From what I understand, the goal is to make America great again. Having spent many years working to make various institutions better, I always believed and practiced seeking out candidates for various positions who had demonstrated expertise, experience and the effectiveness to make those institutions better. Such an approach is logical and makes sense.
Now it appears that these tried-and-true attributes are not required for important leadership positions in our government such as defense, national security, law enforcement, and the health and general well-being of We the People.
The new requirements seem to be (choose any): a) family member; b) somebody who says good things about you; c) a media figure; d) an extremely wealthy individual; e) somebody who throws money your way.
One cannot instantly make barbers into surgeons or lawyers into generals just by saying it is so.
And experienced civil service employees being replaced by political allies is contrary to improving efficiency.
In light of the number of very wealthy individuals tapped for important positions in the upcoming administration, one might give pause to discussions by some of these oligarchs. Who would benefit from privatizing such parts of the government like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the U.S. Post Office, Medicare and Social Security? Privatization would remove We the People from oversight and control of these entities and place them into the hands of those who had the means to acquire them, members of our own oligarchy.
And speaking of the enrichment of a few, corporations saw a tax cut from 35% maximum to 21% flat, a 40% reduction. Additionally, a $20 billion cut in IRS funding will benefit corporations and oligarchs due to decreased auditing resources.
It appears that sooner than later that it would be factually correct to change the initials of the U.S.A. to C.O.S.A., the Corporate Oligarchic States of America.
Richard Roginski, West Point