Time Bomb Don Part 2: An alternative coronavirus-free timeline
2017
The economy keeps growing just like it did during the Obama years
2018
GDP and jobs grow faster (yay Trump) but
- The deficit, which was improving during the Obama years until Republicans took Congress in 2015, keeps getting worse as Trump cuts taxes for the rich and keeps borrowing money
- National debt skyrockets and the debt-to-GDP ratio start climbing
- (That means jobs growth wasn’t keeping up with the debt. The Obama years were better)
Donald Trump pulls CDC staff out of China and pulls U.S. health care workers from around the world – to save money
- Fortunately, there's no devastating pandemic brewing in China, because that would suck. Sadly, Trump doesn't get the opportunity to praise Xi Jinping on his expert handling of the crises and transparency
2019
The economy still feels good (yay Trump) but
- Manufacturing slows as big companies start moving jobs overseas
- We’re still showing no signs of getting a handle of the debt
Trump invites members of the Taliban to meet in Camp David on the anniversary of 9/11
Trump has a conversation with Vladimir Putin with no U.S. translators or note-takers handy. Just Russian translators.
Russia starts issuing passports to thousands of Russian separatists in Ukraine. This is seen by security experts as a sign that Russia began plans for invading Ukraine during the Trump presidency
2020
Since there's no coronavirus, a bunch of Republicans don't sell off their stocks after a private meeting about the upcoming pandemic. Trump doesn't tell us to ignore coronavirus as his cronies prepare for disaster
Trump promises the Taliban that if they stop attacking Americans for a while, we’ll leave Afghanistan shortly after the U.S. elections
- He does not include the Afghan government in the talks
- The Taliban gets bolder and stronger as they continue to attack Afghan forces
- The Taliban murder women and activists who support woman’s rights
- Trump begins to withdraw U.S. troops and continues despite the Taliban’s crimes
( up to this point, a lot of this stuff did happen )
With no pandemic, the economy coasts along even as the debt increases and manufacturing jobs keep moving out.
Donald Trump wins reelection in a landslide. Joe Biden congratulates Trump and calls for unity
2021
Trump completes the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Afghan government collapses because it was never ready to stand on it's own, and the rest is history, with or without a pandemic and even with Trump at the helm. The media praises Trump for finally bringing this horrible chapter in American history to an end. The Americans who die during the withdrawal are honored for their sacrifice. Trump says, "They knew what they were getting into when they signed up"
On the other hand, maybe we don't withdraw. Maybe Trump reverses his stance and sends troops back into Afghanistan. The Taliban and Isis, though rivals, work together coordinating terrorist attacks against U.S. troops. The Americans who die during the ongoing war are honored for their sacrifice. The media praises Trump for preventing the disaster that might have happened if the Taliban took over, and making a tough decision even though it was unpopular
2022
Russia invades separatists regions in Ukraine. Trump supports the move because those regions are so full of Russian loyalists they should be part of Russia. Trump is praised again, for keeping America out of the conflict
2023
Eventually the economy starts cracking and sinking under the weight of ever-rising debt and loss of manufacturing. Traditionally, Republicans use military action to distract us from financial hardship and to spur economic activity in the only way their supporters allow them to do so. But it helps to have a good excuse.
Hamas engages in a horror-movie-level sadistic attack on Israeli civilians - spurred on by decades of oppression, an increase in settlement building, and the growing irrelevance of Palestine in U.S. sponsored negotiations between Israel and Arab nations. The attack is enabled by a shocking failure of Israeli intelligence and Netanyahu's obsession with expanding to the North.
Trump seizes this glorious opportunity and commits troops to help defend Israel. It's limited, because he doesn't want to piss off Russia too badly
Domestic unrest ensues as fighting breaks out between pro-Israel and anti-Israel activists.
Trump uses the domestic unrest as his excuse for the failing economy. He blames enemies within and calls the National Guard to keep control. Soon, the nation is in a civil war
2024
Trump suspends elections, with the support of the Supreme Court who cite extraordinary circumstances
But really..
Of course I don't know if any my made up events would happen. But many of the events listed above, especially those before 2020 and a few after, actually did happen.
I know that by 2020, Russia was already laying groundwork for an invasion, and Donald Trump was making overtures to the Taliban and getting ready to throw the Afghan government under the bus.
And I know that Trump only gave us two good years and those years were propped up by a mountain of debt. If you think Trump was good for the economy and all this other stuff doesn't matter to you, ate least understand that Trump only gave us two good years and he did it by borrowing a massive amount of money. Don't be like one of those folks who thought they could get free money by withdrawing it from an ATM. Trump's economy was not free money - those bills were going to come due and unlike Mexico, we were going to pay for it, coronavirus or no coronavirus.
Kamala Harris has been endorsed by hundreds of economists and hundreds of Republican officials. She's the one who's going to make our country stronger. Don't fall for the short-term hype.