In a column last month, I suggested that our leaders might want to reevaluate their priorities and perhaps spend a little more time worrying about the things that actually matter to ordinary Americans.
Whew! They listened. Apparently, somebody at the White House read my column because President Trump has decided that the really important issues facing America can no longer wait.
The national debt? Well, that’s something our children can worry about.
The cost of groceries and gasoline? Billionaires don’t worry about that. Small inconvenience, right?
War? No panic here; I’ve almost lost track of which war we have won in the first three days or which war we stopped on Day-One.
Tariffs? Our president’s favorite word is a beautiful thing. The tariffs are working. In fact, one of my business clients bought a large machining center for $450,000. When tariffs hit, again, the price of his Canadian-produced equipment skyrocketed. Amazingly, my customer backed out and saved $450,000. Thank you, President Trump; you’re great for business.
So, what are the priorities we should be focusing upon?
How about the Great Lakes? How did we go 400 years with Lake Ontario? It’s about time we got it right.
Remember the Kennedy Center? As predicted here last month, President Trump has made moves to get his name back on the Center. After a federal judge ordered it removed, we predicted it would come back, but who could predict this new idea? Trump now says if his name doesn’t go back up, he may just tear down the building.
And just when the president seemed too busy to bother with things like inflation and war, he found another vital use of his time. He ranked U.S. presidents. I had not realized how important a Trump presidential ranking would be. Guess who came in first!
He’s building a golf course, the ballroom, a huge, ugly arch that blots out Arlington Cemetery, and he’s drained the reflecting pond again. Priorities, anyone?
And then came this week’s newest priority. President Trump announced Wednesday, at his Dallas mid-term convention, that if Republicans retain control of both the House and Senate in November, every adult American citizen will receive a $5,000 “Trump Dividend.”
Think about that. Vote Republican and get $5,000. And your tax dollars will pay for it. Remember, we are currently $40 trillion in debt; with more than 25 percent of that coming in Trump’s six years. This cost alone would add another $1.25 trillion.
Hey, why not make it $10,000, or $50,000? Let’s make it meaningful. After all, we don’t care about the debt; our kids will handle it.
A tip here. Don’t spend that five grand yet. Let’s remember some other promises during this second term:
· $5,000 DOGE dividend — NOT PAID
· Tariff rebate — NOT PAID
· $2,000 tariff dividend — NOT PAID
· $1,776 Warrior Dividend — PAID to U.S. service members
· $5,000 Trump Dividend — just announced; it requires Congressional approval
But hey, details. The important thing is that we have our priorities — renaming lakes, ranking presidents, building golf courses and ballrooms and arches, and now buying votes.
You’d think that would take up all his time. But no. President Trump spent part of the Labor Day weekend posting images of himself in AI-generated superhero imagery.
In one, he was portrayed as a hockey player beating up Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the ice. Classy.
But I believe the favorite was Trump portrayed as the Green Lantern, using the superhero’s magical ring to build a border wall and create jobs. That’s not how it really works.
I wanted our leaders to focus on the things that matter most to ordinary Americans. I wasn’t specific enough.
I meant groceries. I meant gasoline. I meant health care, the national debt, wars, and nurturing relationships with the rest of the world.
I did not mean, please rename more stuff or alienate another ally. I did not ask you to tell us again how wonderful you are. Most people learn, as children, to let people discover how wonderful they are. Don’t tell us; show us. Did you have more respect for Deion Sanders or Barry Sanders?
I know I’ll hear my favorite rebuttal: Trump Derangement Syndrome. OK, I’ll take it. But it raises a question back. Where is your TDS?
Do you really think renaming another lake is what America needs, or wants? How did you not laugh when Trump ranked Trump number one? Were you really not embarrassed at the loss of dignity when Trump became the Green Lantern? Or the pope, or an astronaut, cowboy, fighter pilot, Jesus… I guess there have been several.
And why doesn’t a $5,000 voting bribe raise your ire, regardless of party?
This isn’t about red or blue. I’m tired of hearing TDS; those who shout it, suffer from it.
Let’s debate policy, let’s defend dignity, and let’s demand humanity. And let’s call out absurdity, no matter the party, when it shows up wearing a cape or flashing a magic ring.
I asked for new priorities and sadly we got them.
Whenever I think we have hit bottom, Trump shows up with a shovel.
Curt MacRae is a resident of Coldwater, MI and publishes opinion columns regularly.
To be notified by email when a column is published, or to offer feedback: rantsbymac@gmail.com
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