This should be the easiest election in U.S. history—Donald Trump doesn’t have a real opponent—were it not for the fact that people don’t vote with reason but with heart. And sometimes not really out of love, but out of hate, out of despair, out of idolizing, out of imagination, out of fantasizing, and out of ignorance.
We have two candidates: one has a plan—it doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad—the other doesn’t, but she is a female and is African American, or maybe Indian; we haven’t figured it out. Now, if I were choosing a marriage partner, then female and Black would certainly trump a male with a plan. But for a president, it isn’t the skin color and sex that matters, and I say this not out of racism or sexism. There are simply slightly different job requirements. You know, like having a strategy.
Yet it turns out that many in this nation lean precisely this way: the ones accusing others of being racists and sexists end up making their choice purely on race and gender. In another article, I mentioned that in 2024, we’re not just choosing leaders; we’re choosing symbols. This has become the year of “identity politics.” And don’t get me wrong—identity is important. But when it comes to steering the economy, negotiating foreign policy, or keeping us out of international crises, symbols and identity won’t take you out of harm’s way. I’m less concerned about who the person is and more about what they can actually do. Call me crazy, but “having a plan” seems like it might come in handy here.
So let’s scrutinize the plan—the only one from the only candidate who presented one—and see if Trump’s aces will trump the unlucky course this country is on.
Trump’s Plan: Blame Immigrants, Impose Tariffs, and Call It a Day—Oh, and Yes, Drill, Baby, Drill
Trump’s strategy to “Make America Great Again” seems to follow a well-worn formula: blame immigrants, throw up economic barriers, and bring back the old “drill, baby, drill” motto to tap into domestic energy. It’s a plan that leans heavily on the idea that America’s problems are all about outside threats—immigrants, foreign goods, and dependence on overseas oil—and that a few well-placed barriers will set things right. But when we look closely, this plan doesn’t exactly hold water.
- The Immigrant Scapegoat
Throughout history, leaders have shifted blame onto minority groups whenever they found themselves short on solutions. Hitler blamed Germany’s woes on Jews, the Romans persecuted early Christians, and countless others have found convenient scapegoats to distract from systemic failures. Trump’s approach to immigrants follows this same pattern, but it doesn’t actually address what’s broken within the nation. Instead, it fuels division and allows people to feel like there’s a clear, simple explanation for complex issues, when in reality, immigrants aren’t the problem at all.
Yes, like in every segment of society, there are surely criminals and dangerous individuals among immigrants. But this isn’t some zombie army crossing the border to steal the soul of decent Americans. These are mostly poor people who lack opportunities in their own countries and come searching for the “American dream”—in other words, hardworking people looking for a better future. Immigrants contribute to the U.S. economy by taking on jobs in industries like agriculture, construction, and service, which often struggle to find enough workers. They’re also consumers who contribute to local economies, pay taxes, and, in many cases, start businesses that create jobs.
If every immigrant were to leave tomorrow, the U.S. would still face the opioid crisis, economic instability, and a shrinking manufacturing sector. Blaming immigrants doesn’t solve any of these issues; it simply deflects attention from the real work that needs to be done.
- The Flawed Logic of Tariffs and Trade Wars
Trump’s other main tactic is imposing tariffs on imported goods, particularly those from China, in an attempt to protect American industries. But tariffs don’t create a stronger economy; they create a more isolated one. Here’s why: when tariffs are imposed, the prices of foreign goods go up, making them less accessible to American consumers. This might sound like a win for domestic industries, but it often backfires.
When Americans can no longer afford affordable goods from China, they’re forced to either pay higher prices for domestic alternatives or go without. This hurts not only low-income families who depend on affordable products but also small businesses that rely on global supply chains to keep costs down. Tariffs don’t make American products more competitive; they just make everything more expensive.
Moreover, tariffs do little to actually incentivize American industries to modernize and compete. They don’t lead to investment in new technology or improvements in efficiency; they simply protect existing businesses from having to innovate. If anything, this approach stifles growth, making American industries less competitive in the long run.
- Drill, Baby, Drill: The Energy Fix-All?
