Two Months in - The pros and Cons of Trump 2.0

These are the Positives of Trump 2.0:

• Taking a broad stroke to DEI  by removing these programs from the federal government and related institution. People should not be judged, promoted or hired on any other category than individual merit.
• Securing the border, stamping down on illegal immigration and deporting violent aliens.
• Ending student visas for external political troublemakers and rabble rousers on University campuses.
• Forcing universities through the withholding on funds to deal actively with anti-Semitism on campus. Next stop anti-White racism.
• Auditing of Federal government budgeting (through DOGE) to reduce gross waste and the mismanagement of funds. Closing down of inefficient federal branches.
• Issuing a federal ban for men competing in women’s sports
• Changing the leadership in the FBI to enhance a global cleanup of that organization.
• Setting in motion a process for ending the ineffective Department of Education.
• Pushing Europe to increase their individual nation funding of their own defence.
• Using pressure on Panama to end their deal with Chinese related groups regarding control of both ends of the canal.
• Dealing a blow to the Houthis for their attack on shipping in the Red Sea.
• Forcing Hamas to release hostages taken on October 7^th. Trump has shown strong support for Israel.
• Removing aid to the South African government for their racist policies.
• Restabilising a necessary cooperation between Space X and NASA as seen by the rescue of the stranded astronauts.
• Beginning the process for the recognition of the Lumbee tribe in North Carolina.
• Replacing Steve Bannon with Elon Musk as a key advisor. Bannon is a walking media disaster and a fraud.

Here though are the Negatives

• Raising Tariffs – While it is likely part of the ‘art of the deal’ this is a terrible way to negotiate with countries especially if they are traditional allies as Canada is with the US. Flip flopping with respect to tariff start dates is also adding much uncertainty to the global and US economy.
• Focusing on Trade deficits as economic polic.One cannot look at trade deficits with another country and necessarily see it as a bad idea without looking at the sum total of trade with all nations. The United States runs a trade deficit with Canada as it is heavily reliant on Canada’s natural resources to drive its industrial machine. Trump is veering into the Mercantilist trap if he sees this as an ongoing economic policy.
• Childish name calling – While Justin Trudeau was a poor Canadian prime minister and should never have mocked Trump behind his back (as he foolishly did) – Trump needs to do better than his 51^st state or Governor Trudeau jibe. Two wrongs don’t make a right. He has also re-energized the moribund Canadian Liberal Party in a way that could well salvage election victory, from a once likely defeat.
• Threatening to annex Greenland is another ill-timed approach that is damaging relations with another ally (this time Denmark)
• Removing security clearances from Mike Pompeo and John Bolton indicates a pettiness that further augments the notion that Trump doesn’t tolerate dissent or difference of opinion. Not only is the optics terrible but both men (who are well established American patriots) don’t deserve such treatment.
• Some of Trump’s selections for top positions in government are somewhat dubious. Both Tulsi Gabbard (a far leftist who was somewhat of a Bernie bro) and RFK Jr (who has a tendency to sink into conspiracy theory) spring to mind. Steve Witkoff, the Middle East, who has controiversial close ties with terror supporting Qatar still has the jury open on him.
• Trump should never have allowed his differences with the Ukrainian leader Volodymr Zelenskyy to spill out on stage as they did in the White House Meeting. The meeting should have been held behind close doors. The events that unfolded painted a picture of the POTUS as not being an honest broker between Russia and the Ukraine. If anything it appeared to greatly embolden Vladimir Putin who is the actual aggressor in this war.
• Trump needs to tone down his uncontrolled deference to exaggerating numbers and statistics. Superlatives are useful for salesmen not as an instrumernt for winning the public trust as leader of the free world.

Quick Questions I have answered on Quora

Why has Europe failed to match the power of the USA?

The two world wars greatly weakened Europe. It also fostered a mindset that encouraged self flagellation and a national drop off in the will to power. Add to that a declining birth rate, the adoption of cradle-to-grave socialism and a reluctance to spend on its own defense and the reasons for the decline become obvious. In many ways the individual European countries have lost their identity. Poorly crafted immigration policies have not helped. For the record, until recently (although the jury is still out) the US was not far behind.

Is Turkey's relationship with its allies being affected by Erdogan's actions?

Yes. Erdogan’s shift toward a type of Islamic nationalism runs contrary to NATO’s western liberal ideals. Turkey’s presence in NATO is equivalent to having a fox in the hen house. It needs to restore Ataturk type secularism in its national outlook or leave.

Why are more and more people now believing in conspiracy theories compared to, let's say, 10 years ago?

The proliferation of various news sources and the failure of the legacy media to report objectively on key issues. This is further compounded by the drop off in trust regarding key institutions. Some of it is unfortunately warranted.

Which religion do you think will still be in existence in 20 years time?

All of the major religions will be around. All boast adherents in the millions (albeit to different orders of magnitude) and twenty years is not a long time in religious history.

