Utah view about failed Donald Trump leadership

I have appreciated reading columns by Michael S. Robinson Sr, published in The Salt Lake City Weekly:

Another writer documents Donald Trump's failures

"Trump's (failed) meetings at NATO and his badly mannered height-of-rudeness visits with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Queen Elizabeth II, demonstrated that, just when we think we've seen the worst of his behavior, he is soaring to new heights as the ultimate negative superlative. True to form, Trump insulted May, broke every protocol during his audience with the Queen and managed to get caught in yet another of his well-documented lies"

Robinson writes:

While his mini-ninnies huddle beneath the White House tables like a Midwest clan awaiting the touchdown of an EF5 tornado, the storm of President Donald Trump's verbal and behavioral abortions continues to wreak havoc in the civilized world.

I find myself asking, "Why couldn't he have just stopped at the familiar boundaries of his sick little world—grabbing pussies and frolicking with hookers in his Moscow hotel room while his "stellar" art-of-the-deal business interests crumbled and burned in the bankruptcy courts?

That's what Trump was; that's what he is today. The only thing that's changed is his title, expanding the audience for his theatrics and inviting the scrutiny of 300 million Americans and the duly-disgusted billions around the world.

At least Trump was in his own element back then, before his Soviet buddies got him launched into shoes too big to fill. For Trump, there's no growing into that mantle of presidential dignity. He needs to go back where he belongs.

The most disturbing truth is not that he is a monster. That's bad enough, sure. He doesn't seem to be able to do anything but stir controversy and sow misery and pain. But, even more horrific, is the matter of inexcusable congressional abdication in dealing with a president who has become the worst blow to America since its inception. Trump's reckless diplomatic missteps and his bull-in-the-china-shop antics have precipitated international tragedy, tortured the innocent young, insulted all of our friends, threatened the demise of our democracy and ensured highly-predictable political and economic repercussions for our allies.

We elected our senators and representatives—not to kowtow to their suspected Russian-operative-president, but to take stands on issues that are important to the future of our country. 

Well, Sen. Orrin (Hatch), Mike, Rob, Chris, John, Mia, now's a good time to take the appropriate action for your constituents. 

Somehow transformed into a sorry-ass bunch of deaf-mutes, even the otherwise seemingly-respectable most honorable congressmen aren't saying "boo." You'd think that, in an organization so large, at least a few would stand up and be heard. That simply isn't happening. Congress is a disgrace to the values of our Founding Fathers, and Utah's own senators and representatives are as bad as they get. Instead of forging ahead to drain Washington's ugly swamp, they are swimming with the crocodiles and mating with the swamp's ugliest residents. Every one of them should be sent packing in the November elections for failing to stop Trump's ongoing carnage.

Stuck in the clear understanding that their country is now led by a gigantic juvenile ego driven by a pea-sized brain, Congress is silently hoping, like the rest of us, that this hideous nightmare will somehow end. 

Congress has the power but lacks the integrity to rein in the president. Even the eternal optimists' hopes are being dashed by the events of the past month—a time during which Trump has solidly completed the alienation of other world powers. While the matter of NATO countries underfunding the defense coffers is largely legitimate, Trump essentially told our allies to go fuck themselves. 

In his usual Whack-A-Mole style, Trump offered no suggestions for compromise. He seeks no resolution. (I guess that's the art of the deal.)

Late and truant from some of his scheduled meetings, he didn't even have the decency to apologize. Trump's meetings at NATO and his badly mannered height-of-rudeness visits with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Queen Elizabeth II, demonstrated that, just when we think we've seen the worst of his behavior, he is soaring to new heights as the ultimate negative superlative. True to form, Trump insulted May, broke every protocol during his audience with the Queen and managed to get caught in yet another of his well-documented lies. While he claimed #FakeNews over a London newspaper report of his demeaning censure of May, his denials were derailed. This time he can't point his finger, accusing the American press of alleged dishonesty. The publication responded with a tape of Trump's interview. Bingo, gotcha! And, in Trump's characteristic worship of Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin, he muzzled the mainstream American press at a briefing, claiming that he would only respond to questions from his own news service: Fox.

