OPINION:
I am a Republican/libertarian who worked for President Reagan from 1981 to 1986, for Chief Justice Warren Burger from 1986 to 1995, and for 14 years as vice president at Hillsdale College, and I would like to see President Trump gone. There are six main reasons why.
Reason one: Mr. Trump ran for president as a Republican, but he radically became a Keynesian liberal once in office by mandating tariffs. John Maynard Keynes’ liberals believe that all progress comes from government money and control, not from individuals and the free market. It is the Adam Smith argument.
Tariffs in the U.S. amount to taxes given to the government — a Keynesian move. Mr. Trump’s unexpected imposition of tariffs has led to higher consumer prices, increased inflation and lowered U.S. growth expectations. Confiscating money from families, as tariffs do, is not capitalism; it is socialism.
Reason two: The Congressional Budget Office reports that Mr. Trump’s “big beautiful” budget will establish a public deficit after 10 years of $2.4 trillion. That enormous debt is financially and morally irresponsible to future Americans.
Reason three: Mr. Trump wanted to deny the people of Greenland their right to private property.
Reason four: Mr. Trump’s character is often just plain obnoxious. He regularly explodes in anger, hurling heated, mean name-calling. The worst example, to me, is his calling The Wall Street Journal “rotten.”
His self-love is without measure. It reminds me of what Oscar Wilde said: “To fall in love with one’s Self is the beginning of a life-long love Affair!”
Reason five: Mr. Trump started the war with Iran. He seems not to have any idea when the Strait of Hormuz, which he caused to be closed, will be opened for safe, free passage for all vessels.
Meanwhile, access to oil remains diminished, the cost of gasoline remains high, and, according to the Pentagon, the costs of conducting war are more than $30 billion, with no certain end in sight. This is taxpayer money.
Reason six: Mr. Trump demanded a $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization fund” to pay Jan. 6 riot participants. He also demands $220 million from Congress for completing the East Wing ballroom, which he said would require no government funding.
RONALD L. TROWBRIDGE
Oakland, California
Please read our comment policy before commenting.