Part 2 of Trump's speech before Congress: Today's news for March 1st

(continued from part 1)

15. Trump does say something right corporate taxes, but I am not sure he is correct on the reason why:

Right now, American companies are taxed at one of the highest rates anywhere in the world. My economic team is developing historic tax reform that will reduce the tax rate on our companies so they can compete and thrive anywhere and with anyone.
(APPLAUSE)
It will be a big, big cut. At the same time we will provide massive tax relief for the middle class. We must create a level playing field for American companies and our workers. Have to do it. 

Certainly, there is an international competitive reason for wanting companies to be taxed less than other countries. But he misses the real point of doing that: Consumers pay ALL corporate taxes, which are not the "pennies from heaven" that politicians like to claim they are.

Ironically, if Trump wants to give the middle class a tax break, cutting corporate taxes would do exactly that, by enabling companies to cut their prices charged to consumers.

16. Trump makes a sly call for higher tariffs on imported goods. Hello, Smoot-Hawley.

17. One of the more controversial parts of Trump's speech was this section:

According to the National Academy of Sciences, our current immigration system costs American taxpayers many billions of dollars a year. Switching away from this current system of lower-skilled immigration, and instead adopting a merit-based system, we will have so many more benefits. It will save countless dollars, raise workers' wages, and help struggling families, including immigrant families, enter the middle class. And they will do it quickly and they will be very, very happy indeed.

I believe that real and positive immigration reform is possible, as long as we focus on the following goals: To improve jobs and wages for Americans, to strengthen our nation's security, and to restore respect for our laws. If we are guided by the well-being of American citizens, then I believe Republicans and Democrats can work together to achieve an outcome that has eluded our country for decades.

The big question here is: What qualities deserve "merit" under this proposal? And how many bureaucratic hoops will immigrants have to jump through in order to prove they have"merit"?

Any immigration system which is heavy in bureaucracy only encourages the poor and unskilled to cheat in order to get into the country.

Trump was right earlier in the speech about the need for regulatory reform, yet he never really touches on it with his signature topic of immigration.

18. Trump's infrastructure proposal:

America has spent approximately $6 trillion in the Middle East. All the while our infrastructure at home has crumbled. With this $6 trillion, we could have rebuilt our country twice, and maybe even three times, if we had people who had the ability to negotiate.

To launch our national rebuilding, I will be asking the Congress to approve legislation that produces a $1 trillion investment in infrastructure of the United States financed through both, public and private capital, creating millions of new jobs.

$1 trillion is such a pretty number. And very political. Whenever you see a number so perfectly rounded in a political discussion, always question the validity of it. Odds are, a politician pulled it out of their you-know-what.

By the way, why can't states maintain their own infrastructure? Why does all our money have to flow through Washington to get back to the states where it is needed?

19. Trump's call to repeal and replace Obamacare is as absurd as the old "chicken in every pot" political slogan:

Tonight I am also calling on this Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare —
(APPLAUSE)
— with reforms that expand choice, increase access, lower costs, and at the same time, provide better healthcare.

Trump does propose some good ideas, such as giving "Americans the freedom to purchase health insurance across state lines."

20. Trump's idea for paid family leave sounds good and fair. However, implementing it will be rough. The only way to allow for it is to make it mandatory for both men and women. Any form of optional paid family leave will never work, because women will take it and men won't, thereby making it harder to hire women. On the other hand, forcing it on men could have unintended social consequences (i.e. forcing men to choose between career and having children, much like women do today).

21. Trump called education "the civil rights issue of our time" (notably after both previous presidents Bush and Obama had said the same thing), before going on to say:

I am calling upon members of both parties to pass an education bill that funds school choice for disadvantaged youth, including millions of african-american and latino children. These families should —
(APPLAUSE)
These families should be free to choose the public, private, charter, magnet, religious or home school that is right for them. 

Sounds reasonable, unless you are in the teacher's union.

22. Then Trump goes wacky:

I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security to create an office to serve American Victims.  The office is called VOICE –- Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement.  We are providing a voice to those who have been ignored by our media, and silenced by special interests. 

What is the purpose of this and why does the federal government need to be involved in it? At what point is the government acting as its own political action committee?

23. And then came the Ryan Owens moment:

"Ryan's legacy is etched into eternity...thank you" @POTUS #JointAddress https://t.co/n1IrHTbqzJ https://t.co/Nga7ZKEzvM

— OutFrontCNN (@OutFrontCNN) March 1, 2017

CNN's Van Jones said, "He became President of the United States in that moment, period." Sorry Van, but Trump became president during the inauguration back in January. You might have missed it, seeing as you work at CNN. We can let you slide this time.

Seriously, it was a touching moment, although I find it silly that tugging on the heart strings is all it takes to bring the Left to its knees.

24. The rest of the speech could have been cut down, leaving the Ryan Owens moment as a way to go out on a big note.

25. In summary, Trump's speech was light on details, long on wind. But that is no different than our last president. If he is going to talk for an hour, the least he can do is provide some details. And donuts.