It has been a while since I last wrote. I was out of the country for two months which provided a welcome relief from the daily news that continues to defy understanding. I am seriously concerned with the assault on facts that has become part of the daily ritual of our discourse. People used to say that “facts are stubborn things,” but perhaps they were wrong.

I am continually concerned about our political discourse. I wish I could say that it is only coming from the President and his shameless defenders. But, then I see people who want to be taken seriously calling for the abolition of ICE. Not only is it politically foolish, but it makes no sense. If we decide that the police have acted badly, do we really want to end law enforcement? But, when the rhetoric is so tribal and illogical, anything that hits an emotional nerve qualifies as a good idea to some.

I do want to point out, in another vein, that the trade disaster we are heading toward is truly disturbing. First, it should be pointed out that the validity of the criticisms of Chinese behavior in trade is not in question. Nor is this the first President to notice it. Some measures have been implemented and the possibility of a trade war was not a new idea, it was just decided that it was a bad one. While the Trump Administration thinks it can deal with the political fallout with the agriculture community by giving them a $12 billion hand out (after all, when you are agreeing to a budget with a trillion-dollar deficit what is another $12 billion?), the impact is unknown, and it is not something that once started can be easily undone. And, as to his talks with the EU, it appears he is headed towards the same idea contained in TTIP which he dismissed as a losing approach 18 months ago. But, if facts don’t matter anymore, he can say it was all his idea in the first place. More to come.