Letter To Editor

Letter to The Editor

Donald Trump’s latest attempt to get in front of the cameras and try to stop his rapid slide in poll numbers as things get progressively worse in the country was actually one of the most bizarre. In the ballroom of his own golf club in Bedminister, NJ, in front of dozens of his drinking, cheering, and jeering club members who pay as much as $350,000 annually who he called “peaceful protestors” as a captive audience, he announced four “Executive Orders” which he touted as meant to “help the America people.”

 

Any of Trump’s base and others who are easily carried away by his circus-like media events and  simply and naively listen to his words without doing any research of their own are in for a big surprise. Here are some of the REALITIES around these largely illegal, unempowered, and unfunded documents:

Unemployment Benefits Extension: Trump promises $400 in supplemental unemployment help, down from the $600 people received up until now. The realities are:

1. Trump, assuming these largely cash-strapped states have this money, wants them to pay 25% or $100 of this amount.
2. States have to actively request this money and show they have the $100 per person.
3. This would require states to create a whole new program to administrate this which would take time and organization.
4. It is questionable whether Trump has the power to enact such a measure. Dozens of lawsuits will tie this up in the courts for months.

Extended Eviction Deferral: Trump claims he will stop evictions until the end of this year.

1. 40 million people are unable to pay their rent. 25 million, 10% of the American population are at immediate risk of eviction NOW.
2. This is actually NOT an eviction moratorium because he knows he doesn’t have the power and can’t do that.
3. Instead, the Executive Order says that they will “look into the eviction situation” which doesn’t actually stop evictions and could take months.

Payroll Tax Suspension:  Trump said he will temporarily eliminate the Payroll Tax until the end of the year. The realties are:

1. The president/executive can’t change tax policy. Only Congress can do that. So, this is illegal and unconstitutional on its face.
2. This measure only affects those who have jobs and are working now. It would do nothing for the 40 million Americans who are out of work.
3. Under current law, those suspended taxes have to be paid back at the end of the year. So taxpayers would automatically be saddled with a tax bill on which the Internal Revenue Service would levy penalties if not repaid in timely manner.
4. This Trojan Horse is nothing but a back door ploy to destroy and eliminate Social Security and Medicare which the Republicans have been trying to do for decades. Trump promises to make the Payroll Tax suspension permanent if he is re-elected. Starving these programs of their monthly stream of funds would accomplish that goal. Statistically, Trump supporters make up a disproportionate percentage of people receiving these benefits. I wonder if they can make this connection.

Student Loan Deferral: Trump’s memo claims to waive interest on Student Loans held by the Federal Government through the end of 2020. The realities here are:

1. The Education Department doesn’t have the authority to defer or cancel student loan payments to the Federal Government.
2. The debt is not cancelled forever. The interest is compounded and principal payments are due on Dec. 31 and full payments start Jan 1.

Regardless of political views, it is our responsibility and to our benefit as informed citizens, to question, do our research, and dig into what is “said” by our elected officials of both parties.

 

William E. Conti, PhD

Honolulu, HI