Why did the Roman Empire choose Christianity over Islam?

Islam was not around in 313 AD when religious tolerance was granted via the Edict of Milan. Nor did it it exist in 380 AD when the Edict of Thessalonica made Christianity the official religion. Muhammad, the founder of Islam lived between 570 and 632 AD.

Stoicism

I have been reading considerably on the philosophy of Stoicism, whose central tenet is the concept of virtue. In its essence Stoicism isn't so much a philosophy but a way of life. It is rooted in a pragmatism that can be applied to our experiential existence. 

Here are some key points about Stoicism:

1. Its origin goes back to the time of Ancient Greece and the thinking of Zeno of Citium who agued that 'The goal of life is living in agreement with nature.'

2. However it was the Romans especially Seneca the Younger (and his notion of time management), Epictetus (on Resilience) and the philosopher Emperor Marcus Aurelius (most famous for the wisdom outlined in his work Meditations) that developed the framework for Stoicism.

3. Stoicism divides the realm that personally impacts an individual into aspects that one can control (internals) and those that are beyond our control (externals). It is the former that it focuses on. In this regard it asks us as an individual to harness our perceptions, decisions and attitudes towards a 'Call to Action'.

4. One's work, fitness and personal relationships are aspects we can manage as well as the challenge of facing our death.

5. Virtue is key to Stoicism . It through virtue that we can navigate the struggles and turbulence of life. Four factors define virtue viz. wisdom, courage, justice and temperance.

6. Wisdom extends beyond knowledge. It urges us to understand the world and seek out truths. Courage requires that we use rationality and strength to face adversity and avoid choosing paths of ease that do not permit us the opportunity to grow.

7. Justice requires that we balance kindness and fairness in making decisions and finally temperance challenges us to control our emotions and desires.

8. It is through a focus on virtue that we cultivate character. and gravitate towards Eudaimonia which is the stoic goal of happiness and flourishing.

9. Virtue requires perspective and an understanding of the impression (initial perceptions) and assent (processing of said perceptions) to regulate our beliefs. A view from above is necessary to transcend our material existence. This will allow us to motion towards tranquility and an embrace of Amor Fati (loving one's fate).

Reflections XXII - It needs to be said

Wisdom is rarely achieved by rapidly mastering a task with speed. It is process that combines failure, questioning and then smaller increments of success.

 The problem with socialism is that it divides wealth instead of multiplying it.

 Nobody has a clue of what the afterlife brings which may be G-d’s finest ever move.

 Cultural supremacy should be celebrated by a society not scorned. For once it is internally negated then decline is not far behind.

 No leader epitomized the decline that is Britain than Keir Starmer – the very essence of a global fraud masquerading as a national leader. His role is to manage Britain’s downfall.

 If you tolerate evil on the grounds of cultural relativism then you burn into a society’s fabric an inevitable pattern of regression to full on failure. This is the European curse.

Reflections XXI - Racing through my mind

Every society requires a reboot. This is especially true if its fundamentals have been eroded beyond recognition. The United States in 2025 was primed for such energy. Contemporary Europe was still debating whether it had any life to reboot at all.

 Academia is in a constant battle between the majority who play loosely with the facts and those brave souls who prioritize the truth above all else.

 The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was a chance for Moscow to play her final hand and prove to the world that she was still a master of the war of attrition. Sunken costs rarely bothered the Kremlin.

There are givers and takers in geopolitics and no taker has grasped the opportunity so well as did the Chinese with its much favoured nation status. The US was completely outmaneuvered.

Reflections XX - Making sense of observation

 Intelligent people can be closed minded as intelligence is no guarantor of wisdom.

 No science has been more powerful than physics in understanding the universe, as its principles underpin so many phenomena that cut across other disciplines.

 The Irish have a great affinity for the Palestinians as they too have a national spirit that tends to unfortunately marinate in victimhood.

 It still astounds me as to how the European elite are content in allowing their continent to burn while they fiddle with unearned smugness.

 What made Mohammad Ali great was that he was capable of beating any type of fighter from brawler to hard hitter. He simply had the skillset and quickness of feat to adapt to differing opponents.

Reflections XIX - Obsevational Realities

The United States would be better served if it stopped viewing politics as a team sport that requires consistent and unnecessary nourishment and over stimulation.

 The Covid-19 disaster outlined two important facts about humanity viz. there is no shortage of bullies willing to abuse the rights of the other nor is there a deficiency of the weak minded who will voluntarily give up their freedoms.

 The tragedy of the liberation movement in South Africa is that it sacrificed its long term future for gains in the present by promoting liberation before education.

 Robert Mugabe continued the powerful post-colonial tradition in Africa of turning his country (Zimbabwe) into an economic disaster by wrecking its agricultural self-sufficiency.

 In regularly voting into power the ANC the South African electorate shows once again that democracy is no guarantor that the incompetent and the corrupt will be replaced.