Back in 1933 when America’s Great Depression had swept every other economy into its death-spiral – including here in little Mudland – all eyes were turned to their newly-elected President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) of the Democratic Party. In his inaugural speech, he announced, “I am prepared under my constitutional duty to recommend the measures that a stricken nation in the midst of a stricken world may require.” Three months later, he gave a radio address in which he coined the term “first 100 days”. Looking back, he began, “we all wanted the opportunity of a little quiet thought to examine and assimilate in a mental picture the crowding events of the hundred days which had been devoted to the starting of the wheels of the NEW DEAL.”
Since then, the first 100 days of a US presidential term has taken on symbolic significance, and the period is considered a benchmark to measure the early success of a president. Well, yesterday was the 100th day of the Republican party’s Trump presidency, so why don’t we take a look at how he’s fared compared to FDR. Right off the bat, we can note the phenomenal number of initiatives launched by the two Presidents in their respective first 100 days. Roosevelt signed 99 Executive orders in that time – a record that lasted till this year when Trump signed 111 in a mere 75 days!!
They both declared they had to jumpstart the American economy – which even then played an oversize role in the world. FDR first stabilised their banking system and then launched a welter of job-creating schemes. It took WWII, however, to turn around the US – and make it preeminent!! Trump has launched an unprecedented tariff war – not only against its arch-rival China but even its closest allies Britain, Europe, Canada, and Mexico!! The tariffs are intended to make imports more expensive and as such, make American goods more competitive. Problem is, America doesn’t produce much nowadays – having made China its “factory”!! Looks like Americans gonna be left with the pain of higher prices – without the relief of more jobs created to pay those prices!!
He’s also massively slashed US foreign aid – which had been used as a carrot to influence state behaviour while dissing its NATO allies to further alienate friends! Reversing the stance against Russia that came out of WWII, he’s adopted the latter’s narrative about its invasion of Ukraine. Then, he’s committed the US to annexing Greenland, retaking the Panama Canal, and making Canada its 51st state!!
As such, Trump has upended parts of the rules-based world order that – led by FDR – Washington helped build from the ashes of WWII!! But maybe to take on China in WWIII to MAGA?
…People’s investigation
We’re definitely in the dawning of a new age – waay beyond the Age of Aquarius. It’s the age of a new technological frontier created by smartphones and global digital communications. And it’s on display in the fallout from the murder of Adrianna. Who woulda thought ordinary folks would finally get a GLIMMER of justice – denied for so long by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) – through their own hands holding a small device??
But here we are – when in the past the rich who’re automatically well-connected could’ve used their connections to cover up their dastardly deeds – they’ve been forced on the backfoot by ordinary folks. It was the latter who didn’t move but kept on videoing every aspect of what was going down to uncover what really happened in double-walled rooms by paid henchmen. Who proved that Adrianna’s body had to’ve been moved into the pool – and even showed the persons who did it!!
We’ve heard of citizen journalism – but welcome to citizen crime investigations!!
…rodeo
The Yanks have a quaint expression, “Not my first rodeo” to suggest a person being aware of what’s to be done in a given situation – and don’t need no instructions. It ain’t the first rodeo for the three pathologists performing Adrianna’s autopsy.
