I think I get your point. Beef up defence and cut all social and environmental programs, right? I think you may have forgotten that we all share a planet on which we must live, and that what they do (or not) in the Great Lakes does not only affect the US but also Canada. 

To my recollection, the last "buffoon" you may be referring to had to deal with a mess called "financial meltdown" that took place less than 10 years ago - left by his Republican predecessor - where many working Americans lost their jobs, their homes, and their savings. Your hero is now trying to eliminate all the safeguards that were put in place by his predecessor to prevent a similar disaster from reoccurring.

Sorry, but no matter how much I try to understand the reasoning behind your view I simply can't.