Trump Tariffs & MAGA Socialism Won't Fix the $36T U.S. Debt Crisis or Economy - My Strategy: The ASAP Protocol (2025)
There are ways to tackle the U.S. debt & improve the economy, but populist MAGA mind virus socialists may not approve...
It’s no secret that the U.S. debt is a fucking mountain right now and the interest on the debt is substantial… and the Republicans allegedly want to address it.
Trump’s “pet idea” to do fix U.S. debt is with tariffs (he has apparently been obsessed with tariffs since the 1980s). He legitimately thinks that tariffs will revitalize America and increase U.S. dominance by bringing back manufacturing jobs.
Most right-wingers (Republicans & Conservatives) thought Trump would use tariffs strategically as a negotiating tactic to get other countries to drop tariffs against the U.S. — creating much freer markets.
I’ve said Trump could pair this with a DBCF tax to counteract ridiculous VAT (value added tax) imposed by other countries on the U.S. as a trade cheat code.
I’ve also said Trump could probably negotiate with the EU, Canada, UK, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, et al. to work out a deal wherein they agree to chip in more for defense/military, U.S. pharma innovation, and other U.S. IP that they use at discounted rates relative to U.S. citizens.
If you actually told these countries precisely what you want or expected and attempted to work out deals in good faith, they’d likely do it — a deal could be achieved… Trump could market this as a “mega deal” that only Mr. Art-of-the-Deal could’ve done. (*Wink wink*)
That said, there are reasonable arguments against doing this (e.g. (1) time latency involved in negotiations interferes with acceleration — if it takes too long you’ve lost more than you would’ve gained by just accelerating full-steam ahead & (2) damaging international alliances).
If you truly believe advanced AI (AGI/ASI), automation, robotics, etc. are basically “here” or will be ubiquitous soon (2025-2030) — you should be thinking: Fuck it, we’re gonna lock TF in and out-accelerate everyone.
Once we’ve crushed everyone in AI, robotics, automation, etc. — we can deploy fleets of robots to build up automated manufacturing plants, undercut the world in costs/production, and then impose tariffs if we want because now we’re making everything in the U.S. that beats everyone in cost-quality ratio.
Instead? Trump engages in mentally handicapped thinking focusing on “trade deficits” (largely irrelevant) in his rollout of “Liberation Day Tariffs.” In Trump’s mind: any “trade deficit” = somehow screwing over the United States. (I’ve written about why King Trump & the MAGA Mind Virus led to Delusions of Economic Grandeur re: the “trade deficit” fixation & many aspects of domestic manufacturing).
If you buy bananas from Nicaragua but they don’t buy much from the U.S. — you have a trade deficit with them… they can’t afford to buy U.S. products or have no desire to… but you’re buying up their bananas. Should the U.S. set up more domestic banana farms to compete?
Do we really want to waste time with this? We can let Nicaragua (or whoever) have the banana industry and focus on more important shit like advanced technology (AI/HPC, robotics, energy, spaceships, biotech, etc.).
Do we want more Americans sewing Nike logos on shoes? Shouldn’t we just let Cambodians and Vietnamese do that while we focus on higher-skilled tasks? Are we saying we want to pay people $30/hour to do this so that Nike can try to sell a pair of MAGA kicks for $1k?
But now we allegedly have a younger generation who dislikes taking responsibility and enjoys blaming the “boomers” for all their woes.
All they need to do is go get a job of any kind and not be a complete moron with spending (save a bit & invest a % of paycheck in S&P500 instead of buying lottery tickets).
Funniest thing about all this is there are over 500k open manufacturing jobs right now (2025) in the U.S. that are unfilled. If you want one go apply… pass drug tests, show up, and you’ll be alright (assuming you want to work in manufacturing).
Anyways, Trump’s strategy paves way for “MAGA socialism” wherein Trump pays farmers et al. steady paychecks based on production that are above market value relative to what they’d receive in a true free market.
If you are a farmer… of course you’d keep voting for Trump. He is paying you MORE than what you’d normally make because of his trade war. Guaranteed political support going forward… why would vote against receiving fat checks from Trump? It’s like eternal COVID relief for farmers.
Alright so Trump and the MAGA crew ask — well if you’re so smart, what would you do about the U.S. debt? How would you address the interest on debt? I’ll present my strategy even though the populist retards may not like it.
I.) U.S. Debt, Debt-to-GDP Ratio, Interest on the Debt — The Elephant in the Room (2025)
Many idiots think a country should have zero debt or a surplus (i.e. a “balanced budget”). The reality is that most countries with “trade surpluses” and “zero debt” are third world, undeveloped “shitholes” (with a few exceptions).
There’s a smart argument that you should always have some debt. Why? If you’re smart (you’re running your country efficiently), you can use the debt effectively to grow faster. (You leverage the debt strategically.)
If you borrow money at a certain interest rate (%) but can generate high profits far beyond the repayment — you’d be a complete moron not to continue.
