LaBoyteaux=My Path Forward

The posts here on my web-site are often written from the perspective, if I were actually President of the United States, what I would do.  Rather than a cronicle of the bizzare over the last couple weeks, here is what I would do.

First the mid=air collision and crash on approach to Reagan Interational Airport in Washington D.C. just acoss the Potomac River from the Capital.  It is never easy to find the right words in these tragedies.  The president’s role should be compassion for the victims and families, and support for the responding agencies.  Full Stop.  I was proud of the first responders’  immediate massive response.  I was pround of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for their immediate response, even while efforts to recover survivors were still underway.  I was equally proud of the NTSB in their determination to conduct an exhausive and fact based investigation.

Regarding disaster relief for the Los Angeles fires, as well as hurricanes in the southeast, Federal disaster asistance should be immediate and not tied to any political issues.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has developed a proceedure from experience of multiple disasters.  Improvements are possible.  Getting people back on their properties is the first priortiy, even if that means a tiny home or mobile home.  Reconstruction of thousands of homes will invariably take time.

So far as making government more efficient, my approach would be a hiring freeze, allowing the government to get smaller by attrition and causing the varios agencies to tighten their belts, as did Bill Clinton.  Department heads are allowed to replace critical skills only.  Evaluation of whole departments is the work of bi-partisan select committees of Congress.  Certainly I would restore the security details for several individuals, restore the security clearances of past national leaders of the intellegence agencies.  Their experience is valuable.  And I would return to work those others terminated by mass firings or layoffs.  As I said, consideration of whole departments is the work for select committees of Congress.

I am of the view that abandonment of the North American Free Trade agreement (negotiated with Canada and Mexico during the first Trump administration) and the imposition of tariffs on Mexico and Canada will likely result in increased costs for most Americans.  This again should be studied by a select committee of Congress before any action is taken.

On the Southern Boarder I would make every effort to seal off illegal entry even if I have to line up U.S. military shoulder to shoulder to fill the gaps in the boarder fence.  Law abiding people who have been here awhile, who have jobs, families and may be paying taxes should not be deported.

While I am very concerned about illegal immigration and energy, one of my greatest concerns for our country is food prices which are already high.   A Declaration of Emergency should be for a threat to life, public health or property.  Food prices could get there.  I would not shoot ourselves in the foot by deporting agricultural workers.  We certainly need more farmers.