YOU ARE NO LINCOLN, MR. PRESIDENT

Expect to see GOP campaign commercials shortly that depict Donald Trump as a man with a quick and steady hand, averting a crisis of failed negotiations led by Nancy Pelosi and her “Democrat-led” comrades.
 
But, what do Trump’s executive orders accomplish?
 
The extension of an eviction moratorium shields only about 1/3 of those who rent or own a building mortgaged with a federal guarantee.
 
The renewed unemployment benefit shrinks to $400 with the feds contributing only $300 and the states, already reeling from the cost of the pandemic, having to cough up the rest.
 
The payroll tax holiday does not help the unemployed at all
and it will hurt Medicare and Social Security which rely in part on this tax for their coffers.  There are already millions of unemployed not paying into those pots.  A deferral of the tax to those working will reduce the Social Security and Medicare funds even further.
 
Student loan payments are paused through December but of what help is that to a student?  They will simply have a delayed but bigger debt.  Students need debt forgiveness not deferral.
 
President Trump says these orders, “will take care of pretty much this entire situation, as we know it.”  Not so. 
 
·      There is no $1200 stimulus check people was counting on.
·      There is no rental assistance. 
·      There is no mortgage relief to prevent defaults and foreclosures.
·      There is no housing or food assistance.  Food banks are overwhelmed; evictions are pushing families into the streets.
·      There is no assistance to States and local governments which are running out of money.
·      There is no assistance to schools with already tight budgets which are now mandated to provide PPE, a whole new delivery system of on line instruction, and a mandate to create smaller classrooms when face-to-face.
·      There is no debt relief or moratorium on debt collection.
 
Trump has recently compared himself to Abraham Lincoln.  When Lincoln faced his national crisis that divided the country, he sought out dissent, appointed opponents to top cabinet level positions so there would be vigorous debate and was quick to admit a mistake or failure and move quickly to correct it. He did not run from responsibility; he recognized that the “buck stops” at the President’s desk.  Lincoln had empathy and understanding for Americans and what they were going through.
 
Our country is crying out for an Abraham Lincoln.  We know Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Trump.   You are no Abraham Lincoln.
The world is asking what has happened to our democracy.
Are you?