Inaugural drama: On the 47th President of the U.S.
Donald Trump is living up to his threats and promises
Republican Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th President of the U.S. after his decisive victory in the November 2024 election. He marked the start of his second innings with a slew of executive orders, actions and directives that set the tenor for his administration’s policy agenda over the four years. Significant among these are the nearly 1,600 pardons issued to those prosecuted for their role in the riot at the U.S. Capitol in 2021, the U.S.’s exit from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization, the ending of birthright citizenship, protected under the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, for children of undocumented migrants and those on temporary visas, a proposed 100% tariff on BRICS nations — both of which could impact Indians considerably — and 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico from February 1, a declaration of national emergency on the U.S.’s southern border with Mexico, and reversing 78 executive orders and memoranda of his predecessor, Joe Biden. Striking optics of Mr. Trump’s swearing-in was the positioning of tech bosses Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai, and Mark Zuckerberg, prompting speculation on whether the incoming administration would have shades of a de facto “oligarchy”; and Mr. Musk, who is heading the new government’s efforts to reduce waste and inefficiencies, giving a crowd what appeared to resemble a Nazi salute. As it stands, however, some, if not most, of these executive orders will face legal challenges — the attempted reading down of the 14th Amendment has already been challenged in court.
The note that the second Trump administration has struck in terms of its policy agenda appears to be innately hostile to the progressive agenda of the Democrats. To a considerable extent, that is to be expected, as the two parties diverge significantly on matters such as the economy, immigration and reproductive rights. Yet, previous Republican governments have often sought to build bridges with Democratic colleagues in Congress and at the State level, to find bipartisan consensus in key policy areas rather than risk deadlock and internecine conflicts over policy design and resource allocation. In this instance, however, the federal government trifecta and a sympathetic Supreme Court stacked with conservatives might mean that the Trump team needs to rely even less on support from across the aisle than it did during the Trump first term. Further, Mr. Trump appears to be emboldened by the breadth of his election victory to allow unconventional, even bizarre, policy priorities to enter the proposed agenda, including ideas such as the takeover of the Panama Canal, the de-recognition of transgender rights, threatening Denmark with a plan to takeover Greenland, and the prospect of travel bans for certain countries. Perhaps America is getting what it voted for.
The price of success: On Kerala’s demographic transition
Kerala’s rising maternal mortality ratio is not yet a cause for concern
There can be too much of a good thing, after all. The demographic transition that Kerala has heralded in the country has now delivered a sucker punch to the State, with its maternal mortality ratio climbing. Kerala led the shift to the phase of low fertility and low mortality in India, and got further, first. As the fertility level dropped, the number of births came down, thereby skewering the best maternal mortality rate (calculated as the number of deaths for every 1,00,000 live births) of the country, in Kerala. The State led the demographic transition by achieving the total replacement level fertility rate in 1987-88, and the other southern States followed in the mid-2000s. A TFR of 2.1 is considered the replacement level, indicating the number of children a woman must have in order for the society to maintain its size across generations. Below this level the population size falls. In fact, this has led to moments of anxiety, politically for the southern States that feel that with their sub-replacement level fertility rates, they will be at a disadvantage when it comes to the proposed delimitation exercise of Lok Sabha seats based on population figures. In theory, demographic transition occurs when a historical shift happens from high birth rates and high death rates to low birth and death rates, aided by advancements in education, economic development and technology. Such a transition is said to have occurred in most parts of the world, allowing the world to stabilise from the unprecedented growth forecast by Malthus, and then move on to reduce population growth, and birth rates. The theory posits four stages – moving from stable population to a rapid population growth, levelling out and finally, a decline.
Nations that have reached there, including South Korea, are struggling to revive population growth, and even incentivising childbearing does not seem to have the intended effect, as the fertility rate continues to drop. While it is impossible to stop a demographic transition in its tracks, governments must prepare for the trail of consequences that it will bring in its wake. There will be far-reaching economic and societal consequences as the proportion of the working-age population comes down and the aged population increases, placing an inordinate burden on the resources of nations. It is, therefore, important to strengthen public finances and social support systems in preparation for a growing elderly population. Health-care financing will have to be improved, and policies that support equal participation in household chores must be prioritised.
EDITORIAL VOCAB (22ND JANUARY 2025.)
1. Decisive (निर्णयक )
Synonyms: Conclusive, critical, definitive
Antonyms: Indecisive, hesitant, inconclusive
2. Innately (स्वाभाविक तौर पर रूप से)
Synonyms: Naturally, inherently, intrinsically
Antonyms: Artificially, externally, superficially
3. Internecine (घातक/आपसी ͪवनाशकारी )
Synonyms: Deadly, destructive, mutually harmful
Antonyms: Peaceful, cooperative, constructive
4. Remuneration (मुआवज़ा)
Synonyms: Compensation, payment, reward
5. Eminent (प्रख्यात)
Synonyms: Notable, distinguished, renowned
Antonyms: Unknown, obscure, insignificant
6. Imminent- about to happen, Approaching, Forthcoming, Impending
7. Conjecture (अनुमान)
Synonyms: Guess, speculation, assumption
8. Vehement (उग्र)
Synonyms: Fervent, intense, passionate
Antonyms: Indifferent, apathetic, calm
9. Irascible (ͬचिड़चिड़ा )
Synonyms: Irritable, short-tempered, petulant
Antonyms: Calm, patient, placid
10. Precarious (संकटपूणर्ण)
Synonyms: Risky, unsafe, unstable
Antonyms: Secure, safe, stable