And then there’s the “drill, baby, drill” mantra—a call to revive American energy independence through domestic oil and gas production. While energy independence is important, this slogan oversimplifies the issue. The global energy market is complex, and drilling more oil doesn’t automatically insulate the U.S. from price fluctuations or guarantee low prices at the pump. The future is in diverse, renewable energy sources and sustainable energy infrastructure, not just digging deeper into fossil fuel reserves. If that clever Xi Jinping sees the potential in renewables, there must be something in it—Chinese experts seem to be more expert on this than we are willing to admit.
A focus solely on oil drilling overlooks the potential for clean energy jobs and technologies that would truly make the U.S. a leader in global energy. By leaning so heavily on fossil fuels, Trump’s plan essentially ignores the long-term benefits of innovation in renewable energy, which would not only address environmental concerns but also provide a more sustainable and stable economy.
So, What Would Be the Solution?
For a long time, the American dream was more than just a slogan; it was a real, tangible vision that drew people from all corners of the globe. It was a place where you could build a life, find a job, buy a house, raise a family, and feel genuinely proud of the life you’d made. America was the land of opportunity not just because of high GDP numbers or military might, but because it was, quite simply, a cool place to live. It invited people by offering the potential for stability and prosperity—a chance to live well, pursue dreams, and feel like you belonged to something bigger than yourself.
But somewhere along the line, that dream began slipping out of reach. Today, people struggle to afford basic essentials. Housing prices are astronomical, healthcare is a maze of expenses, and education often leaves young people deep in debt. The essentials that once made America appealing are now the very things weighing it down.
To restore this vision of America, we need to address a series of core issues and make some real changes:
- Affordable Housing and Basic Living Costs
High housing prices have put even modest homes out of reach for many Americans. Investment funds like BlackRock and Blackstone treat real estate as a profit engine, driving prices up to levels regular people simply can’t afford. By reining in corporate ownership of residential property, incentivizing affordable housing, and revisiting zoning policies, we could make homes accessible again. People should be able to buy a home without having to compete with trillion-dollar funds.
- Accessible Healthcare and Education
America’s healthcare and education costs are another major hurdle. When people are drowning in medical bills or student debt, they aren’t free to build the kind of lives they want. Policies that address these costs directly—whether through reforms, subsidies, or incentives for affordable options—would lift a significant weight off people’s shoulders. America should be a place where a basic education doesn’t set you back for life and where getting sick doesn’t mean going broke.
- Energy Innovation and Sustainability
The U.S. has the potential to be a global leader in energy innovation. Instead of relying solely on fossil fuels, investing in renewable energy sources would open up new industries and create sustainable, high-paying jobs. By making renewable energy affordable and accessible, the U.S. could reduce living costs, decrease reliance on volatile oil markets, and build an economy that’s future-proof.
- Invest in Workforce Development
Many manufacturing jobs have moved abroad because American workers lack the specialized skills needed for modern production. Instead of relying on tariffs to “bring back jobs,” the U.S. could invest in vocational training, apprenticeships, and STEM education to prepare a competitive, skilled workforce. This approach not only creates jobs but also allows American workers to adapt to rapidly changing industries and technologies.
- Focus on Quality of Life and Accessibility
America should be a place where people feel good about living, not constantly stressed by high costs. Making essentials like healthcare, housing, and education affordable would allow people to enjoy life, focus on personal goals, and contribute to their communities. A truly “cool” America wouldn’t be about an inflated GDP; it would be about real purchasing power. People wouldn’t be paying half an hour’s wage for a cappuccino or $3,000 a month for a tiny apartment. A strong society should have people who feel secure, free, and able to build lives without constant financial strain.
- Reinvestment in Local Economies and Small Businesses
Supporting small businesses and local communities is crucial to making America a place of real opportunity again. Local economies keep money circulating within communities, create jobs, and build resilience. By providing incentives for small business growth and investing in community resources, we can revitalize towns and cities across the country, creating places where people want to live and work.
But at the heart of all these issues is an even larger problem: the concentration of capital in too few hands and the lack of money in circulation.
