The article presents a well-reasoned economic argument for why the proposed transgender ban doesn't make sense on a policy level. But I think we all know that's not why Trump wants to do this. Trump doesn't approach things from the normal governmental perspective of identifying needs and resources and then searching for the optimum means of meeting those needs. He couldn't care less about the substance of any policy.
The recent healthcare debate is an excellent example. Throughout the election campaign, Trump made endless promises: "Repeal and replace" on the first day in office. A healthcare program that will be SO beautiful, "believe me!" It will cover everyone. It will reduce costs. No one will have to worry about "pre-existing conditions." "The government will pay." There will be NO cuts to Medicaid. "It will be SO easy!"
Once in office, Trump had no interest in any of that. He supported proposals in Congress that would have (depending on the various specific plans): (1) stripped healthcare coverage from between 13 to 32 million people; (2) cut $800 billion from Medicaid in order to fund a massive tax cut for the wealthiest people in society; (3) allowed states to permit insurance companies to refuse coverage or charge prohibitive premiums to people with pre-existing conditions: and (4) allowed insurance companies to sell stripped-down policies that provided NO coverage for things like maternity care, hospitalization, mental health and substance abuse treatment, contraception, or emergency room services. (How can you even call policies like that "health insurance"?)
It made no difference to Trump that those proposals were destructive. Or that they were the opposite of the campaign promises he himself had made. He just didn't care about the public good and he didn't care about the people these proposals would hurt. He just wanted to have a legislative "victory" he could point to.
That's where the transgender ban comes from, too. Trump didn't sit down and design this policy based on a rational assessment of the military needs of the nation. Once again, he couldn't care less about the costs or impact of the proposal. Finding himself sinking in the polls, mired in investigations, and unable to show legislative victories, Trump cast about for a marginalized group he could use to shore up his declining support.
Trans people are just a target of convenience for Trump. We're a small group that is the focus of fear or hatred among ignorant people. This time, it's trans people. At other times, it's refugees. Or Mexicans. Or Muslims. We are the "red meat" Trump throws to his most ignorant followers. By focusing and mobilizing hatred and bigotry against us, Trump hopes people will forget his own many failures.
If logic, reason, and concern for the public good are the tests of military policy, the transgender ban will not take effect. But logic, reason, and concern for the public good are NOT how this issue is being sold.
