Where do we even start on everything that is wrong with the latest news?

The president is giving his son-in-law/top adviser broad and sweeping power that should go to elected officials and those approved by Congress. We, the People, did not elect 45’s son-in-law. If he wanted consideration then he should have run. We wouldn’t have chosen him; he has no business anywhere near the White House either. According to the Washington Post (link to story below):

“President Trump plans to unveil a new White House office on Monday with sweeping authority to overhaul the federal bureaucracy and fulfill key campaign promises — such as reforming care for veterans and fighting opioid addiction — by harvesting ideas from the business world and, potentially, privatizing some government functions. The White House Office of American Innovation, to be led by Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, will operate as its own nimble power center within the West Wing and will report directly to Trump.”

By the way, Kushner is also currently under investigation by the FBI in relation to ties between Trump associates and Russian officials and possible links to the Kremlin. In this new position, though, he answers only to 45 who is also under investigation by the FBI. Checks and balances, people!

Let’s not forget the nepotism angle. According to the federal anti-nepotism statute:

“A public official may not appoint, employ, promote, advance, or advocate for appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement, in or to a civilian position in the agency in which he is serving or over which he exercises jurisdiction or control any individual who is a relative of the public official.”

Jared Kushner, as 45’s son-in-law, is certainly a relative of the president. Kushner is married to 45’s favorite daughter. Nepotism undermines the credibility of public officials. Maybe this isn’t considered an issue because 45 has no credibility left. What little he had when he entered office was quickly squandered on lies.

Then there’s the whole government-as-a-business angle. Kushner told the Washington Post on Sunday that, “The government should be run like a great American company.” No, it should not. The government of the United States of America is not a company and should never be run as such. It is our government of, by, and for the People. It is run by Us for Us. It exists for Us. “Profits” go to Us.

Kushner is a lawyer, not a business man. He has almost no experience in business. Granted, he’s not already proven himself to be a terrible business man like 45 has, but that still does not qualify him to change our government into a business. Government isn’t a business. Privatizing government jobs and agencies raises costs and hands jobs over to people who do not answer to the American people. The whole point of government is for citizens to choose people to work for them, people who are accountable for their actions, to make decisions based on the best interests of the people. The board of directors of a private business does not care about the American people; those board members care only about themselves, their shareholders, and profits.

I cannot believe that in this huge country with literally millions of human beings to choose from, there aren’t people who are much better suited for these positions and who are not 45’s family members.

Link: “Trump giving broad new powers to his inexperienced son-in-law” – by Steve Benen of MSNBC

Link: “First Read’s Morning Clips: Kushner’s New Role” – from NBC News