Trump is not a liberal nor a conservative…he’s a pragmatist! To a certain extent Ben Carson also fits this mold.

What is Pragmatism, Pragmatic, or a Pragmatist?

Webster’s College Dictionary defines a pragmatist thus:

1. Skilled in business or law;
2. Concerned with actual practice, everyday affairs; not with theory or speculation; practical
3. A method or tendency in philosophy of one who determines the meaning and truth of all concepts by their practical consequences.

Editor’s Note: the roots of the words pragmatic and pragmatist and practice are all the same: in Greek, prakt-, hence praxis what one does, and pragmateuo I occupy, as in “Occupy until I come.” Luke 19:13.

Donald Trump

With that in mind, I here give you a view of Mr. Donald Trump, some borrowed from a writer unknown to me, coupled with heavy editing of my own.

I neither view nor do I believe Donald Trump views himself as a Conservative in the sense of traditional Conservatism. Mr. Trump himself calls it “Common Sense Conservatism.” As with the unknown writer, it is my opinion that Trump is a pragmatist. He sees a problem and understands it must be fixed. He doesn’t see the problem as liberal or conservative…he sees it only as a problem. That is a quality that should be admired and applauded, not condemned. But I get ahead of myself.

Viewing problems from a liberal perspective has resulted in the creation of more problems, more entitlement programs, more victims, more government regulation, more public debt, more political correctness, and more attacks on the working class at all economic levels.

Viewing things according to the so-called Republican Conservative perspective has brought continued spending, globalism to the detriment of American interests and well-being, denial of what the real problems are and weak, ineffective, timid and shrinking leadership that amounts to a Barney Fife Deputy Sheriff…appeasement- oriented and afraid of its own shadow. In brief it has brought liberal ideology with the Elephant of the Republican Party and the Ass of the Democrat Party side by side for a mascot.

The pragmatist and his issues

Immigration, especially Illegal Immigration, isn’t a conservative problem; it isn’t a liberal problem; it is a problem that threatens the very fabric and infrastructure of America. It demands a pragmatic approach, not an approach that is intended to appease one group or another.
The impending collapse of the economy isn’t a liberal or conservative problem; it is an American problem. That said, until it is viewed as a problem that demands a common sense approach to resolution, it will never be fixed, because the Democrats and the Republicans know only one way to fix things, more of the same. Successful businessmen like Donald Trump find ways to make things work; they do not promise to accommodate.

Trump uniquely understands that China’s manipulation of its currency is not a Republican problem or a Democrat problem. It is a problem that threatens our financial stability, and he understands the proper balance needed to fix it. Here again successful businessmen like Trump who have weathered the changing tides of economic reality understand what is necessary to make business work, and they, unlike both sides of the political aisle, know that if something doesn’t work, you don’t continue trying to make it work hoping that at some point it will.

As a pragmatist Donald Trump hasn’t made wild pie-in-the-sky promises of a cell phone in every pocket, free college tuition, and a $15-hour Federal minimum wage for working the drive-through at Carl’s Hamburgers.

Year of the pragmatist

I argue that America needs pragmatists because pragmatists see a problem and find ways to fix it. They do not see a problem and compound it by continuing to do the same things, creating more problems.

You may not like Donald Trump, but I suspect that the reason people do not like him is because:

1. He is exactly opposite to the “good old boy” method of brokering backroom deals that fatten the coffers of politicians.
2. They are unaccustomed to hearing a candidate speak who is unencumbered by the financial shackles of those who own them via donations.
3. He is free of characteristic political ideology. And:
4. He understands that it takes more than hollow promises and political correctness to return America to her greatness.

Listening to Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders talk about fixing America is like listening to two lunatics trying to “out crazy” one another.

We have had Democrat and Republican ideologues, and what has it brought us? Are we better off today or worse off? Has it happened overnight or has it been a steady decline brought on by both parties? Among other things, open borders, unfettered flow of Middle Eastern Muslim refugees into America, a much weakened military force, overwhelming public debt, out of control Federal spending, unfair and job killing foreign trade agreements, Federal control of our local public schools, are not even recognized by Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders as problems, where as Donald Trump does.

I submit that a pragmatist might be just what America needs right now. And as I said earlier, a pragmatist sees a problem and understands that the solution to fix it is not about a political party but is about the willingness and boldness to get it done. I honestly believe Donald John Trump is that “Common Sense Conservative” Pragmatist who understands our problems and WILL DO everything in his power to fix them. Let us not be too hasty to confuse his confidence with arrogance.

Please forward to all America, get involved.