Issue 5.17
The Inaugural Address of a new president typically sets a course for the new administration and serves notice of their intention. Usually, what a President wants and what actually happens are somewhat different. This is because Presidents do not have the power to create law – that is reserved to the legislature. Presidents do set policy and procedure, but only for the Executive Branch of government. The effect of this should not be under-estimated as this includes the enforcement of existing law and a lot of bureaucratic policies and requirements.
What we will see over the next few weeks and months will tell us a lot more, but it seems that President Trump has pretty clear ideas of what he thinks should happen and he is letting the citizens and the Congress know that he intends to act on the policies he outlined in his campaign.
Some of the quoted highlights (or lowlights if you disagree with them) of the inaugural speech are:
“At the center of this movement is a crucial conviction: that a nation exists to serve its citizens.”
“For many decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military; we’ve defended other nation’s borders while refusing to defend our own; and spent trillions of dollars overseas while America’s infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay.”
“Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families.”
“We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world — but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first.
We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow.”
Additionally it is interesting to note that he mentioned God six times, mostly in the last section of the address. He served notice repeatedly that his theme is America First, Buy American and Hire American. His final words were “Together, We will make America strong again. We will make (America) wealthy again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again. And yes, together, we will make America great again. Thank you. God bless you. And God bless America.
In the days since the speech he has issued a number of executive orders, memorandums and proclamations. We will examine them in the next article, but suffice it to say that he has been consistent in doing what he has said he would do. Many of us (including me) disagree with some of those things and agree with others. It is becoming clear however, that he will try to do what he has said he will do, for better or for worse.
It is up to us as citizens and through us and the demands we make on our representatives in Congress and the State Legislatures to counter any directions we disagree with and support any actions we believe are right. In my opinion it has never been more important for us to take the time and energy to do so. The Congress (Legislative branch), the Courts (Judicial Branch), and the States through nullification are the checks and balances on the power of the U.S. Presidency. While I believe that some of the concepts Trump is championing are worthy, I believe we need those checks and balances as we always have and have not used enough to counter excess and wrong thinking.
Lynn West is a thinker, a teacher and a patriot. You can reach him through email at forgingthefuture2021@gmail.com or through this newspaper. Liberty is a state of being which must be continually created. These articles can help all of us discover the ways we can contribute to that outcome.