Let us all give thanks for the end of 2024 and step into 2025 with courage and optimism for our families and our nation!
2025 promises to be a year of new beginnings and revivals but will also involve wading through uncharted territory. Over the past four years, we have been on an uncertain journey with significant ambiguity about our nation’s future. It has been a leaderless era characterized by corruption, duplicity, proxy wars, flawed social agendas, and seeds of national and international financial ruin.
Last year, we stared into a forest with seen and unseen perils, but as the year unfolded, we understood more of what had to be done to correct our course. We are out of the woods but still on a difficult road.
Fortunately, voters turned out in large numbers to return to power those who believe in our greatness and to cast aside those working from within to destroy us. We now feel like we are leaving the swamp of uncertainty and walking toward a brighter world. We are still surrounded by danger, but we can see clearly down the road. Staying on the path to this brighter future will be difficult.
What will be our areas of focus in 2025?
Presidential Politics
For those of us old enough to have witnessed President Reagan’s farewell speech, in which he described America as “the shining city upon a hill,” that is still our focus, our goal.
“In my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors, and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here.”
This contemporary vision was and is as vital to our generation as Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was to his. It clearly outlines the course correction needed. As always, President Reagan’s words were idealistic and optimistic, but he left us a road map to our destination. When Reagan spoke, everyone listened because they knew his visions were clear, hopeful, and challenging.
None of our challenges will be more prominent than opposition to President Trump and his Cabinet as they take on the “Deep State.” The keystones of this discussion are money and power: those who have it, those who control it, and those who want it. We are a capitalist nation, and this is the typical and necessary struggle for success, and fiscal well-being is the free flow of capital. However, we know from recent and potential financial disasters that boundaries must exist for our nation to function correctly and vigorously.
De-Weaponization of Agencies
This set of tasks is the most difficult because of how they have been used over the past four years and the danger they pose. I saw an interview with Newt Gingrich where he recommended terminating everyone possible at the Justice Department, Secret Service, FBI, CIA, NSA, DHS, et al. While this sounds drastic, and it is, it might be sound advice. Otherwise, you risk leaving in place those who will undermine your efforts.
Not discussed very often is yanking the security clearance of all current and retired persons who participated in Russia Gate and other knowingly false attempts to demonize President Trump and his supporters. They might also warn anyone in Congress taking money from a foreign government that their actions, including tax records, will be scrutinized. Just publishing every member of Congress’ foreign contributions would be eye-popping.
Anything less, and the American people might not think the job is done. There are hundreds of federal agencies, so finding money to save for DOGE will be easier than de-weaponizing those with enforcement capacity.
Public and Private Financial Perils
Depending on your viewpoint, we have avoided or delayed an inevitable economic downturn. I fall on the delay side of that discussion since each cycle has a downside, and we are all tired of waiting. Political donation records now reveal that the Fed has tilted to the liberal side in its politics and is more likely aligned with the Deep State than remained independent. Their recent moves likely were to push off any recession into the Trump years.
President Trump and his cabinet are more attuned to financial issues and will fight against the Fed on many matters. How the Trump cabinet views many things will bring financial issues into focus in 2025 as the stage is set for whatever comes next.
Our commercial real estate vacancies, unrecognized bond losses at major banks, record mortgage and consumer debt, and record bankruptcies have not suddenly resolved themselves, and income disparity between families has not suddenly improved.
I am highly suspect of President Trump’s sudden swing toward Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Voters are doubtful of Bitcoin, and despite the Fed’s assurances, CBDCs are too Orwellian for most of us. Financial privacy is as important as freedom of speech and freedom from unlawful search and seizure. The phrase “I’m from the NSA (or pick one), you can trust me.” no longer resonates.
International Financial Developments
Despite what Washington says, the dollar continues to be attacked as the world’s reserve currency, and 2025 could be a pivotal year as countries threaten to use Bitcoin as part of their reserve. Unthinkable just a year or two ago, the Biden Administration’s near-fatal foreign policy decisions and weakness on the world stage have opened the door to ending dollar dominance. The free world has been leaderless for four years, and many lesser players have become emboldened by weak foreign trade policies.
We do not like it, but politicians in Washington have pushed us to a position where we are now dependent on the central banks of dictators and third-world countries to maintain our standard of living. Unless we can get our fiscal house in order, many critical national needs will be put on hold, and our standard of living will drop. President Trump did not warn the BRICS Consortium recently because they are not a threat; he understands they are making inroads into dethroning the dollar.
