Lessons from George Washington for the Second Trump Term

On November 15, 2024, Allen Thomas, Yvonne Paez, Jim May, and Kurt Gerwitz joined the show. Thomas draws parallels between Washington’s use of political capital to establish the Constitution and Trump’s opportunity to make lasting structural changes to government Paez exposes Fort Collins forcing residents to pay for trash services they did not request, organized a public meeting to address the issue May shares original cowboy. Washington’s Leadership Model for Trump’s Second Term Start listening at 1:18 – Hour 1 Allen Thomas, author at The Kim Monson Show, traces George Washington’s journey from reluctant retiree to Constitutional Convention leader. Washington used the height of his political power and fame after the Revolutionary War to legitimize the new government rather than seeking personal gain. Thomas argues Trump finds himself at a similar crossroads, with a clear mandate from voters and the political capital to slash the size and scope of government. The key parallel centers on posterity. Washington, despite having no biological children, focused relentlessly on what he would leave future generations. Thomas warns that Trump must address long-punted issues like the national debt, Social Security reform, and immigration with the same long-term vision. Without structural changes, the next progressive administration will simply undo any gains. Thomas points to the danger of short-term thinking. Washington weathered accusations of wanting to be a monarch for years until he stepped down after his second term, proving his critics wrong. Trump faces similar unpopularity risks if he genuinely cuts programs, but lasting legacy requires accepting that pain. “And realizing that there’s more at stake than just short-term popularity, that there is a legacy here, that it’s the reason why we remember Washington is because Washington publicly announced his retirement and then stepped out of that retirement to help usher in a period of liberty.” Allen Thomas, Author, The Kim Monson Show Fort Collins Forces Residents to Pay for Unwanted Trash Service Start listening at 16:52 – Hour 1 Yvonne Paez, co-founder of Perspectives 101 and Army veteran, sounds the alarm on Fort Collins’ mandatory trash fee. Residents who never requested city trash service, do not want it, and use a different provider must now pay the city’s chosen vendor anyway. Those with competing services pay double. Paez describes a narrow exemption process that places residents on what she calls “trash probation.” The confusion has frustrated homeowners who received surprise bills for services they never ordered. Perspectives 101 scheduled a public meeting for November 18 at Fort Collins Downtown Library to give residents a forum with city staff. Kim Monson identifies the deeper issue: public-private partnerships that eliminate market competition. One competing trash provider already left Fort Collins. The stated goal of trash reduction could lead to per-household limits and penalties for families who generate more waste, patterns Monson witnessed firsthand in Europe. “The bottom line is that people should not be forced to pay for services they don’t get, want, need, or have not asked for.” Yvonne Paez, Co-founder, Perspectives 101 Post-Election Reflections from the Eastern Plains Start listening at 59:07 – Hour 2 Jim May, cattleman and owner of Lavaca Meat Company, shares his cowboy poetry reflecting on Trump’s victory. His...