I want my money back. How about you?
The cost of changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” has been about 500 grand.
I’d like my share back, please.
The cost of changing the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America”? Perplexity can’t help me.
The cost of restoring the name of Mt. Denali to Mt. McKinley? Also unknown.
Now we’re changing “artificial intelligence” to “superintelligence” in all government documents.
Whatever the costs are, I want my share back.
Donald Trump proposes these name changes simply to attract attention and own the libs. Those are fine choices, I suppose, but does he really get to spend my money to indulge his silly narcissistic needs?
Several times, President Trump has tried to strip press credentials from national media because Trump resents negative reporting. Those efforts at stripping press credentials are doomed to fail. But having the government stagger its way to failure incurs a cost — in Department of Justice time and effort, in judicial time deciding those cases, and the like. It’s all government money.
I don’t want to spend my money on Trump’s useless fits of pique. I want my share of the wasted money back.
Same deal with tariffs that legal scholars know will not be permitted. There’re administrative costs in implementing the tariffs, DOJ and court time in striking down the tariffs, administrative time undoing the tariffs and reimbursing money. It’s all waste. I want my share back.
Trump’s a billionaire, and he’s enriching himself by the day. He can afford the cost of silly little games — especially when my money, not his, pays the price of admission.
I’m out here in the cheap seats.
If Trump wants to fight about the name (and membership on the board) of the Institute of Peace, he can do it. But not on my nickel.
If he wants to fight about the name (and membership on the board) of the Kennedy Center, and the cost of losing performers and shutting down the building, he can do it. But not on my nickel.
If Trump wants to destroy a perfectly good East Wing of the White House and replace it with a fancy ballroom, the ballroom would surely make his life more pleasant. But the expense makes my life less pleasant. Let’s stop.
Triumphal arches for no reason other than glorifying Trump? Five million bucks to change the Arts of War and Arts of Peace sculptures (framing the Arlington Memorial Bridge) from bronze to gold leaf? Running public service announcements about how only Trump can keep the communists out of America? Same deal.
Flying to Mar-a-Lago at government expense, with a government security detail, every month or so? It’s nice for Trump; he likes golf. But he’s rich; and he can afford it; and he’s not even paying, for heaven’s sake. Why are we charging me for his luxuries?
Remodeling the Lincoln Bathroom?
Golden doodads in the Oval Office?
Those silly plaques lining the West Wing Colonnade (with Biden depicted as an auto-pen)?
The helipad?
I realize that being president costs the government money. The president has to travel, and be protected, and all that stuff.
But how about the unnecessary stuff? Shouldn’t the president be treating government money as though it were yours?
Because it is.
I want my share back. Do you?
Mark Herrmann spent 17 years as a partner at a leading international law firm and later oversaw litigation, compliance and employment matters at a large international company. He is the author of The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Practicing Law and Drug and Device Product Liability Litigation Strategy (affiliate links). You can reach him by email at inhouse@abovethelaw.com.
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