Looking Back, Looking Forward: A Personal Political Reflection

 

Looking Back, Looking Forward: A Personal Political Reflection

Going into 2005, I was really freaked out about everything, not only politics but also life struggles and a growing paranoia about what was to come under the Trump administration. For some reason, in 2026 I feel more confident about where I am and about what is going on politically, as well as in city and state government. I feel more balanced in my thinking, and I have more confidence in understanding my own limits and expectations.

With that said, if I barely remember the prior administration and how bad it felt because of Trump, looking back now it almost seems like heaven compared to the current Trump administration. Matters have worsened significantly, and then the blame is constantly flipped onto the opposing party. The two-party system is still functioning in some form, and when I look at Democrats, I see people genuinely trying to govern and move forward. The Republican Party, on the other hand, appears paralyzed, afraid to take any stance for fear of collapsing its own majority, and perhaps rightfully so, because Trump is an extraordinarily poor administrator.

From my own perspective, Trump could very easily—extremely easily—save the country a great deal of time and trouble. Instead of continuing this masquerade of bullying, deportation theatrics, and ICE-driven intimidation, he could redirect even a fraction of his personal profits or corporate leverage into something as basic as healthcare. He could govern with representation rather than domination, but instead he makes everything more difficult. His backward thinking relies endlessly on tariffs as a supposed equalizer while deliberately throwing systems off balance as a political strategy. Chaos appears to be his method, supported by inherited wealth and outdated trickle-down ideology.

When it comes to international politics, Ukraine is a clear example. He could have granted Ukraine permanent support immediately, saved countless lives, and positioned himself as a liberator. Instead, he sides with authoritarian interests, a choice I simply cannot understand. This contradiction reflects a deeper instability in his political philosophy and personal theology.

He could be remembered as one of the greatest presidents in history by implementing simple, humane policies like healthcare for all, creating a functional immigration system that gives everyone a fair day in court, and developing governance that works smoothly. Instead, he built walls, expanded mass deportations, and manufactured a false image of strength driven by ego and the belief that might makes right.

From my admittedly couch-potato perspective, informed largely by television and what I read online, Trump could have won a Nobel Peace Prize and been celebrated at the Kennedy Center. That will not happen, because he does not think about the people he governs. If he focused on the public good through achievable legislation—healthcare, voting rights, humanitarian aid to Ukraine, rebuilding Gaza, and humane immigration reform—he could unify the nation. Immigrants built this country, and we are all part of that ongoing history, especially if we consider America as it emerged after World War II.

He could have rejected Project 2025 and devoted himself to positive reform and constitutional integrity. Instead, he aligned himself with radical ideologues deeply schooled in fascist and authoritarian traditions. This has placed him in a frightening position, wielding power without wisdom, authority without competence, and influence without restraint. He is no Roosevelt, that much is certain.

After letting these criticisms of Donald Trump meander through my thoughts, I still look forward to better days. Whether those better days will come remains an open question. As with most political struggles, everything gets buried under arguments about funding, money, and distorted priorities, while destructive projects take center stage.

What is particularly troubling is Trump’s tendency to govern impulsively through his own instincts and his phone, stripping away institutional safeguards and dismissing expert counsel. These safeguards exist to warn leaders when they are doing something wrong, yet he removes them entirely. Figures like Elon Musk may understand industry and innovation, but that does not translate into understanding governance or democracy. Meanwhile, architects of Project 2025 promote ideological extremism that dismantles social norms without offering anything constructive in return.

This movement claims Christian values while fundamentally misunderstanding evangelism, using it instead as a financial and political instrument. Compassionate faith is not the problem; weaponized religion funded by oligarchs is. Politics and religion, when merged and imposed on everyday people, become tools of control rather than sources of moral guidance. What we are witnessing is not spiritual leadership, but power masquerading as faith.

If any of this makes sense, then more power to you