Community Roundtable

Trump touting his tariffs as a boom to American business and new job creation is as misleading as most of his misinformed deal-making.  His 20 – 50 percent tariff on washing machines will benefit Whirlpool Corp, “but will hurt many other companies and people” who want to purchase other brands.  The solar-tariffs are based on a petition filed by two ‘U.S-based’ manufacturers, Chinese-owned Suniva and German-owned Solar World Americas, both filed bankruptcy last year, employing, in total, some 3200. Solar Energy Industries Association expects the tariff will cost 23,000 U.S. jobs in 2018 alone, with billions of dollars of solar investments, likely to be cancelled, which is good news for carbon-energy providers.  GOP lawmakers are agitated by Trump’s proposed tariffs on steel, aluminum, and especially of his threatened dissolution of NAFTA.  Canada and Mexico (both with higher GDP) are already forging lucrative trade deals with other countries, based on Trump’s threats; farmers (and our economy) won’t like this, Yogi!

Trish Forsyth Voss

Trump is “hoisted by his own petard!”  In 2013 “citizen Trump” tweeted that any government shutdown is “the fault of the president, and it wouldn’t happen” under him.  The impending political fiasco is all of the president’s own making, sparing some blame for McConnell, who refused to put a budget bill up for a vote (one, he knew would have passed).   McConnell has given his assurances that he will bring up a clean DACA bill by Feb 8th, so will he keep “his word”?  A person’s word is their bond, and should mean more to McConnell, and Trump, who had a good bipartisan deal brought to him; he said he’d sign it, then was over-ruled by Stephen Miller and John Kelly, both of whom need to go!  My hope is that the “grand deal-maker” start living up to his legend, and that he get on board with lawmakers, signing a bipartisan budget and Dreamers deal!

Trish Forsyth Voss

We need a clean Dream Act passed.  We want legal status for Dreamers with an eventual path to American citizenship. We have an economic-relationship investment in these young people!   September 2017 President Trump moved to end the DACA program; a federal judge in California issued a nationwide injunction against his decision, ordering the program must continue as the legal challenge goes forward.  DOJ is appealing to SCOTUS to end DACA.  Back in September, Trump tweeted, “Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military? Really!”  Last week Trump said that he’d sign whatever the bipartisan Congressional work-group brought before him, that he wanted to work on comprehensive immigration reform, before someone kicked him under the table.  Graham/Durbin brought a bipartisan proposal to him last week, receiving the “bleep-hole” fireworks.  On a humorous side: John Kelly came out saying the President was uninformed when making comments about a “Big, Beautiful Wall” on the U.S./Mexican border.  Ya think?!

Trish Forsyth Voss

The biggest accomplishment: pulling off the biggest election heist in our history!  The appointment of Neil Gorsuch as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. The behind-the-scenes coup that convinced ALL GOP legislators to kumbaya the passage of a huge tax-cut scam bill to repay their donors.  Assigning the “anti”-official to each agency to ensure its dereliction.  Mass firing of 46 federal prosecutors across the country.  Setting the record for ousting the most cabinet and staff members in a first year.  AND, at last count, 21 GOP Senators and Representatives have resigned or announced their intention — at the end of this term.  Ordered the elimination of many safe-guarding environmental regulations.  Withdrew from the Paris climate accord, decertified the Iran nuclear deal, and has grossly offended many world leaders — a terrible setback to U.S. diplomacy!    Tell me:  Where is the “Benghazi-sized” outcry over our 4 special forces soldiers killed in Niger?    Ready for Mueller-time!

Trish Forsyth Voss

Some say, “It’s just Trump being Trump”.  Exactly!  He is erratic, mad, disturbing, deleterious!  In the last several days:  he accused China, “China caught red-handed, very disappointed” — transferring oil to North Korea, when sources say that Russia was the culprit of skirting sanctions.  Trump tweeted, “Palestinians No Longer Willing to Talk Peace”, and threatened to cut aid to them, further destabilizing relationships among us, Palestine and Israel.  With economic protests in Iran — he attacked Iran!   He enjoys provoking world leaders, responding to ‘Rocket Man’, “I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger and more powerful one than his, and my Button works”.  We hope the only buttons those two are hitting are sexting buttons.  He calls on the Justice Dept to jail his opponents, publicly libeling whomever he feels like maligning, regardless of “no charges filed” against them.  With each passing week Trump seems to be further unraveling.  SCARY!