Obviously you can use debt stupidly as well… and if you don’t use debt efficiently (i.e. because you’re spending based on stupid woke theories) — you can fuck things up quick-fast-and-in-a-hurry.
This is why many people analyze “debt-to-GDP ratio” to gauge the fiscal status of the U.S.
The aim is to determine whether the U.S. debt and interest on debt are growing too rapidly relative to GDP.
When debt increases too quickly relative to GDP, you might end up with the following:
Debt bomb: Unsustainable debt accumulation that erodes economic flexibility.
Debt spiral: Interest payments on debt require more borrowing which in turn raises debt even faster — pushing interest costs higher.
Debt crisis: Institutional loss of confidence in the government’s ability to manage or repay its debt (yields spike, credit freeze, default risk).
As of 2025, most would agree that the U.S. is firmly in “debt bomb” territory.
We have ~$1T/year in interest payments, ~125-130% debt-to-GDP ratio (some would argue its higher), we are increasing spending (while making modest cuts with DOGE), and have no clear plan to fix long-term fiscal trajectories.
A highly-reasonable target for U.S. debt-to-GDP is ~50%… Bill Clinton was the most recent modern prez to come close to this target at ~55% — he managed to run a spending surplus during his term.
For reference, ~50% debt-to-GDP is grounded in historical precedent, economic resilience theory, and interest rate risk management. You could argue for something different sure… but it’s basically a steady, safe target for the U.S.
The United States now holds a national debt of $36.22 trillion, translating to roughly 120% of GDP—a stark leap from earlier decades. Interest expenses alone soared to $1.12 trillion in Q4 2024, threatening to outpace major federal programs if left unchecked.
How the U.S. Accumulated $36+ Trillion in Debt (1990s to 2025): The Timeline
Included below is a timeline explaining how the U.S. ended up where we currently are ($36T in debt with massive interest payments on the debt).
The 1990s with Clinton were perhaps the most responsible we’ve been in the modern era in terms of reigning in egregious government spending.
1990s: The Last Era of Fiscal Restraint
1993–2001: The Clinton Years
1993: Clinton passes a deficit reduction plan that includes higher income taxes on top earners and spending limits.
1997: Bipartisan Balanced Budget Act locks in caps and contributes to surpluses.
Tech Boom: Strong GDP and capital gains boost tax receipts.
Defense Spending: Relatively restrained due to post–Cold War drawdown.
Budget Surpluses: 1998–2001. First time since 1969 the U.S. ran surpluses for multiple years. National debt shrank slightly in nominal terms.
2001–2007: Post-9/11 Spending Surge
The George W. Bush Era
2001–2003: Bush tax cuts reduce federal revenue by ~$1.5 trillion over 10 years.
2001–2007: Defense spending increases due to War on Terror (Afghanistan, Iraq).
2003: Medicare Part D adds a major unfunded entitlement.
Revenue Down, Spending Up: Surpluses disappear; deficits return.
No fiscal offset: Wars and entitlement expansion not matched by spending cuts or new revenue.
2008–2009: Financial Crisis & Bailouts
End of Bush → Start of Obama
2008: TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) authorizes $700B to stabilize banks.
2009: Obama enacts ARRA (stimulus) of ~$800B.
Tax Revenue Crashes: Recession reduces income and corporate tax receipts.
Debt Explodes: Massive deficits in response to crisis.
Deficit in 2009: ~$1.4 trillion — largest in history up to that point.
2010–2019: Recovery without Structural Reform
Obama (2010–2016) → Trump (2017–2019)
2011: Budget Control Act imposes "sequestration," slowing discretionary spending growth but sparing entitlements.
Medicare & Social Security: Costs rise due to aging population.
2017: Trump passes Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, reducing corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, with estimated $1.5T 10-year cost.
Deficits averaged ~$700B/year, even during peacetime with solid growth.
2020–2022: COVID-19 Fiscal Shock
Unprecedented Emergency Spending: CARES Act ($2.2T), Consolidated Appropriations Act, American Rescue Plan — total of ~$5 trillion in new spending.
Revenue Shortfall: Shutdowns crater tax income.
Zero Rates: Fed cuts interest rates to near-zero, lowering short-term borrowing costs despite high debt.
Deficit in 2020: ~$3.1 trillion. Largest peacetime increase in debt in U.S. history.
2023–2024: Post-Pandemic Fiscal Strain
Interest Rates Surge: Fed raises rates to ~5.25% to fight inflation.
Entitlement Pressure Intensifies: Baby Boomer retirement wave drives spending on Medicare and Social Security.
Infrastructure + CHIPS Act Spending: Additional long-term obligations.
Debt Ceiling Crises: Near-defaults avoided only through last-minute congressional deals.
Deficit in 2024: ~$1.8 trillion. Interest becomes one of the largest single federal expenditures.
Why the debt demands aggressive action now (2025)…
We need to address the debt now. Of course we could probably just say: “You know what? Fuck you we’re not gonna pay it back. What are you gonna do about it?”
