I want to start off by saying that I have been a conservative my entire life. During my college years, I have remained a supporter of most conservative ideas while gaining a bachelor’s degree in both economics and political science. No matter the candidates, I have always fallen ideologically with the Republican nominee, until Donald Trump ran for president. As I watched his inauguration speech, I heard very little that was comforting to me and very much that worried me as a woman, as a millennial, and as a person. I am tired of vague statements that tell me nothing about the next four years. Here are the lines from Trump’s inauguration speech that stood out to me as the most worrisome and the most questionable.
1. “For too long, a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost.”
I question the ability of Donald Trump, a member of the one percent who is accused of tax evasion, to understand the effect of policy changes and governmental decisions on the unprivileged, average American.
2. “The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs.”
One can only assume that the “establishment” that Trump is referring to here is the previous Obama administration. While unemployment has remained higher than desired, there have certainly been triumphs worthy of celebration by families and citizens of the United States, including the expansion of LGBTQ rights.
3. “Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves. These are just and reasonable demands.”
If wanting great schools for our children is such a just and reasonable demand, why is Betsy DeVos nominated to be our secretary of education? There are many more serious threats to children in our public school system than potential grizzly bear attacks, like Betsy DeVos…
4. “We’ve defended other nation’s borders while refusing to defend our own.”
The only attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor sparked a war that has lasted over a decade and spearheaded the war on terror, an intergovernmental initiative to seek out and destroy terror organizations. Thousands of Americans have given their lives to protect our nation’s borders since 9/11. Trump may have, but we will never forget.
5. “From this day forward, it’s going to be only America first.”
My question here is, what place was American in before? I question the ability of Donald Trump to understand the progress America has made in the last 8 years; socially, economically, and internationally.
6. “Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American Families.”
How will those decisions affect the unemployed? The citizens who have no families or aren’t recognized as families by our new administration? I want to know how these decisions will affect every American, not some.
7. “Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.”
The early 1900s called, they want their protectionist policies back. America has prospered under free trade policies that promote the specialization of American industries with a comparative advantage. These policies provide lower prices and the availability of more desirable white collar or service-based jobs for Americans. Why would we shut ourselves off from the cooperative world we have tried so desperately to create?
8. “We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate from the face of the Earth.”
I have no qualms with the war on terror, but I question what a new wave of US involvement will mean for the defense budget that already more than doubles the next highest country’s and what area will be forced to sacrifice funds for a larger military. I also question what old alliances we will reinforce and what new ones we will make if we are also going to break our economic bonds with major political allies for the sake of our own protection.
These are just a few of my questions. I hope that our President is as successful as he is confident and that any negativity will be forgotten when the United States is as prosperous as promised. Until then, however, I am wary of the buzzwords and the uncertainty and will be waiting for something real. I would love to hear about the thoughts you had during the inauguration; feel free to leave them in the comments below.
