# Will you be comfortable with some of Trump's policies? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 18, 2016, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304 "2016-11-18T03:27:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/21 "2016-11-18T14:00:18Z")
I don’t give a fig about his political philosophy. America and the world have enough antibodies to fight off that infection. I am concerned with his lack of common decency and civility and respect for the people he lords it over, which is a lot more contagious than political philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/22 "2016-11-18T14:26:27Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > On nearly every topic, he’s expressed support for policies I like. On all of the same topics, he’s also expressed support for the opposite policy. The only policies he’s been consistent on are the deplorable ones. > [@Bricker](#): > > +1 > > So far as I can tell, he’s just said different things at different times, with no particular thought or analytic policy method attached. Really? Are we talking in the last year or so, or are we talking over his lifetime? If the former, I think he’s been pretty staunchly anti-Roe v Wade. That’s not a minor issue. He’s also been pretty staunchly pro-Scalia type SCOTUS justices. He’s been pretty consistently anti-Free Trade Deals. He’s been pretty consistently anti-immigration from Muslim countries. The only thing I expect to get out of a Trump presidency is SCOTUS justices that are closer to my way of thinking and perhaps a renewed respect for federalism among those supporters of an ever strengthening federal government, especially concerning the executive branch. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/23 "2016-11-18T14:28:32Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > Hmmm. It does sound to me that there is absolutely nothing he could do that wouldn’t criticized by a faction here, possibly even if he were to implement policies that would be agreeable should Hillary have made them. I could be wrong though, but this is pretty similar to what I’ve heard for the last 8 years from my republican contacts…didn’t matter that Obama says something that would be agreeable if a Republican said it…they just dismiss any possibility of acceptance out of hand because…Obama. > > I see there are others that are more open to the possibility of being ok with some concepts, but some are not. I find that interesting It’s perfectly fair, and factually accurate, to point out that Trump has expressed a number of contradictory views that are less policies than vague statements of intent. For example, I welcome anyone to explain coherently how a Trump administration will simultaneously increase military and infrastructure spending, lower taxes across the board, and reduce the national debt, as Mr. Trump appears to have promised. I really have no idea what you are complaining about. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/24 "2016-11-18T14:44:13Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > There is zero actually content in any of Trump’s ‘proposals’ as presented on his webite. (Having studied his energy ‘policy’ in the depth such a shallow pool allows I am inferring by similarity but a cursory review displays a similar lack of depth or insight.) The only infrastructure proposals he is going to support are those that line his own pockets (or rather, those of his ‘blind trust’ managed by his children). I guarantee that he gives fuck all for Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, jobs for the working class, lobbyists, and doesn’t even know what the Glass-Steagall Act is. > > I couldn’t really care for Clinton, had no respect for Sanders, thought Stein was pandering to anti-scientific movements, and that Johnson was only useful as a future Celebrity Jeopardy contestant, and yet, any one of them would have been preferable to Trump. Trump’s only realistic policy are those that enrich Donald Trump because his is exactly the character he describes in _The Art of the Deal_: a lying, manipulative huckster whose only motivation is his personal wealth and vanity. Has no one else read this book? This is like voting for Hitler without having read _Mein Kampf_. Do you not understand what the candidate has plainly stated about his motivations and view of the world in his own words? This is like voting for Robert Greene without having read _The 48 Laws of Power_, and then being shocked that your avowed leader is an unredeemable sociopath. Everything you need to understand Trump’s motivations is in your public library. Nobody should be comfortable with anything Trump ‘says’ because he’ll renegotiate any ‘deal’ as suits his interests. > > Stranger I agree largely with every part of this, but at the same time I won’t condemn good policies simply on the basis of motivation. He’s not going to be a king, the congress has as much to do with the efficacy of any policy as he does. Every president, every politician is motivated by self interest. It is more the congress that worries me than Trump himself because they will fail to take advantage of his ego. I can see already that on both sides they foolishly want to challenge him, and I hope that the side of worst intentions does that the most so he reacts counter to their desires. To simplify his motives to merely money is short sighted, it is ego that drives him, and if his ego leads to some good policies I won’t condemn them. That said, I just doubt any of that will happen, he’ll likely be a ‘loot the treasury’ supply sider and saddle us with more debt. Not that it matters because we’ve passed the point of ever paying off the debt we have already rung up along with the debt we’ve committed to in the future. But I will be pleasantly surprised if he manages to enact a couple of minor improvements. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/25 "2016-11-18T14:47:31Z")
Reforms of almost anything I can live with easily; ripping apart and starting over from scratch I would save for maybe the ACA. And since he is already watering down a lot of his more flamboyant statements from the campaign I will probably be comfortable with a lot of what he gets through Congress - after they add their changes to it all. In the end, like most of us, I will just have to wait and see how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/26 "2016-11-18T14:54:16Z")
