Foreign Policy, and Universal Healthcare??

Drumpf gave an interview with the Times of London (registration required) in which he states that he wants to negotiate nuclear arms reduction with Russia, in exchange for sanctions reductions. This would be consistent with recent history wherein significant nuclear arms reductions seem to only happen under Republican administrations (because Republicans block nuke reductions when Democratic presidents attempt to do it). He also calls Russia's role in the Syrian war disastrous.

He calls the Iraq War one of the biggest disasters in American history. That's debatable, given slavery and indigenous genocide, among other indescribable crimes against humanity in America's history, but it's far from an objectionable opinion.

He also talks about wanting to negotiate a trade treaty with the U.K., saying that he will do it soon. He expresses respect for the Brexit vote, predicts that other European countries will follow suit, and calls policies to welcome refugees sorely misguided, specifically targeting Angela Merkel's decision to welcome 1 million refugees into Germany. He somewhat echoes the white supremacists who have supported him in saying that Brexit happened because countries want their own identity (a subtle dig at multiculturalism and inclusiveness).

Regarding the Iraq War, Russia's involvement in Syria, and talk of nuclear arms reduction, Drumpf is right.

Drumpf has also hinted, in a separate story, that his people are almost done drafting a replacement plan for after Obamacare's repeal. He claims that it will allow everyone to have insurance. He doesn't use the term "universal" healthcare coverage, but it is what he means. Will be very interesting to see what this policy looks like. I am not optimistic that it will bring about the expanded coverage with reduced costs that any good healthcare reform should bring. As the story mentions, House Speaker Paul Ryan has stated that he wants "universal access," which is very far from the same thing as universal coverage. Universal access means you can buy it if you want to, which is meaningless. We all have "universal access" to ferraris, it does not mean we can all afford it. However, Drumpf hints in the Washington Post story that he also values affordability, but he does not favor single-payer insurance coverage. It is pretty much impossible to contain healthcare costs while providing near-universal coverage without implementing some kind of single-payer or "medicare-for-all" system.