The Big Problem: Capital Concentration and Circulation
One of the most significant barriers to fixing these issues is that wealth is locked up in the hands of a small group of individuals and corporations. When only a few people control the bulk of the wealth, it doesn’t flow into the economy in ways that benefit the average person. Instead of circulating, it sits, grows, and often goes right back into assets that further drive up prices, like real estate or high-stakes investments, rather than supporting the industries that would help people and communities thrive.
This concentration of capital stifles the economy at the local level. When money isn’t flowing, people can’t afford homes, businesses struggle to hire, and local economies dry up. Addressing this issue isn’t just about taxing the rich; it’s about creating a fairer system that encourages wealth to circulate, helping everyone access the opportunities that were once the foundation of the American dream.
If we’re serious about making America “great” again, it’s time to focus less on walls, tariffs, and slogans, and more on restoring the basics: affordable housing, accessible healthcare, energy innovation, skilled workers, quality of life, and fair economic circulation. In short, let’s make America the cool place it once was—where living well isn’t just a dream but a genuine, reachable reality for all.
The Two Things That Trump Did Get Right
The one thing Trump did get right—and that, with the help of Elon Musk, he might actually achieve if he wins—is that there are too many regulations. Layers of red tape stifle innovation, slow down progress, and add unnecessary costs. In many areas, scaling back over-regulation could give businesses more room to thrive and lead to more accessible services and products for everyone.
But the largest hole in the wall isn’t just overregulation; it’s taxpayer money flowing into military interventions and proxy wars, with absolutely catastrophic results. These interventions aren’t only costly; they drain resources that could be directed toward real solutions at home. Reducing unnecessary regulations is one part of the equation, but real fiscal relief will come from ending these costly conflicts abroad. And let’s not forget—they’re also immoral, wrong, and evil. Ukraine wouldn’t be at war now had the U.S. kept its fingers away from expanding NATO and poking Russia. But the old man Biden—warmonger his whole life—couldn’t help himself; he had to have a war of his own. Trump got that right too—enough with the killing, enough with the wars. This, in fact, is one of the most noble endeavors Trump could take on.
If the U.S. is to reclaim its strength, taxpayer money should focus on domestic priorities: building infrastructure, supporting healthcare, fostering innovation, and creating an economy where opportunity flows to everyone, not just those at the top. Ending wasteful interventions abroad is the crucial step toward an America that invests in its own people, rather than in conflicts far from home.
Cooperation Over Competition as a Strength of Foreign Policy
It may sound counterintuitive, given that the American public has been fed narratives of imminent threats for decades, but there’s little actual proof that Russia and China are the enemies they’re often painted to be. On the contrary, both nations have been heavily investing and working to intertwine their economies with the world. Rather than positioning itself in perpetual rivalry with China and Russia, the U.S. could choose cooperation over competition. These countries have strengths that the U.S. could leverage for mutual benefit. For instance, China excels in manufacturing and resource management, while the U.S. leads in technology and innovation. By cooperating rather than competing, all parties could make strides in global stability, affordable green technology, and economic resilience.
Instead of pouring resources into military spending and geopolitical posturing, the U.S. could channel those funds into relationships that encourage mutual growth—and even, perhaps, world peace. Sure, the military-industrial complex might lose a chunk of its weapons sales, but there’s always space exploration and other peaceful pursuits. Cooperation with the Global South could also open new markets and foster shared prosperity. Embracing a cooperative stance could lower costs, reduce conflicts, and allow the U.S. to focus on improving quality of life at home rather than engaging in endless global rivalries.
Moving Beyond Empty Promises and Scapegoating
Both Trump and Harris are missing the mark, albeit in different ways. Trump’s reliance on scapegoating and tariffs won’t fix the issues that matter most to Americans, and Harris’s lack of a concrete plan fails to provide the leadership people are looking for. What’s needed is a commitment to address the real economic and social challenges facing the country—not through blame or slogans, but through thoughtful, substantive policy.
Instead of focusing on competition and division, the U.S. could lead by example, cooperating with global powers, ensuring affordable essentials, and becoming a place where people feel proud to live. For real change, we need leaders willing to tackle the hard questions and make the tough decisions that will genuinely improve lives. Anything less isn’t a solution; it’s just more of the same.
Thank you sir!!! Well said.
Thank you sir for you attention. Fran