11:02:34 am on
Tuesday 19 Mar 2024

Uneasy Politics
Matt Seinberg

Every Saturday or Sunday night, I call my father on my way home from work. He lives in Syracuse, New York. I find it easier to talk to him, when I am in the car than at home; there are no interruptions other than the rude drivers I wrote of last time.


My father is uneasy with the Trump Administration.

Today, my father said something that was very interesting. He said that he was very "uneasy" about the way the Trump administration has shaped up. I must agree with him. President Trump, a term I still find that hard to swallow, has yet to utter a fully true statement or policy that anyone can believe.

Sure, he's going to make Mexico pay for the wall he wants to build. Mexico said no. Now, who's going to pay for it? The American taxpayer, of course, probably through tariffs on imported goods; reduced or eliminated budgets for the arts and sciences as well as research for medical and other scientific problems. I think it's insane the government wants to eliminate the Meals on Wheels programmes that benefit senior citizens that live alone and can't get out. They look forward to the daily visit from their friendly delivery person with their food.


Trump cuts social benefits, but spends millions to fund security at Trump Tower.

With the amount of money spent on security at Trump Tower, in New York City, it's ludicrous to eliminate public benefit programmes for separate security for the First Lady and son. I think the last figure I read for security was $183 million. That's insane! Why should the government pay for that just so his wife and kid could live there instead of living in The White House? Because it's his choice, let him pay those security costs.

How does this idea sit with you? To collect welfare, a person must take some sort of job in the city, town or county where she or he lives, unless illness or infirmity prevents them from working. Put them in the Parks or Sanitation Departments and let them keep the parks clean by picking up trash, raking leaves, and cleaning the bathrooms. Assign them to keeping the streets, gutters, trash bins and drains clean. If they refuse these jobs, cut off their welfare benefits.

Instead of taking people away from their jobs and having them lose money, the first people called should by those collecting unemployment benefits (UB). They get UB so they can look for a job. Why not let them do something that they have time to do, sit in court. Pay them their weekly unemployment benefits and not pay the daily rate for being available to sit on a jury. No double dipping allowed.

President Trump has brought in his wealthy business cronies to serve in the Cabinet, and many don't have the proper credentials for the job. The one that really burns me is Betsy DeVos, as the Secretary of Education. If this woman has her way, our entire educations system will fall apart and no federal subsidies given. The entire responsibility for funding schools will be up to the states and individual school districts. At that time, watch our local taxes skyrocket.


Is there voters’ remorse among Trump supports?

I wonder how many that people voted for Trump are now saying, "What the hell did I can only cringe when I read the newspaper or watch the news on television and see what the next stupid thing he said.

Sean Spicer will not last as press secretary through the year. My father and I believe that his head will explode on national television.

 

Matt Seinberg lives on Long Island, a few minutes east of New York City. He looks at everything around him and notices much. Somewhat less cynical than dyed in the wool New Yorkers, Seinberg believes those who don't see what he does like reading about what he sees and what it means to him. Seinberg columns revel in the silly little things of life and laughter as well as much well-directed anger at inept, foolish public officials. Mostly, Seinberg writes for those who laugh easily at their own foibles as well as those of others.

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