The New Whitehouse.gov Website, Page by Page
With the inauguration taking place today, there is a new White House website up. Some changes have been made which I feel would make even Dolores Umbridge proud:Â
An America First Energy Plan: First, can we talk about this idea of âAmerica Firstâ? Contrary to what we have been told by the now-president, America is still the superpower of the world. Every nation has problems, but we forget how minor our problems are compared to those of other countries. This isnât a case of âIn the event of an emergency, secure your own mask before assisting others.â Weâre there. Weâve made it. Of course we can improve things, but weâve climbed pretty high up Maslowâs pyramid of needs. But if this administration has its way, companies will have free reign to pollute, monopolize, and risk our health and safety while enjoying a lack of accountability for their adverse effects on the environment.Â
America First Foreign Policy: Seriously, this America First stuff sounds like Death Eater rhetoric (which is just a nicer way of saying Nazi). âMAGIC IS MIGHT.â âAMERICA FIRST.âÂ
Anyway. The site says that the president âknows that our military dominance must be unquestioned.â Ah, yes. Just as Britainâs unquestionably powerful navy has maintained her empire, undiminished all these many years.
Also: â...we are always happy when old enemies become friends, and when old friends become allies.â Now, who could those old enemies be?
On the subject of re-negotiating trade deals, he paints himself as being against the âWashington elitesâ who pen these agreements for their own benefit. However, this is a man who is relying on the no-conflict protections of the presidency to allow him not to divest his interest in his company. Does he expect us to believe that his company (and his cabinet) wonât benefit from the legislation and agreements that are put in place over his presidency?Â
Well...I guess heâs technically not lying. Itâs not the Washington elites who will benefit.
Bringing Back Jobs and Growth: This one is stupid, because the president really has no control over this -- AND, automation will increase regardless of government policy, incentives, or threats. But this is about the website rhetoric.Â
âSince the recession of 2008, American workers and businesses have suffered through the slowest economic recovery since World War II,â the page begins, snidely heaping blame on Obamaâs administration. He is âordering the heads of federal agencies and departments to identify job-killing regulations that should be repealed.â Again and again, he points to regulations and claims that they are to blame for loss of jobs. But what does he have to say about the short-sighted business practices which place shareholdersâ profits above all else? Tearing down those regulations will result in more profit for the wealthy and everyone else getting screwed. But who cares about the environment or the individual worker, so long as company shares are up!
Making Our Military Strong Again: I got real excited when I saw the section on cyberwarfare. I canât wait to keep a running tally of how many times âthe cyberâ comes up.
The military, the site says, âneeds every asset at its disposal to defend America.â This is not a surprising stance for this administration to take, because might and intimidation are all that the president understands. That is how he works. He can neither understand diplomacy nor do I think he is willing to use it, as heâs the type of person who views any type of compromise with an adversary as weak. Iâm extremely worried for my friends in the military with this person as commander-in-chief.
The military already receives a majority of our nationâs budgetary spending. We spend more on our military than the next seven countries combined, which include China and Russia, who spend 35% and 14% of the amount we do, respectively. We never have a surplus, as new technological advancements are made and we regularly update the military. Even disregarding for now the military industrial complex, military equipment has been passed on to a now-excessively militarized police force thanks to the 1033 program (seriously, police who are just âprotecting the communityâ should have no use for an LRAD). So maybe letâs have that spending audited before we go expanding their resources.
Standing Up for Our Law Enforcement Community: To me, this is the most troubling one. The fact that this is prioritized enough to have its own section on the White House website over immigration or health care or education is insanely concerning. Living in a âsafe communityâ is touted as a âfundamental right.â (Life? Liberty? Get outta here. #bluelivesmatter #suckit #maga) This is the section where, at the very bottom, we finally find talk of the wall, second amendment rights, and his immigration policies. Putting these issues here is a calculated choice: it frames these issues not as a debate but as an act of patriotism. âDonât you want to stand up for the brave police force who defend innocent citizens? Well, hereâs what that means.â
âOur job is not to make life more comfortable for the rioter, the looter, or the violent disrupter,â this page says. Donât we usually think of police as working to bring down murderers, rapists, burglars -- you know...real criminals? Instead of encouraging true community policing and curbing the idea that police are waging war against crime, as Obama has with his recall of militarized equipment, the new president is looking to expand the power and force of police. This section is very pointed. The message here is clear. No opposition will be tolerated. He will paint protesters -- even peaceful ones -- as violent, disruptive, and dangerous. He will put down dissent by any means necessary.Â
Trade Deals for All Americans: Not to leave things on a downer, hereâs a nice, inclusive title. Unfortunately, weâve read all this before. Someone goofed and put this entire section at the bottom of the âAmerica First Foreign Policy Page.â Sort of an anti-climactic ending. Whomp, whomp.
What is featured on this website, however, is perhaps less important than what is left out, including the petition page and any mention of LGBT and civil rights, disability, climate change, health care, or even a full page on immigration -- WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES HE RAN ON.Â
Keep watching what the new administration does, but also listen to what they say and how they say it. The way they phrase and frame every issue is important. Rhetoric is extremely influential. Call things what they are.
