The Realistic View

Trump's tariffs are a terrible mistake from many perspectives. They may be the absolute right course for anyone interested in fair trade, as America has been subjected to unfair practices that negate free trade for decades. Everything from tariffs against exported US goods, to markets completely closed to certain US goods, to currency manipulation, particularly by Red China, have been implemented to harm America. In order to have truly free trade, it must be a level playing field for every country, but it has been slanted against American manufacturers and farmers with Trump finally fighting back on their behalf. The problem with Trump imposing tariffs now is that he is harming most Americans, and the goal of bringing production back on shore may ultimately help very few as those returning plants will be automated and staffed by many robots and only enough people to service the robots that will actually be making most of the goods. As for monetary policy, is Fed Chair Jay Powell right that the Trump tariffs will spike inflation, and therefore, the Federal Reserve can't lower interest rates to stimulate the economy as Trump demands? Yes, but Powell was silent as Biden and his rubber stamp Congress were spending the United States into oblivion, and actually tailored American monetary policy to keep DemocRATS in power and in the White House. Powell will stand as an opponent and obstacle to Trump while he was just the opposite to Biden and Harris. Trump's policy is moral and correct but also enormously destructive to the prosperity he is trying to deliver. 

The Pessimistic View

Trump imposing tariffs may be the morally correct path because American goods have been subjected to foreign tariffs without response for far too long, but what of the damage done to most of America's households? Everything they were buying from abroad will now cost more, but they will not be making anymore to pay for it. Not to mention the 401(k) and individual shareholder bloodbath taking place. Sometimes, doing the right thing is painful, but these tariffs are killing us, and there is virtually no upside for America as technology is replacing workers everyday and everywhere, so jobs will not be coming back to our country in any significant numbers, even if the manufacturing facilities ultimately do return to our shores. 

Bit of Optimism

Donald Trump can't cure what ails America's economy. He will not be in office long enough to undo the damage of awful economic policy, lousy negotiations with foreign leaders, horrendous trade policy, and cronyism that have reduced the United States to where we are now. Ross Perot heard that "giant sucking sound" of American jobs leaving and could not have been more right but was mocked by both liberals and conservatives alike, when time has demonstrated that the factories really did depart in droves with NAFTA. The problem we have at the moment is that Trump can't reverse the decline in four or even the somewhat mythic eight years (which won't happen). He is also poisoning his MAGA brand so that he will likely not have a successor to continue his "bring jobs back to America" mission, and industry is changing with automation and robotics, wherein the blue collar positions will be reduced substantially no matter where the assembly and manufacturing plants are. So the President in attempting to do service for Americans and in principle absolutely the right thing is in the process of making Trumpism toxic and ensuring it ends with this one last term. Then back to the Deep State, the Swamp, the offshoring of jobs, and the managed decline of the United States we go. 

Tornado Proof Construction

There is no building material that is able to withstand the most fierce tornado. You can take natural disasters into account in construction codes, but there will always be a weather event so powerful that it overwhelms anything man has the ability to construct. Lord, help America including my home state of Tennessee as we are beset with violent spring storms. 

About "Free Trade"

America has been subjected to the tariffs and closed markets of many nations. This is not fair trade. Without fair trade, there can't be free trade. Uncle Sam has been Uncle Sucker far too long, but Trump is determined to change that. 

Mandatory Death Penalty

Membership alone in certain jihadi movements merits execution. Daesh (ISIS) burned people alive in cages. They drowned others in similar contraptions. If you make a video pledging your loyalty unto death to this terrorist organization, capital punishment is exactly what you deserve. You can't volunteer to be a brutally sadistic murderer without the harshest consequences. After witnessing what Hamas did on October 7, 2023, their adherents deserve no mercy either. 

Half the Field

The NCAA Tournament is down to the Final Four, and the much vaunted Southeastern Conference did not disappoint. Two of the remaining teams are from this best ever conference, with one inevitably reaching the championship game. I would say Florida would be that team, with Auburn's best player Johni Broome battling persistent injuries, that were aggravated during the Final Eight contest against Michigan State. My heart is with Auburn, but my mind is screaming "Gators".