Trump a year on
Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2017 2:50 am
So looking over the list I’d say he’s scored very low on achievements against the yardstick, and he’s 25% of the way through.ECONOMY (Domestic)
Return of sustainable jobs growth in Rust Belt states, innovating jobs using advanced technology within key sectors, ensuring US GDP Growth exceeds 2% P.A., continuing to have unemployment rates between 3-5%, creating 20M jobs, reducing corporation tax to 20% or less and simplifying the tax code, creating entrepreneur programs and rewarding new-businesses with tax breaks, raising the minimum wage to match a living wage, reducing excess regulation without losing the core reason for regulated industries.
IMMIGRATION
Completing a wall across the southern border of the US; halting entry of refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq; increasing the requirements for US VISAs from all countries. Creating additional online screening for all entrants into the US, improving border control at all major international airports and increasing the volume and training of immigration staff
HEALTH CARE
Replacing the ACA with a plan that will maintain the current guaranteed issue principle, maintain no more than a 5:1 ratio for elderly, continue allowing people under 26 to remain on their parents insurance. Ensure that continuous coverage for community rating remains in place. At minimum $25Bn for funding for High Risk Pools. Remove essential benefits packages. Tax credits should be based on income. Medicaid changes to Block Grant programme administered federally. Increase subsidy for aged individuals. Automatic enrollments into cheap plans required by law. Maintain the current exchanges. These would be the key ones for reforms to Obamacare. Second goals for health: Reduce costs of key medication and surgeries, remove right to get treated if no insurance is available, assuming ER basics are covered by the minimum plan.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Restructuring of NATO to increase non-US funding of NATO operations. Continued membership of and adherence to NATO plans and strategies, and the continued pledge to uphold the NATO alliance if Russia continues to seek eastern expansion into Europe. Uphold current US sanctions against Russia, North Korea and other key states. Move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Reduce the level of troops in Asia, Europe and Africa. Close down or severely restructure bases held world-wide in line with intention to step away from global policing. Avoid starting an international conflict that requires military intervention in Middle East, Central Asia. Continue to seek removal of Nuclear arms from hostile nations. Continued presence in UN Security Council and use of UN for diplomatic terms with other countries.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Creation of significant improvement in railroads, roads, and airports domestically. Completion of several high-speed-rail networks/lines in key areas including potential "bullet train" services in larger economies. Significant investment in and completion of bridges and re-building of the significantly high level of Dams that are going to collapse in the coming 10-20 years.
ENERGY
Completion of the Dakota Access and Keystone Pipeline. Improved output into US oil and Coal fields domestically, and reduced oil, coal and LNG imports from abroad. Reduction of regulation governing energy tariffs and increased competition in the market place.
TRADE (international)
Renegotiation of NAFTA with Mexico and Canada to allow continued flow of parts and goods into the US from key suppliers in both countries. Renegotiation of bilateral trade agreements with Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea. Bilateral trade agreement in place with the UK. Trade pact completion with EU regarding patent laws and corporate status in each area. Overall reduction in net imports into the US, and a reduction in exports from the US into other markets. Avoiding a trade war with China and other Asian countries. Increase tariffs for US companies whose operations are outside the US. Repatriating offshore funds using low-tax incetivization.
OTHER
Crime - increased policing and increased hiring of police. Use of Federal agencies in inner cities to reduce crime in key urban populations. Increase the war on drugs and counter the legalization of marijuana in states. Increased jail sentences for offenders
Education - Improve static literacy rates. Increase choide for parents regarding schooling for children. Increased funding to inner city schools to raise levels of education.
Economy - overderegulated amd no tax cuts or massive growth or job-creation, only success is unemployment rate
Immigration - no walk, no effective ban due to illegality of executive orders, no change to visa programmed
Healthcare - semi-success because of his failure to remove ACA, but that’s hardly a success.
Foreign Affaors - minor success on NATO funding pledge. Failure on troop levels and global policing. Massive failure on not worsening situations in North Korea.
Infrastructure - massive failure. Infrastructure week was a sham.
Energy: success to date on pipelines and regulations. No major shift in import/export balances.
International Trade - no major success, no real change. Department understaffed.
Other - some success on crime by his standards but not policing. No obvious success story here.
Overall I’d say he’s a 2/10 on his own scorecard.
I’m pretty happy he’s been this ineffective at half his agenda but there’s still scope to do more damage before 3 years is up.