Report card, that is. One year ago today, Donald Trump was inaugurated President. His inaugural address was electric, brilliant; "the golden age of America begins right now." How's he done; has freedom increased?

Some, but not nearly enough. The record confirms yet again that freedom will not be won by political action. Government will never abolish itself. But let's check the gains and losses.

Ross Ulbricht was liberated; on time and as promised; and political promises are rarely kept. Outstanding! And Trump has said he's favorably considering issuing a pardon for Keonne Rodriguez, recently imprisoned by the judicial barbarians in New York for writing some privacy software. More about Keonne was mentioned in last week's ZGBlog.

R F Kennedy was put in charge of the HHS, and has been doggedly beating back the arrogant destroyers of health put in place by Biden and Obama. The US withdrew from the malevolent WHO, and this month from 66 other useless international gabfest outfits linked to it and the UN. Instead, RFK is helping Make America Healthy Again: MAHA.

Peace in Ukraine has still proven elusive, but DJT has tried really hard, as promised - though he was foolish to commit to a 24-hour quick fix. The problem is that Euro-NATO governments have stabbed him in the back by deliberately prolonging the war. "A" for effort, at least; and a far better relationship was restored with Russia than has been seen in a very long time. That augurs well for the future.

DOGE was heralded as the start of taking a meat-cleaver to the bloated Federal bureaucracy, and it's true that some jobs were sliced off; but not many, and the move has lost momentum. In any case it aimed not at reducing the FedGov but at raising its efficiency - that is, doing the same stuff but with fewer people. Not good enough.

MAGA is not too tangible, but it's fair to say that under DJT, a good spirit of pride in America is being restored, and that's very appropriate for this 250th Anniversary year.

The form of MAGA is where he has gone wrong. Instead of trying to re-create the kind of small and limited government that accompanied the real and unique "greatness" of America that prevailed in the amazing 19th Century, DJT is throwing US military might around the world like a bully and a pirate. Teddy Roosevelt coined the phrase "speak softly and carry a big stick" but DJT is carrying a huge stick while shouting loud. Greenland, Venezuela, even Canada... and I read word last week that Iceland may be next.

That's not real greatness. I hereby propose a new slogan, which I hope he'll adopt but doubt if he will: MAGSA. That's Make American Government Small Again. If you like that, spread it around. "Small" is relative, but it includes "zero."

ICE, and the near-freezing of crossing the US border without a permit, is something DJT is very proud of'; I'm not. America was built by immigrants who came without such permits. But they came without any expectation of welfare, and relied solely on their own efforts to earn livings. That's a big shortfall of DJT; he's poor in economics. If all government welfare were canceled, the only immigrants to arrive would be those eager to do likewise, and that would enrich the country. Instead, he is using force. Bad idea; it can lead only too easily to outrages like the death of Renée Good.

Deadly force, under the Self Ownership Axiom, is fully justifed for use by anyone faced with a credible threat to his life; but not when faced with disagreement and unladylike language by someone who then drives away. ICE agent Jonathan Ross may have been taught he had authority to kill Ms Good; but nobody, even DJT, is entitled to grant such authority.

I'm very glad Trump was elected rather than Commie Kamala; Democrats are a disaster. But don't confuse him with a founder of a free society. He has more clue about that than recent predecessors, but far too little.