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No One Asked Me But… (September 22, 2021)

By DR. LARRY MOSES

No one asked me but… Taking personalities out of it, let’s look at the things accomplished in the nation between 2016 and the beginning of 2020. The unemployment rate dropped below 4 percent. The unemployment rate for African-Americans fell to 5.9 percent, which is the lowest rate on record. Asian and Hispanic-American unemployment rates also reached record lows. The women’s unemployment rate reached its lowest rate in 65 years.

Yes, I am aware these figures blew up due to COVID. The point is, if the present programs being offered are accepted, can the gains made from 2016 and pre-COVID be reinstated?

Americans saw an increase in the money in their pockets thanks to the booming economy. African-American and Hispanic-American poverty rates reached record lows in 2017.
More than 6 million workers received tax cut bonuses and benefits.

Legislation was signed that reauthorized the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, making more than $1 billion available for career education programs.

Deregulation efforts achieved delivered $23 billion in benefits to American families and business owners.

A new trade agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico replaced the outdated North American Free Trade Agreement.

The United States–Korea Free Trade Agreement was renegotiated to preserve and grow jobs in the American auto industry.

Market access for American agricultural producers was expanded. Argentina was opened to American pork and beef, Brazil to American beef, Japan to lamb and Idaho potatoes, and South Korea to American poultry.

China was being held accountable for its unfair trade practices, such as the theft of intellectual property, by imposing tariffs on $250 billion on Chinese goods.

The Administration authorized $12 billion to aid farmers affected by retaliatory tariffs.
The United States became a net natural gas exporter for the first time in 60 years.
American coal exports increased by more than 60 percent.

The Administration approved construction of the Dakota Access pipeline and the cross border permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.
Permits were issued for the New Burgos Pipeline to export American petroleum to Mexico.

Americans were give more healthcare freedom thanks to legislation that ended the Affordable Care Act’s mandated penalty.
The Food and Drug Administration approved a record number of generic drugs.

Reforms were implemented as to the amount Medicare will reimburse hospitals for drugs that are purchased under the 340B program, saving seniors $320 million.

The “Right to Try” legislation expanded access to experimental treatments for terminally ill patients.
America defunded a United Nations (UN) agency for colluding with China’s brutal program of forced abortion and sterilization.

The federal government withdrew constraints on the individual State’s ability to exclude family-planning providers of abortion services from the Medicaid program.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, violent crime decreased in each year after the 2016 Presidential election.

The Department of Justice announced nearly $100 million in grant funding to hire hundreds of additional law enforcement officers.

The DOJ worked with international partners to arrest and charge approximately 4,000 members of the notorious Mexican gang MS-13.

The DOJ announced the creation of the National Public Safety Partnership launching a cooperative initiative with cities to reduce violent crime.

Legislation was passed to improve the federal firearm background check system and keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals.

Customs and Border Protection apprehended 17,256 criminals and 1,019 gang members in 2018 and 6,000 known or suspected gang members were removed from the country.

Legislation was signed providing $700 billion for defense in 2018, and $716 billion in 2019.
America’s men and women in uniform secured the largest military pay raise in nearly a decade.

Due to the new National Security Strategy to keep America safe from all threats, our military commanders were given broad authority to take the fight to ISIS. The ISIS’ territorial caliphate was defeated. Three of the world’s leading terrorist were eliminated: Osama Bin Laden, Gen. Soleimani and Abu Mahdi-al-Mohandas.

The remains of POW/MIA service members from the Korean War were returned to the United States.
Jerusalem was recognized as the capital of Israel and the American embassy was moved there.
The U.S. withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council due to its bias against Israel.

The U.S. made it clear that it would not accept the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction over Americans and will continue to protect America’s sovereignty.

America encouraged NATO members to increase their defense spending and realign the Alliance’s priorities.
America enhanced support for Ukraine’s defense by stepping up sales of weapons to its military.

The release of numerous American citizens held abroad was accomplished, including Pastor Andrew Brunson from Turkey and Josh Holt from Venezuela.

A record $73.1 billion has been set aside to fund the Department of Veterans Affairs. This funding included $8.6 billion for mental health services, $400 million for opioid abuse prevention and $206 million for suicide prevention.

The VA Mission Act made it possible for eligible veterans to use walk-in community clinics. The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act streamlined the process used by veterans when appealing benefits claims.

The Forever GI Bill provides veterans, service members, and their families with enhanced education benefits.

I will not make a comparison of the actions of the present leadership of America in their first year in control. I will merely ask you to make a comparison and decide for yourself if what has happened this year with inflation, Afghanistan , southern border issues, and the lack of control over crime in the inner cities of America has been a step forward.

Yes, I am aware that COVID negated some of the gains made from 2016-2020. However, I also realize that many of the things one might see as a gain have fallen by the wayside by political decisions of the present administration. I would merely ask you to evaluate for yourself and determine if the administrative changes are good or bad.

As Ronald Reagan stated when he ran for the presidency, the heart of the issue is “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” This is the question the American people will need to answer a year from now, in the mid-term election, as well as in the 2024 presidential election.

Thought of the week… “The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground.”
― Thomas Jefferson

 

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