About two weeks ago, I posted a column in which I discussed the points of friction between the PBP and Reactionary groupings within the Trump Administration, and how the great man would attempt to keep the peace. The “budget” (given its level of detail, it is more like a manifesto), however, requires Trump to take sides. At this point, who is winning?
Here are the principal issues, and where the factions stand:
1. Social Security and Medicare cuts: Loved by PBPs and loathed by Reactionaries. Advantage: Reactionaries.
2. Immigration enforcement: A threat to business interests, but demanded by Reactionaries. Advantage: Reactionaries.
3. Defense increases: Reactionaries like the idea of an increased defense budget even if they have no idea how the additional resources will be used. Advantage: Reactionaries.
4. Cuts to the arts and sciences: PBPs like watching “Downton Abbey.” Advantage: Reactionaries.
5. Cuts to agricultural programs: These are of minimal interest to PBPs, but have a substantial impact in rural areas. Advantage: PBPs.
6. Cuts to regional development programs: A small part of the budget, but important to Reactionaries. Advantage: PBPs.
On the really important items, then, the Reactionaries are winning. The big ticket item for the PBPs, however, is the tax cut. They can probably tolerate a Reactionary agenda in other fields as long as the tax cut has plenty of goodies for business. How will that turn out? TBD.