An open letter to President-elect Trump:
Sir, your simplistic approach to serious problems is fraught with undesirable, unintended consequences. Here are this lifelong Democrat’s fears:
1. The border. Rounding up and deporting illegal immigrants is no small matter. Its huge cost will be assumed by average Joes while your rich buddies escape and maybe even profit from it. I know how life works: The shrewd and wily will slip through and stay put while the honest, hard-working and naive types will be shipped back.
2. China and higher tariffs. The Chinese found an economic bonanza producing cheap everyday products. We are kind of joined at the hip in a symbiotic relationship, like it or not. Prices will soar and hurt average grunts like myself. You could make the case that evolutionary theory would reward their imitative. We should take notes!
When my forebearers came here in 1907, I’m quite sure there were serious problems during the transit and relocation. Nevertheless, the country needed their labor for the lousy, low-paying jobs they ended up with. The simple truth is that they could outwork the comfortable average American, just like the Colombian roofers I admire working in Oakmont.
Mr. Trump, fell-swoop solutions are not what’s needed. We need intelligent and thoughtful paths that project further than your latest mood swing.
Good luck.
Tom Kerek
Oakmont