Several Classmates have asked for a forum for discussing current political matters. This necessarily delves into contrasting, often conflicting, opinions about which people care deeply. This forum provides an outlet for such sharing.
Doug Levick shares:
Trump government actions are being implemented almost exclusively by Executive Orders that are often vague and simplistic and have little understanding of the operation of the organization affected and the adverse implications of immediate implementation. Further, these actions are generally being taken without participation in the decision by members of Congress or by the management of the affected department or agency. More importantly, in many cases they are also ignoring existing laws which prohibit these actions without Congress's agreement. There is even talk now that presidential executive decisions can not be stopped by the courts which are attempting to uphold the law.
I am not talking here about what the decisions or actions are. I agree with the objective of a number of them. I am only talking about how the decisions are made and implemented. The pattern of these decisions and their implementation, I believe, represent a frightening threat to the practices of good governance, the principles of our democracy and the rule of law.
More broadly, the Administration is communicating widely, backed up by threats, that it will not tolerate anyone who is openly opposed to its agenda. A significant number of people have already been terminated for this reason. Senate Republicans are frightened not to support Cabinet nominees, knowing this. And then there is Trump's pardoning hundreds of January 6th participants who had pleaded guilty or had been found guilty by a jury of citizens in a court of law. On top of the Executive Orders signed, all this further destroys confidence in our government and our democracy.