The Military Industrial Complex
We often hear about the Military Industrial Complex, a significant element in fixing or breaking the Federal Deficit. This is but one piece in an enormous puzzle of necessity, intrigue, corruption, and mismanagement. In President Eisenhower’s 1961 farewell address, he gave voice to the challenges we face today from within and abroad. Having led our World War II troops in Europe, no one better grasped the perils of war and later complacency.
“A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction. . .. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. . .. This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. . .. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. . .. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”
This is the elephant in the room: the fear of being unprepared in a dangerous world while avoiding potential bankruptcy by the Federal Government. We can no longer afford the waste and corruption that brought us to this crossroads.
As President Eisenhower warned, we cannot expect future wars to develop slowly enough to build our might after they start. Between the Middle East, Taiwan, Africa, North Korea, Ukraine, Russia, and China, there always seems to be a “hot spot.” How we navigate this with a diplomatic and defense balance is key. We cannot police the world without going bankrupt, nor can we avoid defending ourselves and friendly nations.
Our Education System and Restoration of Excellence
All Presidents run on reforming our education system, but none do. We are lagging behind our standards and the world in STEM education at a time when we cannot afford to follow. The cost of higher education and wokeness have been issues for years and have helped President Trump achieve victory.
He promised to reform or eliminate the Department of Education, but others have tried and failed. Following this fight should be fun and engaging. We need to get it right for the sake of our children and grandchildren.
Industrial Might and Security
Historically, much of our might has come from capitalism and our ability to outperform and out-innovate the rest of the world. Starting in the 1970s, we allowed our capitalist tendencies to overrule logic and offshored more of our industrial might than was prudent. Now that the focus on that industrial might is technology and intellect, we must restore those industries necessary for survival.
The Chips Act might not be perfect, but at least it is a starting point, a recognition that we made a mistake that must be corrected. This mistake also highlights the necessity of fixing our broken education system. We cannot restore industries and critical infrastructure without the skills to operate them. President Trump’s focus on America First is correct. Still, he must convince Wall Street that there are moments in history when short-term profitability must take a backseat to long-term solvency.
The list is long; from chips to steel to agriculture to medicine, it all needs to come home. Just as we cannot be dependent on tinpot dictators for financial security, neither can we be dependent on adversaries for critical supplies. We have repeatedly proven that we can overcome obstacles and win when faced with challenges like these.
The government’s role needs to be limited to the definition of “critical,” and industries require the freedom to solve the problems. This is no different from the lead-up to World War II, and our major corporations must be tasked with the challenges. Removing regulations and getting Congress on board will be a challenge, once again emphasizing the importance of the DOGE efforts.
Healthcare and Medical Innovation
Our healthcare system needs a redesign, and this might be one challenge that DOGE can handle. Our system might be the best in the world for those with access. People from Europe still come here to get immediate surgeries because, in countries with socialized medicine, many things do not work. This should be a warning and a boundary for anyone trying to solve the problems.
For those without access, healthcare seems non-existent or out of reach. Somewhere between where we are and where we need to be, there must be some middle ground that works. So far, this solution has eluded us, but it might be as simple as regulating or regulating out-of-existence medical “middlemen” who control pricing. Medicare and Medicaid must be allowed to negotiate pricing. We are tired of funding the world’s healthcare at the expense of our health. Another giant step would be to outlaw lobbying for medical and healthcare industries.
Immigration and Immigration Reform
There may be a tie between illegal immigration and the DOGE Committee for the most fantastic show on earth in 2025. Tom Homan is tough as nails, knows the law, is not scared of Congress, will ignore woke governors, and has a plan. He better start building the wall on day one, or the Democrats will try to stop him again. I hope he begins simultaneously in about fifty places and constructs the whole thing.
A more significant challenge may be the cartels, but Homan has already hinted that he will declare them a terrorist organization and militarily pursue them. If Mexico will not dismantle the cartels, then we have the resources and should make it a priority. This will also expose our side’s corruption, which can be revealing, to say the least. The cartels are getting help north of the border from someone.
If all this were not enough, President Trump wants to tackle birthright citizenship. I am all for it if it can be done without a Constitutional Convention. But once you call for a Constitutional Convention, controlling the agenda is a wild card. Bad things have a way of creeping into the agenda, and we must stay as far away from such an event as possible. Our Constitution has been a model for the world for centuries, and we must leave it alone.
