized veterans.
- Massive business deregulation which has spurred the economy out of the supposed “new normal” of only one percent growth up to three and four percent growth.
- Tax reform. Particularly reducing the tax bracket for LLC’s to spur small business entrepreneurism and future innovation and growth. Many businesses start in garages and dorm rooms as LLC’s.
- Appointed Supreme Court judges who respect the constitution and individual liberties.
- Enforces immigration law and stopped the “caravan” at the border. This also helped prevent child trafficking and drug running. Trump had the guts to shut down the government and insist that “the wall” be built. No other president would ever have had the courage.
- Finally, after decades, someone stands up to the mainstream media and its fake news.
- Record-low unemployment.
- We have now become the world’s largest exporter of oil, surpassing Russia and Saudi Arabia.
- Tried to approve the Keystone Pipeline in Colorado which could create thousands of jobs.
- Supported repeal of the Johnson Amendment which allows non-profits to support political candidates. Leftist non-profits violated this for decades without repercussions.
- Began the destruction of Obamacare which was designed to destroy private sector medical care.
- Protected the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms.
- Signed into law a calling for the seizure of property of anyone involved with human rights abuses and human trafficking. Eric Schmidt of Google resigned the next day. I guess he had something to hide.
- Hired women to prominent positions. E.g. Kelly Ann Conway, Betsy DeVos, Nikki Haley, Kristjen Nielson, Elaine Chao, Linda McMahon, Gina Haspel, Heather Nauert, Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
- Withheld FEMA funds from California due to the criminally neglectful management of their forest fire standards.
- Eight years of Obama cost us 277,000 manufacturing jobs. Trump has now added close to 500,000 back.
While this list is reasonably comprehensive, it is not exhaustive. I may add to it later.
Dr. Wayne Roth
Roslyn Heights
“While this list is reasonably comprehensive, it is not exhaustive. I may add to it later”
Knock yourself out, fruitcake.
On a semi-regular basis, Dr Wayne Roth professes his affection, admiration and adulation for President Donald Trump in the form of a letter printed in this newspaper. Last week, he touted a list of Trump’s “accomplishments” after two years in office. However, Trump and supporters like Roth continue to confuse activity with achievement. This is a significant distinction that can explain why Roth’s list is so far disconnected from reality.
Simply put, action is not accomplishment. For example, walking is an action. But walking aimlessly without direction or purpose achieves nothing. So let’s look at each of Roth’s claims, and break down the activity versus the achievement.
Claim: “Trump stopped North Korea missile intimidation.”
Action: Trump did meet with North Korean dictator.
Achievement: None. There is zero evidence that the production of nuclear material has stopped in any way. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo acknowledged in Senate testimony that North Korea was still producing fissile material.
Claim: “Trump moved our embassy to Jerusalem.”
Action: Yes, Trump moved the embassy to Jerusalem.
Achievement: None. This does not benefit the United States or Israel, and merely served to futher anger more than a dozen other nations in the region.
Claim: “Someone finally confronts China and their theft and violations of copyright and patent law.”
Action: Unclear, other than Trump speeches saying that China’s violations would not be tolerated.
Achievement: None. China continues to steal American technology and there is no viable trade deal in sight.
Claim: “Trump has stopped China from militarizing and seizing the South China Sea shipping lanes for themselves.”
Action: None.
Achievement: No change.
Claim: “Someone confronts Canada and other countries, for their deceit in demanding permission to make generic copies of our pharmaceuticals.”
Action: Blowing up NAFTA.
Achievement: None. Canada continues to have better health care than the United States.
Claim: “Destruction of the Iran deal and the application of sanctions.”
Action: Violation of a binding treaty, re-imposition of sanctions by the U.S.
Achievement: No change. The International Atomic Energy Agency reports that Iran has adhered to its nuclear-related committments all along.
Claim: “Someone stands up to NATO and demands they pay for their own defense.”
Action: None.
