Dakota Beacon

President Donald Trump’s friendly critics utter gentle swipes against him. “There is a new sheriff in town.” “He is not a conservative.” “He has been known to side with Democrats.”

These comments are placid compared to the vicious utterances of his enemies. The truth is that as an outsider and non-traditionalist the establishment does not know how to regard him. He fits no template. He is viewed with anxiety and uncertainty because he is an unknown quantity acting unconventionally.

Trump is neither a Democrat nor a look-a-like Republican; he is neither a liberal nor a conservative. Rather, he has been identified as a pragmatist – a goal-oriented person who focuses on solving problems. He sees a problem, understands it must be fixed and proceeds find a path to solve it.

Trump is the enemy of globalism and the leader of a populist army. He entered the arena willing to lead a growing body of citizens tired of being boxed in and controlled by regulations and taxes; by politicians and bureaucrats. These stifling restrictions and ambivalent elitists treat the unwashed masses as if they are too stupid to manage their own lives – a basket of deplorables Hillary Clinton calls the great middle class.

What follows will not be found in the dominant media, TV or print. These observations gleaned from various alternative sources provide a fresh perspective of Trump.

            -- According to Trump’s employees and business associates, he is kind and considerate. This may come as a surprise to some. He is strong and kindhearted; he is generous and understanding. In private he even possesses a sense of humbleness.

            -- Trump believes that any foreign involvement on the part of the United States should be in our self-interest first. Moreover, those we help should bear the burden of our expense. The costs would include not only the direct costs, but the medical cost of our military personnel injured in combat and compensation to the families who lost a loved one.

            -- Trump wants the military to be strong once again. This strength would not be used for intervention but to deter conflict. This emulates the old Ronald Reagan doctrine of Peace through Strength. The strength of United States would be such that no one would risk conflict.

            -- Trump believes a strong foreign policy is based on the following: US interests always come first without equivocation; foreign policy is backed by strong military preparedness; go to war only to win; back your friends and distrust your enemies; see the threat before it manifests itself; respect and support the warrior class.

            -- Trump believes terrorist captured on the battlefield are military combatants and not ordinary criminals.

            -- Trump believes border security is integral to US national security as well as economic prosperity. Illegal immigration must stop. Current immigration laws must be enforced vigorously. People who enter the US illegally must not be given a path to citizenship. They are lawbreakers.

            -- Trump wants the US tax system to favor the average man. He wants the tax system to encourage US businesses to stay here and foreign business to relocate here. Trump does have a tax plan that would allow citizens to keep more of what they earn: Up to $30k taxed at 1%; $30k to $100k taxed at 5%; $100k to $1 million taxed at 10%; over $1 million taxed at 15%.

            -- Trump wants Obamacare repealed. Like a good businessman, he believes in real competition in the marketplace in order to drive prices down. He also supports tort reform to get rid of costly defensive medicine.

            -- Trump wants spending reform in the federal government. The US spends far more than it receives.

            -- Trump wants reform in welfare. A welfare-to-work program would help remove people from the welfare rolls. Additionally, he wants to attack welfare entitlement fraud.

            -- Trump regards man-made climate change as a hoax.

            -- Trump does not support Common Core.

            -- Trump is pro-life allowing for abortion in the event of rape, incest or life of the mother.

            -- Trump supports 2d Amendment rights.

            -- Trump believes that marriage is reserved for a man and a woman.

            -- Trump is a death penalty advocate.

Trump is a fighter who loves the United States and has her best interests at heart. Love him or leave him, his no-nonsense pragmatism offers something the likes of which has never been seen recently in Washington, DC. Everything Trump does is unconventional. To superimpose old fashion political templates on him in an effort to predict his next move or evaluate his decisions is fruitless. It is to underestimate him and his actions. Proponents of old style politics will view Trump wrong every time.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).