In his victory speech on election night, president-elect DONALD J. TRUMP (78) promised that his second term in office will "truly be the golden age of America." Ironically, according to data from the World Gold Council, investors pulled $600mn out of gold-backed exchange traded funds following Trump's historic re-relection. This is largely due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar (a good thing) because Trump is expected to instigate tariffs and trade wars, which could push down the value of foreign currencies. This could also lead to more speculative (i.e. "risky") investments by small investors (a bad thing) looking to cash in on the gold rush.
The term "golden age" also has various new age/occult spiritual implications.
So, what does Trump actually mean by a golden age?
The term "Gilded Age" was coined by American humorist MARK TWAIN (74) to describe the period in United States history that lasted from the 1870s to the 1890s. The era was glittering on the surface with the rise of industrial corporations and the creation of a modern industrial economy, but underneath it was a time marked by political corruption, economic inequality, labor unrest and the nadir of race relations in this country.
A significant number of Black men stood up and vocally supported Donald Trump over vice-president KAMALA HARRIS (60) as the "lesser of two evils" in the 2024 election. It was a compromise, similar to the one made by African-American educator and community leader BOOKER T. WASHINGTON (59) in his famous Atlanta, Georgia speech from one hundred and thirty years ago. Because, judging from Trump's cabinet picks, it doesn't look like African-American men will play much of a role in his administration.
The most Americans can hope for is safer streets, lower costs, no escalation of war(s) and a less woke culture.
The most the black community can hope for is less interference. Or, as in the words of DANIEL MONIYHAN (76) in his 1965 report, The Negro Family: The Case For National Action: benign neglect.
In a way, it feels like we're entering a period that is eeiry similar to the end of Reconstruction, which was America's first attempt at forced Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) after the Civil War and the abolition of slavery.
Reconstruction, like DEI programs, failed because of overreach by progressives and, in too many instances, ineptitude on the part of black community leaders and elected officials.
Just like now, both Democrats and Republicans had grown tired of dealing with the so-called "Negro question."
Historically, when this has occurred, enterprising black Americans have risen to the occasion by providing goods, services and jobs for their own communities. People like Trump and his MAGA supporters, unlike progresive culture vultures, are typically not interested in black empowerment, so hopefuly there should be plenty of opportunity for a new "golden age" revival of black-owned business and African-American civic involvement.
In contrast, the token appointments of the DEI and Reconstruction eras were, in most cases, only progressive virtue signalling. Just like Trump's cuckoo cabinet appointments of ELON MUSK (53), ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. (70), VIVEK RAMASWAMY (39) and MATT GAETZ (42) are his way of pandering to the MAGA base.
It will be a miracle if this motley crew of rich, uber macho businesmen get along, much less get anything done that will prove to be an existential threat to our nation.
Besides, the president-elect's hands will be tied in a couple years when overreaching Republicans get swept out of Congress by "relatable bros" Democrats in the midterms.
THIS ARTICLE IS BEING UPDATED
Source: Wall Street Journal
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