In the mid-80’s, Rosabeth Moss Kanter’s The Change Masters was a must read for anyone wanting to increase innovation and employee participation in making change work. One of her enduring insights could be summed up in one sentence, "Everything looks like a failure in the middle." In a world hooked on speed, it is a truth too many often fail to appreciate.
In less than a year, President Donald Trump has initiated a dizzying array of changes that has left Democrats trying to find a way to even respond. His foreign policy has left Hamas and Iran weaker and the Middle East slowly finding its way through a fragile peace. He’s secured the Southern border, moved us towards energy independence and lower gas prices, lowered the cost of medications, and worked to make our city streets safer and make criminals accountable.
But his most transformational change is more widespread and challenging. He is doing everything he can to decrease the size of government, to limit fraud, and decrease government entitlements. While creating energy diversification and independence, he is putting an end to woke alternative energy subsidies. The Biden administration had increased government employment by a quarter of a million employees. President Trump’s team has actually succeeded in getting by with 300,000 fewer workers and hopes to cut more.
Unfortunately, such major change efforts will take time to work and deliver on all his promised benefits. He has negotiated tariffs and increased corporate investments in domestic manufacturing. That means thousands of good jobs are coming at some point in the future. In the short term, Americans dislike paying more for foreign manufactured products. That is especially frustrating at Christmas when people are looking for deals.
So where are all those affordable American products that Trump promised? Capitalism takes time to work its magic. Americans want “affordability” now! Manufacturing capability and the resulting competition that will eventually decrease cost and expand jobs are months away. Yes, his promised “transformation” may look like a failure right now, but progress is being made every day.
The Trump administration keeps touting the impact of their “Big Beautiful Bill,” but it doesn’t take effect until January. There will be lower taxes for many Americans. Workers will have more money in their pockets. More good jobs will be coming, but they are not government jobs. Things will be more affordable, but government will not be delivering more “free” services or benefits.
Those depending upon government entitlements can expect less support. There are no federal benefits for illegal immigrants. There are work requirements for many receiving benefits who are capable of working. Instead of expanding government jobs, the current administration will be looking for small business expansion in the private sector. It’s clear that there will be good jobs as the economy responds to the new economic incentives. Just as it used to be, America is once again becoming a meritocracy. Success is to be earned and rewarded. There will be short-term local support for those going through tough times, but it will be more short-term and be administered locally.
A more cautious President might have settled for a few less changes, but that is not Donald Trump. He has had four years to prepare to lead a transformational change that will solidly return America to the free-enterprise economy that has made America great. Thankfully, in less than a year, he has delivered many campaign promises, but many pervasive changes take time. There will be setbacks and, at times, added costs. Some people will have to work again instead of depending on government largesse.
That there are setbacks and tough times on our change journey is to be expected. But with mid-term elections less than a year away, the Trump administration must work to ensure that their longer-term changes will be able to produce enough progress for voters to give them the House and Senate majorities that will allow necessary changes to continue. The future of America may very well depend upon Trump’s ability to sell and deliver on his vision for the future.
Republicans hoping to be elected will have to remind voters on what they have accomplished and show enough progress to earn more time to finish the job. Yes, some things seem like a failure in the middle. Some costs are now too high. Some jobs have been lost, but most of those have been government jobs. Thankfully, current data on job growth has documented growth in the private sector. Inflation is coming down after exploding during Biden’s Presidency. That is all good news. Unfortunately, Americans are not known for patience. May there be enough wise voters willing to trust the Trump team to continue to deliver on what he has promised and give him the political victories to do just that. May it be so.