The week's steady faux pas stream was crowned by his bungled and abrasive visit to the U.K., but the damage Trump did at NATO will live in infamy for years to come. While I quite like the moniker, "The Rabid Orange Raccoon," his awful behavior has inspired yet one more: From now on I'm going to call him "The Dictator," but I'm dropping the last two syllables.

I can't wait until Americans finally take action, delivering Trump's favorite line to the man himself: "You're fired!"

Retired business owner Michael S. Robinson Sr.

Rising health care costs and shopping for sales under Donald Trump's administration

MaineWriter: Donald Trump and the rising costs of health care.  In 2017, the Republicans passed a tax cut for the rich while middle class and working poor are forced to pay higher health care costs.

This opinion echo is factually cynical and fun to read.

An echo opinion written by Michael S. Robinson, Sr., was published in the Utah newspaper The Salt Lake City Weekly.

From Salt Lake City, Utah: Owing largely to big pharma's predatory gouging and the exorbitant charges of doctors and hospitals, U.S. health care costs have soared into the stratosphere. 

Donald Trump, the Rabid Orange Raccoon, hasn't improved the situation. His wrong minded policies have partially dismantled Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act. In fact, President Trump's self-avowed destructive agenda has escalated health care pricing, fueled in part by the added burden of millions of citizens who've elected not to buy insurance and have instead become charity cases.

In an effort to take control of the ever-worsening situation, many Americans have chosen non-domestic medical providers as a money-saving alternative. For prescription drugs, they've tapped into the discounts of India and Canada. And for medical and surgical procedures, thousands have flocked to other countries in search of better prices—discovering that some of the best surgical care in the world is not necessarily statewide. The price difference is really a jaw-dropper; surgical candidates are often so shocked at the disparity that their own friends confuse them with Jay Leno.

Take, for instance, the cost of an aortic valve replacement. In the U.S., you'll pay around $170K, including surgeon, anesthesiologist and hospitalization. But wait a minute. You could book reservations for you and your spouse and take a medical vacation instead. In India, you can have the same procedure, done by U.S.-trained heart surgeons, for a mere $9,500, and it's only $5,300 if you decide to go to Warsaw instead. Think about the fun you can have with the leftover money. It's mind blowing, and a sad indictment of American health care. Medical tourism has brought the reality poignantly home: It's not about the cost of medical services; it's about the price.

As a service to supporters of our Clown President, I've compiled a list of useful medical procedures and pricing for the adventurous medical tourist.

•Corrective rhinoplasty for Republicans: U.S. price is $6,500, but it's only $3,600 in Singapore. Expect remarkable results: The olfactory-impaired will suddenly be able to smell a rat.

•Lasik eye correction special for Trump lovers: U.S. price is $4,000, but it's only $1,000 in Delhi, India. Anticipated benefit: The refraction-created illusion of Trump's wings will disappear and his halo will sink to his midriff. As an added bonus, Biblical text regarding the treatment of others will become clear and crisp.

•Knee replacement special for the Christian right: U.S. price is $35,000, but only $7,700 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Anticipated benefit: "Get down on your knees and pray" will suddenly be a viable option.

•Anal sphincter repair: U.S. price is $13,500, but it's only $2,500 in Mexico. Anticipated benefit: The accompanying brown trails that occur simultaneously with the "OMG" and "WTF" responses to Trump's frequent verbal abortions will abruptly cease. (Sadly, carpet sales are likely to decline.) Note: All ASRs will include a complimentary rectocephalectomy if required.

•Fusion of lumbar vertebrae (Republican Congressional special fall sale): U.S price is $110,000, but in Amman, Jordan, you can have it done for $10,000. Anticipated benefit: Senators and representatives will be able to stand and be counted, thus ending their existence as spineless invertebrates.

•Lingual nerve repair: Here, it costs $8,700, but you can have it done in Pyongyang, North Korea, for only $57.95. Benefit: Relief from epidemic tongue-biting and the joy of finally having your voice heard. "If you can't say anything nice," as Thumper entreated us in Bambi, "shout it."

So go ahead, my friends. If this list of discounted medical procedures has reminded you of what's wrong, launch yourself into the real world and get yourself fixed at a bargain price. It's a chance to cure America, one procedure at a time, and restore the health of an ailing democracy, Trump be damned.

Author Michael S. Robinson Sr. is a former Vietnam-era Army assistant public information officer.