Libertarian666 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 05, 2020 8:31 am
I'll take the affirmative side, whereas @vnatale seems to want to take the negative.
1. Reduction in regulations that stifle economic activity
2. No new wars
3. Withdrawal of troops from overseas
4. Getting the EU to pay more for their own defense
5. Tax cuts for most Americans
6. The First Step Act to reduce sentences for people convicted of non-violent offenses (mostly minorities)
7. VA Choice to allow veterans to seek private care if their VA hospitals are backed up
8. Reduction in government prohibitions of hemp and CBD
9. Increasing transparency in health care costs
10. Increased ability for consumers to import drugs from Canada
11. Moving the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, as asked by the Israelis
12. Arranged for numerous US hostages to be freed from other countries
13. Supported and signed Right to Try legislation to allow terminally ill patients to access experimental drugs
I'll come up with more as time permits, but I think that's a good start.
First of all, I will be honest and NOT an apologist for just being anti-Trump.
Second of all, I'll give some quick responses to the above. Others I want to spend more time thinking about them.
Finally, I'll couch some of my answers, stipulating that if what you say is true then I'm in agreement.
Rather than answer inline above I'll recreate the list here with comments.
1. Reduction in regulations that stifle economic activity - Will come back to later. But I've never accepted this conservative / Republican mantra
2. No new wars - A big plus. This was one of his campaign promises and, so far, he has fulfilled it. A good outcome of his following his instincts.
3. Withdrawal of troops from overseas - What has actually happened to date over 3+ years into his presidency? Overall, I believe we have too many troops too many places but the withdrawals needs to be managed in a planned, optimal manner. NOT the way Trump does anything. His manner is far more whimsical.
4. Getting the EU to pay more for their own defense - Who can argue against that? But, again, one can find fault in the his way of being able to manage a successful implementation. And, also again, how much of this is bluster and how much of this is actual results?
5. Tax cuts for most Americans - Did not agree with this or Bush's. It's again the Republican / conservative mantra that this always more than pays for itself leading to all kinds of increased economic activity. Last reports I saw was that this one did not. And, all the Republicans / conservatives said the sky was going to fall if Clinton's 1993 tax increases took place. Instead we have the roaring 90s until 2000. I don't want to pay any more taxes than the next person. But if you are going to spend the money then you need to tax to pay for those expenditures. And, of course, each time the Republicans are in power the Republicans / conservatives drop all concern for deficits.
6. The First Step Act to reduce sentences for people convicted of non-violent offenses (mostly minorities) - A good one.
7. VA Choice to allow veterans to seek private care if their VA hospitals are backed up - Another good one.
8. Reduction in government prohibitions of hemp and CBD - A good one but wonder what its overall impact it's going to be on the common person so a minor accomplishment.
9. Increasing transparency in health care costs - We desperately need it. But what exactly has happened three plus years into his presidency? In other words, what do I know today that I did not in December 2016?
10. Increased ability for consumers to import drugs from Canada - Good one. But HOW increased? Major? Minor?
11. Moving the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, as asked by the Israelis - Minor and pandering to his base.
12. Arranged for numerous US hostages to be freed from other countries - Other presidents have not? Makes for headlines but quite minor in the light of all else going on in our country.
13. Supported and signed Right to Try legislation to allow terminally ill patients to access experimental drugs - A good one. When did this go into effect and this includes ALL Americans?
In sum, I'm agreeing with more than I'm not. But I'm not agreeing to many that affect a broad swarth of the American population and, almost none for the world population.
Vinny