I’m okay with him nominating SCOTUS justices who will uphold _Heller_, so long as they also uphold _Roe_ and _Obergefell_, which I think is entirely possible. I’m also okay with fixing the ACA, even if they have to “repeal” it first and call the new version Trumpcare. I just highly doubt Congressional Republicans will come up with anything better. The rest of his platform is 100% vile. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/27 "2016-11-18T15:01:47Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > It depends on what he does. If he does the following I can get behind them. > > Infrastructure building Support for infrastructure is, as a Presidential policy, sort of like a policy that the U.S. flag should have stars on it. Every President does this. In his first year in office, Barack Obama signed an infrastructure bill costing almost a trillion dollars. Does anyone remember that? SOAT hits the nail on the head. The only subject on which Trump has been consistent and detailed is his love of taking other people’s money. His plan is to enrich himself and inflate his own ego. Nothing else matters to him. If that leaves a trail of bodies behind him, what does he care? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/28 "2016-11-18T15:52:11Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Trump’s only realistic policy are those that enrich Donald Trump because his is exactly the character he describes in _The Art of the Deal_: a lying, manipulative huckster whose only motivation is his personal wealth and vanity. Has no one else read this book? This is like voting for Hitler without having read _Mein Kampf_. Do you not understand what the candidate has plainly stated about his motivations and view of the world in his own words? “His own words” is overgenerous, since he didn’t actually write the book. I will extend the benefit of the doubt and assume he read it; at the very least, he signed off on its content. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/29 "2016-11-18T22:14:59Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > It’s perfectly fair, and factually accurate, to point out that Trump has expressed a number of contradictory views that are less policies than vague statements of intent. For example, I welcome anyone to explain coherently how a Trump administration will simultaneously increase military and infrastructure spending, lower taxes across the board, and reduce the national debt, as Mr. Trump appears to have promised. > > I really have no idea what you are complaining about. Simple - he’ll merely grow the economy by 50% per annum. (reminds me of the STNG episode where Q becomes a member of the Enterprise crew. The crew needs to find a way to put a moon back in it’s orbit, and Jordi asks Q if he has any suggestions, and he says it’s simple - just change g, the gravitational constant.) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/30 "2016-11-18T23:19:29Z")
His policy on having nude woman on woman photos involving the first lady available online impresses me. Seriously, he’ll make some good decisions, by accident if for no other reason. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/31 "2016-11-19T16:00:34Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > \(Having studied his energy ‘policy’ in the depth such a shallow pool allows I am inferring by similarity but a cursory review displays a similar lack of depth or insight.)\ This is perfectly worded. Well done. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/32 "2016-11-19T16:16:21Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > But I would be interested in knowing how easy or hard it is for anti-Trumpers to come to the realization that they might actually agree and like or promote his policies. I liked a handful of GWB’s policies, so I don’t see any reason I couldn’t like some of Trump’s. But if his policies are just Paul Ryan’s? I think very very little of those policies. As others have said, the devil is in the detail. There is no such thing as “a policy” that doesn’t involve detail. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/33 "2016-11-20T20:14:25Z")
One of Trumps (impossibly vague) campaign promises was to reduce the H1B program, which was in direct opposition to Clinton’s call for expanding it. Which I agree with, even though it places me uncomfortably close to the “DEY TOOK ER JERBS!” camp. I do think that many companies use H1B workers as a way to depress wages for all workers, despite the fig-leaf requirement for paying the H1B workers “prevailing wages”. And that’s not even counting the numerous cases of fraud and outright abuse. I certainly don’t expect Trump to lead any substantive reform, besides limiting the number of visas. But limits wouldn’t be the worst place to start. My opinion here is admittedly self-serving, since I’m hoping to escape academia and find a way to get a Real Job with a molecular biology PhD… ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/34 "2016-11-20T21:14:40Z")
The infrastructure bill sounds more or less like another stimulus bill, which I thought was a stroke of genius. But I want to see how it is rolled out before I cheer too loudly. If projects are mainly going to be devoted to maintaining our current infrastructure, with nothing going to expansion–like bringing broadband to rural areas–then that’s not what I want to hear. If there’s no attempt to award contracts to small businesses before multi-national corporations, then I’ll also only feel “meh” about the whole thing. I’ll also feel disappointed if most of the jobs are minimum wage, and if there’s no effort made to make hiring fair and non-discriminatory. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/35 "2016-11-21T08:39:19Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > … Every president, every politician is motivated by self interest. You could replace “politician” with “human” and treat this as a tautology. Even those motivated solely by Christian charity want the associated feelings of grace and religious fulfillment. But to apply this “tautology” as you have is much too cynical. Many, probably most, statesmen have strong feelings of what is best for the country and get most of their satisfaction by leading the country in (what they think is) a correct direction. Yes, Obama will become very rich when he leaves office — that’s the American way — but to imagine his policies were chosen specifically to maximize that wealth is wrong. Not just wrong, but precisely the sort of cynicism that leads to electoral tragedy. > [@TriPolar](#): > > That said, I just doubt any of that will happen, he’ll likely be a ‘loot the treasury’ supply sider and saddle us with more debt. Not that it matters because we’ve passed the point of ever paying off the debt we have already rung up along with the debt we’ve committed to in the future. “Not that it matters”? :smack: Are you also uninterested in fighting climate change because it’s “too late”? Debt can be reduced — recall that Bill Clinton made excellent progress in the 1990’s. But if debt spirals out of control it will eventually be calamitous: America and its dollar will suffer huge loss of prestige and economic strength; such a debacle might well be the event that transfers world leadership to China. But it is not inevitable (the financial markets tell us they don’t think it is) and to condone fiscal irresponsibility by calling devaluation or default inevitable is, again, much too cynical. The stimulus of 2009 was a one-time response to emergency. Doctors use adrenaline to treat anaphylactic shock but don’t prescribe it for daily use. Similarly, massive fiscal stimulus would be a big mistake now — what then would the U.S. do when another financial crisis hits (as it soon will given the GOP’s lust for misregulation)? > [@Loach](#): > > … I did like the idea of medical premiums being tax deductible… Such simple changes are always available when 51% of Congress agrees; I hope we didn’t elect Trump for such simple things. 🙂 And please note that _ **tax deductions are important only for people in highish tax brackets who itemize deductions** _ — this is hardly a program designed to help Joe Public. Trump is surrounding himself with aggressively militant security advisers, and anti-immigrant domestic advisers. This will lead to aggressive activities at home or abroad which will distract attention from Trump’s economic policies. With a trillion dollars of spending, even a few hidden crumbs will be enough to enrich Trump and his friends. I’d say that’s his agenda: Increasing national debt by trillions so he can pilfer billions. I offer America the same advice I offered Thailand when it selected a Prime Minister of this ilk — offer the guy a few billion dollars just to go away. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/36 "2016-11-21T13:37:25Z")
Trump has supported a lowered tax rate for [overseas profits being repatriated](http://www.fool.com/retirement/2016/11/05/donald-trumps-corporate-tax-repatriation-plan-woul.aspx) which is something I would support. America, almost standing alone[sup]\*[/sup], taxes the overseas income of its citizens and corporations. But the corporations can delay that tax indefinitely by holding their overseas profits in accounts outside the US. Currently there is nearly $2.5 trillion in such overseas profits parked offshore. When the corporations look to expand they then have a ready source of capital in those overseas accounts which encourages them to build the next manufacturing plant overseas. Net result is that current tax policy discourages creating new jobs in the US using profits from overseas. This tamps down the potential growth rate of the American economy and leaves blue collar workers out of work. - Thanks, Eritrea, for not leaving the US totally alone on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/37 "2016-11-21T17:19:35Z")
I’m totally fine with deporting people here illegally. It’ll never happen but I’d be fine with it. I’d also be fine with term limits on House and Senate. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/38 "2016-11-22T19:23:05Z")
My problem with Trump is that he lies a lot. Not just like a regular politician who tries to obscure the truth. Trump out and out lies a lot. To the point where a) he isn’t expected to tell the truth, and b) there is no telling what his policies will be or whether he will stick to them once started. And I thought this was a character flaw. Shows how little I know. It is sobering to realize how dumb I thought that man was and how smart he in fact is. He controls the narrative _all the time_. Need to take the transition off the front pages for a few days-no problem. Throw a tantrum at Hamilton. The media including social media reminds me of the dogs in the animated movie UP. SQUIRREL! problem solved. So to answer the OP, no I will never be comfortable with his policies because I will never believe anything he says nor trust anything he does. He isn’t that kind of person. Hopefully some of his actions will benefit the population. Hopefully he wants to benefit the population. But I can’t be comfortable with Trump because I don’t trust him. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/39 "2016-11-22T19:30:53Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > Hmmm. It does sound to me that there is absolutely nothing he could do that wouldn’t criticized by a faction here, possibly even if he were to implement policies that would be agreeable should Hillary have made them. I could be wrong though, but this is pretty similar to what I’ve heard for the last 8 years from my republican contacts…didn’t matter that Obama says something that would be agreeable if a Republican said it…they just dismiss any possibility of acceptance out of hand because…Obama. > > I see there are others that are more open to the possibility of being ok with some concepts, but some are not. I find that interesting You are restating your OP. Of course there are things he could do that I would agree with. The operative word is “do”. Your OP asked about policies. Different thing. A policy is future tense (at least that is how I understand the word). I don’t know of any policies that I agree with because I don’t trust him to keep his word. I hope that he does keep his word and implement some policies that I agree with-but I won’t believe it until I see them actually done-past tense. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304/40 "2016-11-22T19:50:03Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > And please note that _ **tax deductions are important only for people in highish tax brackets who itemize deductions** _ — this is hardly a program designed to help Joe Public. It depends on your definition of highish. I’m just a lowly civil servant and it would help me tremendously. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-be-comfortable-with-some-of-trumps-policies/772304.md?page=3)