By Douglas V. Gibbs
After a quip that he would be in favor of making Canada the 51st State of the Union, the leftwing media went bananas. His talk about the importance of using Greenland for American interests also sent them into a tizzy. God help us if Trump talks more about the Panama Canal.
Trump Derangement Syndrome is sort of like how Black Lives Matter operates. BLM believes that everything America does is racist. If you see racism everywhere in your mind, your eyes will find a way to see racism everywhere, as well. Same thing with Trump. If in their minds he’s a authoritarian fascist bent on White Supremacy world domination, then that is what they will see with every action he takes.
“The Art of the Deal” by Donald Trump lays out much of what he is actually about. It is sort of a facilitator-twist on the idea of “Speak softly, but carry a big stick.” Trump is a negotiator, a good one who is willing to throw bargaining jabs and punches as he uses tactics that are sometimes laced with what seems like extreme measures, to achieve what he wants. It’s the ol’ go higher or lower than what you want to get what you want.
An example would be selling a vehicle to another private party. You may know that your vehicle is worth according to certain publications $10,000. You may be hoping to get $11,000, and are willing to go no lower than $9,500. So, you place a $13,500 price tag on your vehicle. The average person may say, “Way too high. You’ll never get what you’re asking.” True. That’s the point. You ask for the moon, you expect the Earth, but hope the final result is somewhere in between.
So, in our vehicle-sale scenario the potential buyer arrives and he may not wish to pay more than $10,000, so he’s not going to offer that because he knows you will try to negotiate him to a different price. So, while you are asking for $13,500, he may say, “I’m not paying more than $8,000.”
The game is on.
You then might say, “13,” and he might say, “eight and a half.” And the battle goes on until an agreement is made, with both parties believing they got a good deal because they brought the other up or down, depending on who you are talking to.
That is how Trump is operating. He made a quip about Canada being the 51st State, and economically they will begin to bend, perhaps even nervous he might make good on his statehood offer. Greenland, while not wishing to give up their sovereignty, aren’t exactly excited about being under the ruling thumb of Denmark. In the end, something in between will be arrived at, because they don’t want to be a State or territory of the United States, but a good relationship with us would likely be lucrative and secure for them. So, in the end I am expecting the whole thing to include more American military bases and mineral rights allowances before the dust all settles, with Greenland receiving the protection they desire and a percentage of the revenue from our operations on their lands. They don’t have the money to take advantage of their rich underground treasures, but we do; and if the right deal is made, we both benefit. I guarantee you, Greenland realizes that the national security of the United States directly affects them, and that the United States drilling and mining in Greenland will be better for their pocketbook than what they are doing now.
So, no, Trump is not going to invade Greenland or make Canada the 51st State. He simply bid high, and then as the counter-offers come in the deal will wind up being right where he wanted it originally.
— Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
