This week, Rolling Stone magazine featured a cover with the faces of President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The headline was something like, "Why Can't He Be Our President?"
The message was the Rolling Stone editorial staff believes that Trump is less than spectacular, while Trudeau is a rising young star, the kind of star they wish we had as our President. Now obviously, Trudeau probably wouldn't be interested in the job, nor, as a person born outside the U.S., would he be eligible to serve. The article inside the magazine seems to acknowledge the latter, at least. It does go on to compare the positions of the two politicians on issues that are near and dear to the liberal U.S. media. Not unexpectedly, Trudeau's positions are more popular with Rolling Stone.
It wasn't a spoof, nor was it very humorous, but I do think it missed its mark. The real opportunity is right here in front of us. We have our own Trudeau, one who was born in the U.S. He and Mr. Trump have circled each other for years even as Trump was at his finest over the years--from his initial political ambitions as evidenced by trial balloons floated in 1987, to the Trump Princess luxury yacht (owned by a man so afraid of ocean travel that he kept the luxury liner parked near his various resort locations).
He has had a ringside site in NewYork to watch Trump's ascent. Our Trudeau has kept his keen eyes focused on Trump's attempts to keep his failing casinos alive, only to have them end up in five bankruptcies at Trump Taj Mahal, Trump World's Fair, Trump Plaza and Casino, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Trump Hotels and Casinos Resorts. Throw in the bankruptcy at Trump Plaza in New York and you have six bankruptcies (and this is the guy who has proposed a balanced budget--don't bet on it).
A little more about that budget--it assumes GDP growth of three percent annually. Many economists believe this is not possible, in light of a number of developments that are behind us and were taken up all at once by growth economies like India and China. There was technological change from the industrial revolution, including the introduction of electricity, and development of air transportation as well as the superhighway system developed in the 1960's, and later--in the Information Technology revolution. There was growth in the size of the work force--from the waves of immigration after WW II to the baby boom and beyond. There was further major growth as millions women entered the work force.
Those changes are in the past, and, short of a robotics revolution, technology is not on the verge of another tech boost. Oh, and don't forget the Trump administration-supported immigration reform that will reduce immigration by fifty percent. The productivity boom that can come from growth in the labor force is going away as well.
But back to our Trudeau and Mr. Trump. Their relationship already resembles that of two political adversaries--they need only attack and scorn each other constantly. If occasionally a small sign of an idea or political view falls out of such a struggle, then we would have actual policy positions and/or agendas springing forth. Wouldn't it be fun though! If you haven't already guessed, our Trudeau is none other than Garry Trudeau, author of the Doonesbury comic strips. Believe it or not, Trump has been the subject of many a Doonesbury strip for more than thirty years. Maybe you realized this, but I surely had missed it. Now I believe they make a natural pair of enemies. Our real Trudeau candidate should be Garry Trudeau. Come on, Rolling Stone! Trudeau for President!