Achievement: None.
Claim: “Trump defeated ISIS in nine months.”
Action: Announced unclear plan to withdraw troops from region.
Achievement: Cabinet turmoil and disagreement; ISIS continues to kill Americans, including another four in Syria last week.
Claim: “Refused to sign the Paris climate accords.”
Action: Further isolated the United States from the rest of the western world.
Achievement: None, other than a greater likelihood of future environmental devastation.
Claim: “Repealed Obama’s ruling telling public schools not to report criminal violations of students as it would be “racist.””
Action: Executive order.
Achievement: None. No statistical change in student criminal violation reports.
Claim: “Intensified pressure on MS-13 gang members”
Action: Speeches and fiery rhetoric, two visits to Suffolk County.
Achievement: None.
Claim: “Improvement of the VA.”
Action: Trump signs short-term spending plug in September 2018.
Achievement: None. VA funding gap grows to over $8 Billion in 2019-2020 budgets.
Claim: “Tax reform.”
Action: Supporting a new tax law for 2018 and beyond.
Achievement: None. Federal budget deficit jumped nearly 17% in 2018.
Claim: “Appointed Supreme Court judges who respect the constitution and individual liberties.”
Action: Upheld constitutional duty by nominating two justices.
Achievement: Most controversial Supreme Court hearing in 20+ years; alleged sex offender now serves on highest court in the land.
Claim: “Enforces immigration law and stopped the “caravan” at the border.”
Action: Shut down government because lawmakers do not support his wall, which he promised Mexico would pay for.
Achievement: None.
Claim: “Someone stands up to the mainstream media and its fake news.”
Action: Vitriolic speeches attacking a free press.
Achievement: None. Violence against journalists is up 200% since 2017.
Claim: “Record-low unemployment.”
Action: None.
Achievement: The unemployment rate shows the same progression from President Obama to President Trump.
Claim: “We have now become the world’s largest exporter of oil.”
Action: Easing of limitations on oil production and trade.
Achievement: Reduced incentives for clean energy use; long-lead ecological impact on United States
Claim: “Tried to approve the Keystone Pipeline in Colorado which could create thousands of jobs.”
Action: He tried…
Achievement: He failed.
Claim: Supported repeal of the Johnson Amendment.”
Action: He tried…
Achievemen: He failed. Thankfully, groups that protect disadvantaged still have a voice in politics.
Claim: “Began the destruction of Obamacare.”
Action: Executive order.
Achievement: None. It remains the law of the land.
Claim: “Protected the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms.”
Action: Amplifies the voice of the NRA.
Achievement: None. 40,000 americans dies from guns in 2018.
Claim: Signed into law a calling for the seizure of property of anyone involved with human rights abuses and human trafficking.
Action: Executive order.
Achievement: None. According to FBI statistics in 2017-2018, enforcement of human right abuses dropped by 85% compared to the previous two years.
Care to guess what the percent increase is in prosecution of advisors to the President was over that same time?
Claim: Hired women to prominent positions.
Action: This is true, but misleading.
Achievement: None. Female appointees/nominees in the Trump administration make up 28% of all appointment positions. Under Obama, it was 48%.
Claim: “Withheld FEMA funds from California…”
Action: Prevented FEMA funds from reaching those who were fighting forest fires.
Achievement: Spite. Death. Devastation. The 2018 California fires were the most expensive fire-related devastation in American history.
Claim: “Eight years of Obama cost us 277,000 manufacturing jobs. Trump has now added close to 500,000 back.”
Action: New tax law, Corporate incentives (?)
Achievement: None. The average employment gain in Obama’s last five years in office 208,000 per month. The average employment gain in 2017-2018: 195,000 per month.
So while Trump continues to take action that has either no impact, or a negative long-term prognosis, Dr. Roth values activity over achievement. It is certainly his right to feel gratitude, but in his promise to add to his list, let’s hope he has learned this difference.