How do I hate thee Mr Trump? Let me count the ways

I had my misgivings about America’s president from the outset. Right from his inauguration, when he slammed CNN for saying the crowds at that event weren’t as big as they were for Obama. “Fake News!” He called it, and dubbed CNN the “Fake News” channel from then on. That bothered me.

Then he brought in big tax reforms, which favoured only the rich and super-rich, like himself. Later there was a KKK rally in Charlottesville, which brought out furious protests from opponents of that white supremacist gang. He said there were “good people on both sides” That amazed me, because here was an American president apparently giving support and succour to a racist organisation.

He appointed Scott Pruitt to head the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), because Scott had a record of supporting big business every time they opposed the restrictions placed on them by that organisation. Since his appointment, decisions in favour of business and against the environment have been the order of the day. Science has flown out of the door because it would seem profit trumps (geddit?) science every time. Like climate change, for example- a Chinese hoax, according to Trump.

Trump doesn’t really believe in tradition, even if it’s a good one like “bring me your hungry masses, yearning to be free”. He’s been busy throwing out anyone who doesn’t fit the WASP profile, such as thousands of “illegals” from El Salvadore, many of whom have stable jobs in the US and have lived there for over 20 years. Suddenly they find themselves dumped back in their “home country”, broke, vulnerable to some of the worst gang violence anywhere in the world. Does Trump care about that? I don’t think so. No, what he cares about is his “base”.

Who are these people, his “base”, the people who voted for him in their millions and who he would like  to vote for him and his fellow-travellers again? Let’s look at a typical Trump supporter: he’s white, lower end of the income scale and not very bright. He hasn’t noticed the tax reforms are not benefiting him; probably has never even thought about it. He likes guns, probably owns several. He sees immigrants as parasites, thinks the KKK may have a point, and doesn’t trust foreigners generally, so he’s fine with the trade war Trump has just started. I should perhaps say Trump has supporters across the social spectrum. I saw a black, female doctor on the TV the other day who agreed with Trump about absolutely everything.

I’ve disliked presidents before. I didn’t think a lot of Dubya, thought even Obama missed many opportunities to improve the world, especially in the Middle East. Reagan was an idiot, and don’t even get me started on what I thought of Nixon. But with Trump we have the worst, the most dangerous president the US has ever had. And it’s going to get worse.