This past week after the Women’s March on Washington, Donald Trump has signed executive order after executive order that has angered and outraged people globally. From Kellyanne Conway’s “alternative facts” statement to Trump’s ridiculous orders, every day things seem to escalate in order to try and suppress protestors.Trump has signed four executive actions so far; the following paragraphs will lay out what each one means going forward.
Almost immediately taking his oath, Trump signed an order to push back Obamacare (also known as the ACA) so that it can get ready for repeal. This gives necessary departments and businesses the ability to loosely determine and interpret the wording of the act so that “damage can be minimized.” This order affects anyone who can use Obamacare and serves as a foreshadowing of its future takedown by Congress. Congress wants to take down Obamacare without a proper replacement which puts all who use it in jeopardy. This order will harm citizens and shows the lack of care the new Congress has towards those in need.
Trump also issued an order to essentially expedite energy infrastructure in America. While Congress would need approval for budgeting, this order is another prelude to something much more disturbing. Trump’s plan is to push forward with “shale oil and gas” as stated on the White House website, and plans to eliminate Climate Action Plan and Waters of the U.S. I can’t begin to stress how dangerous this is, considering what the world should be focusing on is how to lessen our carbon and protect the environment. Taking out the Waters of the U.S. rule would take away the EPA’s jurisdiction over it and leave it unprotected.
Another order that came in this first week was to essentially build the “wall” Trump’s been talking about and having Mexico pay for it. The President of Mexico said he wouldn’t stand for this and would certainly not pay for the wall, which could cost an estimated 25 billion dollars, so there’s been a solution put in place to put a border tax of 20 percent on all goods. As unrealistic as this wall is, it seems to be on it’s way to being built, which should never happen. A wall is harmful and will not really solve any problems than creating a 25 billion budget that very well could be placed on the shoulders of the American public.
Trump’s last order of the week attacks sanctuary cities; cities in America that have announced they will not turn names and people over to immigration and protect undocumented citizens. Trump has essentially threatened federal funding in these cities, which could be disastrous and force the city to lose their budget. It’s curious that the cities he’s hurting, including the people inside them, are largely blue areas that voted for Clinton in the election. This order will affect many people of all backgrounds and threatens the financial prosperity of any given sanctuary city.
All of this doesn’t quite add up to the halting of immigration in general, which has left many people with valid visas detained in airports for their nationality or religion. This is so completely un-American and spoils the very notion of a separation of church and state. That line feels blurred more than ever as Trump’s announced plans to accept Christian refugees and blocking access for citizens of Muslim-majority countries. Blocking people access in this way is so wrong on fundamental levels. I always felt the divide in my country, but never as much as I have in the past week. I’m hurt, saddened, and worry for everyone who is impacted by these orders and it makes me anxious for what’s coming next.