Trish Forsyth Voss

It’s difficult for me to hyper-focus my hopes on the Galesburg area only, but my hopes for humanity at-large certainly apply to my own hometown area.  My hope is that we could end wars, “turning our swords into plows”, we could grow and share more uncontaminated foods, we could protect our air, food and water quality, that we could protect our children and residents from violence, from sexual assaults, drug and other epidemics, that we could protect our social safety networks from political onslaughts, that we could rein-in blatant greed and corruption.  As the cultural revolution rolls on, more indictments roll out, the 2018 political season heats up, the congressional races swing blue, I hope our “union” can hold together as we go forward with progressive values ascending, gaining awareness, widening perceptions, acting from our clearest integrity and highest ideals to join the fight for the soul of our democracy.

Trish Forsyth Voss

The national news stories of importance all year have been the ones that demonstrate every assault on our liberties, each attempt to dismantle our democracy, all acts that diminish our world-standing by Trump and his administration.   The outrageous political hyperbole in the last few weeks reflects what a scandalously dangerous time it is for our country.  GOP politicians have commended and lauded the President in the  highest terms for making the huge Tax Cut Reform Scam possible, which most of US see as a heist on the middle-class; with Trump bragging that he essentially repealed Obamacare, as the bill deeply cuts subsidies for affordable healthcare for our citizens.  However, the current “Fox News” assault is even more alarming and damaging, disparaging the FBI, CIA and Special Counsel Mueller, and characterizing the ongoing investigation as a coup d’etat against Trump, calling for the firing of Republican Robert Mueller.  This cannot be tolerated!

Trish Forsyth Voss

Hallelujah!  Alabama elected a man of integrity over a predator!  The first Democratic Senator in Alabama in decades,  informs the DNC to step-up support in all the elections — nationwide — TO BE WINNING!!   Roy Moore lost, so did Bannon and Trump.  Bannon is toxic, and support for Trump is dwindling — a huge tide is turning!   Those who voted for Trump for “CHANGE”, are seeing — the changes are not for the better.  With 32 percent “Favorable Ratings”, Trumpism is failing!  BIGLY!  BADLY!   The contrast in leadership between Trump and Obama is STARK, and voters are experiencing “buyers remorse”.  “The times they are a changing!”  2018 will hit like a tsunami — testing if our democracy can stand. ***** Though this forum is largely opinion-based, I research for some responses.  Those presenting “informed opinions” — from whence are they informed?   I don’t watch fake news, and I won’t diminish my voice to pacify those who can’t accept authentic reality.

Trish Forsyth Voss

The Tax Scam bill meant to repay uber-rich donors, hurts the middle-class and poor, exploding the deficit.  The Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation projects the bill adds $1 Trillion to the deficit over a decade, even after accounting for economic growth!  The bills, ramrodded through the House and Senate employed no regular order — multitudinous last minute changes written in the margins, along with countless promises made — to work later on issues certain Senators, held hostage, claimed to require.  Thanks to Senator Murkowski’s input, the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge will be open to oil and gas drilling.  Decreasing funding for ACA, ending the deduction for interest paid on student loans, proposed; there will be multifarious surprises when it’s all unpacked!  Many receiving tax breaks in 2019 will be paying more within several years; it’s CONVOLUTED AND PURPOSEFULLY CONFUSING!    Party of Fiscal Conservatism, Family Values, Moral Majority, The Party of Lincoln?!   Give US a break!

Trish Forsyth Voss

We have finally arrived at a moment of “national reckoning” for a society and a world that has too long been governed by might and testosterone.  The new day has come, and this tribulation will of course be an ordeal for offenders and uncomfortable for many participants along the way.  I believe in “due process”, ethics investigations, sexual harassment-awareness trainings, enlightened-cognizance, discernment and justice.  Some companies have morality contracts requiring lesser levels of proof; more accountability.  But for many of us living in this “rape culture”, we don’t need to be convinced that there is still an avalanche of credible allegations sliding down the mountainside to topple inequality and abuse in the workplace.  We need path-breaking action now ….. creating safe and respectful workplaces for our loved ones and future generations.  We especially CANNOT ALLOW predators to thrive in the top echelons of our government!   The voices are NOW being heard!   The Revolution is …. HERE!

Trish Forsyth Voss