In 1980 Ronald Reagan asked voters a devastating national debate question: “Are we better off today than we were four years ago?”. The voters answered this question with a resounding electoral victory for Ronald Reagan over incumbent President Jimmy Carter. Forty years later, it is time to ask voters the same question about Donald Trump’s tenure as President. Recent reviews suggest that our President has failed to improve the stature of our country in many key areas: the economy, our health, national unity, racial justice, and education:
Economy: The unemployment rate was 13.3% in May. The National Debt has sky-rocketed due to Trump’s corporate tax cuts and the Covid-19 Stimulus measures. The CBO total deficit prediction for 2020 and 2021 is 5.8 trillion, and the debt could reach 108% of GDP by the end of 2021. Verdict: Not Better Off
Health: The President’s anemic response to the Covid-19 epidemic from late January to mid-March has contributed to the staggering total of 117,000 American lives lost. Hydroxychloroquine, bleach, and the unwillingness of the President to follow his own task force recommendations have not helped his authority on the national stage. Verdict: Not Better Off
National Unity: The words of General James Mattis, one of many Cabinet members who have resigned or been fired in the last three years, best describe the feelings of many Americans, “ Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people…does not even pretend to try.” Verdict: Not Better Off
Racial Justice: It is difficult to measure the public’s reaction to Trump’s militaristic response to the racial turmoil embracing our country right now. It does seem precipitous that Trump’s Gallop approval ratings have collapsed over the last month. Public Verdict: Not Better Off
Education: Nothing accomplished. No Verdict
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