Wednesday 7 October 2020

No economic stimulus unless you reelect me, says Trump

Everything is political of course. That goes without saying. But Trump's latest move on the economy front is so political that it has left the Democrats gasping. What he has done is to say there will be no more negotiations with the Democrats (ie Nancy Pelosi, his bete noir) to stimulate the economy to keep pace with the rising pandemic until after the November 3 election. In other words, and here it is: Vote to reelect me in November and you will get your stimulus package, trillions of dollars to keep you all alive and in work. But until then you're on your own, and it's all the Democrats' fault. At this terrible time in world history millions and millions of people are depending on government help in order to keep businesses and jobs afloat. A few months or weeks of no help and it can have fatal consequences. So for Trump to say there may be no stimulus package until after the election is like saying to the American people, don't worry you will get your money but I need a favour in return: guarantee you will vote for me. That fiery lady Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democratic Representative for New York's 14th congressional district, went ballistic. Trump appeared to relent a bit by saying he would approve certain stimulus cheques. Someone must have pointed out that rather than American citizens voting for him they might do the opposite in anger and desperation. Three and a half weeks left before the election and Trump is still convinced they he will be able to turn around what now seems almost Mission Impossible, replacing Joe Biden's double-digit poll lead with a grand slam Republican victory. I'm not saying it won't happen but if the president plays politics with a stimulus package that everyone in the nation needs right now, not in four weeks time, I would say he's going down the wrong path to victory.

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