The project is expensive, complicated, political, contentious, and challenging. But if President Trump gives Homan the necessary resources and an absolute political shield, I bet he will come close if not finish it. He makes a great point when aside about the cost when he says, “What price do you put on national security?”
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk’s involvement in correcting government inefficiency may be the best show for the next four years. The waste is astounding and easy to identify; fixing it is the challenge. Political favors, corruption, lobbyists, bribery, the military-industrial complex, and pork barrel politics will all be on display.
These two men have the skill to fix it like no others, but I bet they are about to run into the brick wall of politics. I want them to succeed and cut waste, but I bet they throw their hands up at some point and declare defeat. They assume that efficiency is desired, but unlike private enterprises, efficiency is the last desired thing in government.
The interesting twist in this plot is that both Ramaswamy and Musk have already amassed personal fortunes, and they cannot be bribed. A politician hates nothing more than someone who cannot be bribed, so they will be attacked personally to try and destroy them. The Democrats will do all they can to drive a wedge between them and President Trump.
I hope and pray I am wrong, but history is on my side.
Buckle Up and Get Ready
In recent history, 2025 will be a year like no other, so buckle up for the ride! That dirt road we are walking is no easy path, so if we want to get to the “Shining City upon a Hill,” we must start walking on January 20 and not stop for four straight years. Prepare for your boots to get dusty and dirty and get on the road.
Post image created with Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, and Adobe Photoshop 2025 AI.
Resources and Further Reading
2025 Commercial Real Estate Outlook: Preparing for a Shifting Market, Launch Commercial, launch-cre.com, October 3, 2024.
2025-2029 Five-Year Housing Market Predictions, By Patrick S. Duffy, USNews, realestate.usnews.com, December 18, 2024.
At Half a Mile a Week, Texas Border Wall Will Take Around 30 Years and $20 Billion to Build, By Associated Press, USNews, usnews.com, July 3, 2024.
Border Wall System – Frequently Asked Questions, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, cbp.gov, Last accessed December 21, 2024.
Dozens of GOP governors pledge support for Trump’s mass deportations plan, By Jackson Walker, The National News Desk, thenationaldesk.com, December 12, 2024.
FDIC Warns 68 US Banks in Danger of Insolvency As Lenders Face $364,000,000,000 in Unrealized Losses, By Henry Kanapi, The Daily HODL, dailyhodl.com, December 21, 2024.
Gingrich says Trump would be ‘better off’ if government shuts down, By Juliann Ventura, The Hill, thehill,com, December 20, 2024.
Highlight: Unrealized loss position improving in securities portfolios, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, kansascityfed.org, December 19, 2024.
Homan: ‘I guarantee’ funds will be cut from states not cooperating on deportation, By Tara Suter, The Hill, thehill,com, November 25, 2024.
Housing Market Predictions for 2025, By Rachel Cruze, Ramsey Solutions, ramseysolutions.com, December 6, 2024.
Is the Education System “Dumbing Us Down”?, By Education Revolution Association, ed-rev-org, December 11, 2024.
Military-Industrial Complex’s Economic Impact: High Costs and Limited Growth, By Virginia Bramlett, The Financial Analyst, thefinancialanalyst.net, June 8, 2024.
National debt is the greatest threat to our country; it’s time for Congress to act, By Senators Mitt Romney and Joe Manchin, Representatives Bill Huizenga and Scott Peters, The Hill, thehill.com, January 18, 2024.
Re: Building Defense | Next Steps for the Pentagon in 2025, By Hudson Institute, hudsoninstitute.org, December 18, 2024.
Ronald Reagan and “the shining city upon a hill”, Our Lost Founding, ourlostfounding.com, January 11, 2011.
The best and worst of education reform in 2024, By Michael J. Petrilli, Thomas B. Fordham Institute, fordhaminstitute.org, December 19, 2024.
The Military Industrial Complex: How Defense Contractors Shape Policy and Spending, Common Sense Evaluation, commonsenseevaluation.com, December 3, 2024.
Trump threatens 100% tariff on the BRIC bloc of nations if they act to undermine US dollar, By Fatima Hussein, Associated Press, apnews.com, November 30, 2024.
US bank profits dip in third quarter, but interest income up – FDIC, By Reuters, KITCO News, Kitco.com, December 12, 2024.
When Will the Housing Market Crash? Economists Don’t Foresee It in 2024 or 2025, By Molly Grace, Business Insider, businessinsider.com, December 5, 2024.
