Haste Makes Waste
This letter to the editor, by Diane Stannard, appeared in the Hudson Star Observer on February 13, 2025.
Scripture tells us how important it is to count the cost before embarking on a course of action. We need to look at the big picture, pros and cons. By weighing the chance of success with the possible repercussions of failure, we have a better idea of how to move forward. Haste makes waste.
Donald Trump believes he knows everything. He is impulsive and lacks self-awareness. Consequently, Trump Steaks, Trump Wine, and Trump Aviation were failures. The Taj Mahal Casino went bankrupt. Trump University was successfully sued for fraud. His pandemic responses were a fiasco. Leading up to January 6th, 2021, his speeches incited a mob to assault police officers at the Capitol. He gave no forethought to what trouble might ensue when he took and refused to return classified documents. After being successfully sued for slander by E. Jean Carroll he continued to slander her, resulting in another successful litigation. He never learns. He never listens to wise counsel.
Within weeks of regaining the presidency, Trump is having unqualified, inexperienced people confirmed to government positions and they are already firing those who ARE qualified and knowledgeable. He has given control of the country’spurse strings to the wealthiest man in the world, Elon Musk, wanting to eliminate congressional checks and balances. He is trying to implement unpopular tariffs that he admits will cause ‘pain’ to the nation. He is plotting to gut programs that millions of Americans rely on, to get another massive tax break passed for the wealthy and their corporations.
Trump told Bob Woodward that his definition of power is fear. He wants everyone in this country to be afraid of him so that we will be silent and compliant.
Those of us who value our freedoms and way of life had better count the cost of this man’s excesses and do everything possible to thwart him. It is a certainty that Trump has not factored in the resilience and resolve of the American people, who together are far more powerful than he will ever be.