But this would have massive negative international implications. On the other hand, we should not be so damn dumb that we think “deficit-based tariffs” will solve it.
1.) Interest Costs Are Exploding
Interest payments will exceed $1.2 trillion in 2025, now larger than defense or Medicare.
This is non-productive spending — it doesn’t buy services or invest in the future, it just services past debt.
2.) Debt Crowding Out the Budget
Interest + entitlements (Social Security, Medicare) already consume over 70% of the federal budget.
There’s less room for infrastructure, education, R&D, or responding to future crises.
3.) Higher Rates Make It Worse
The Fed’s higher rates mean each new deficit is more costly to finance.
Unlike the 2010s, we can’t borrow cheaply anymore.
4.) No More Growth Buffer
In the past, GDP growth helped reduce debt-to-GDP.
Now, debt is growing faster than the economy, and demographic aging slows long-term growth.
5.) Risk of Fiscal Crisis
If investors lose confidence in U.S. fiscal credibility, borrowing costs could spike suddenly.
A sovereign debt spiral becomes possible — previously unthinkable for the U.S.
Without structural reform to entitlements, tax policy, and spending discipline, the U.S. risks:
A budget dominated by interest payments,
A weakened ability to invest or respond to emergencies,
And a potential loss of global financial leadership.
The window to fix it before a crisis forces it is closing fast.
ASAP Protocol for U.S. Debt & Economic Growth (2025)
Here is my strategy for addressing the U.S. debt burden while accelerating rapidly… Basically an “operation warp speed” (Trump could call it that) for the U.S. economy. The goal? Get debt-to-GDP to 50% (then keep it there) while simultaneously growing the economy.
Objective: Reduce U.S. debt-to-GDP from ~120% to ~50% as efficiently as possible while expanding GDP rapidly. Projections assume minimal resistance (e.g. hold majority and they’re all on board).
Tier 1: Colossal Impact (~15–25% Each)
1.) Zero-Based Budgeting + Automatic Spending Caps
Impact: 15–20%
Timeframe: Begins immediately, annual compounding
Actions:
Every agency justifies all spending yearly from a $0 baseline
Federal spending growth capped below GDP growth
Mandatory mid-year across-the-board cuts if limits are exceeded
Optional Add-On: Buffett Rule tying re-election eligibility to debt/GDP targets, though unnecessary under full ZBB enforcement
2.) Aggressive AI, Robotics, Automation Rollout
Impact: 15–20%
Timeframe: Gains begin in 1–3 years, accelerate through 10
Actions:
Replace redundant government labor with AI for compliance, clerical, auditing
Tax incentives and direct grants for robotics/automation deployment in key industries
Public–private AI/robotics R&D under DARPA-style governance
No labor resistance = rapid implementation
3.) National Port & Logistics Automation
Impact: 6–10% debt-to-GDP reduction equivalent (via trade efficiency, lower logistics costs, higher GDP velocity)
Timeframe: 5–10 years
Actions:
Fully automate all major U.S. ports using AI-driven scheduling, robotic cranes, autonomous container handling, and intelligent customs clearance systems.
Replace slow, politically constrained port operations with continuous (24/7) automated throughput.
Tie federal port modernization funds explicitly to robotic deployment milestones, measurable productivity targets, and throughput-per-hour metrics.
Override union interference in critical infrastructure automation by classifying intentional disruption as economic sabotage, enforceable through federal statutes.
Integrate port operations seamlessly with AI-optimized inland transport networks (rail, trucking, air freight) to slash nationwide supply-chain latency and cost.
4.) "Manhattan Project" for Aging Reversal + Human Upgrades
Impact: 15–20%
Timeframe: Partial gains in 5–10 years, major impact in 10–15
Actions:
Massive government-funded R&D in tissue reprogramming, anti-aging, and gene editing
Gene therapies for mood, metabolism, and cognitive function enhancement
Fast-track clinical testing via terminal patients, violent prisoners, and volunteers (e.g. assisted death patients to fix their problems & avoid death)
Long-term reduction in Medicare, Medicaid, and elderly-related entitlement costs
5.) Full Deregulation Across All Sectors
Impact: 10–15%
Timeframe: Immediate rollout, full effect in 5–10 years
Actions:
Eliminate non-safety regulations across energy, healthcare, pharma, finance, tech
End ESG mandates and identity-based requirements in grants, contracts, and hiring
Fast-track FDA approvals for biotech and gene therapy
Unleash domestic nuclear, fossil, and renewable energy investment
6.) Government-Subsidized Acceleration of Strategic Technologies (AI, Energy, Robotics, Biotech) + R&D
Impact: 10–15%
Timeframe: ROI begins in 2–5 years, compounding through 15+
Actions:
Identify all high-ROI technologies and industries using AI modeling and cost-benefit forecasts
Direct subsidies and loan guarantees to energy, AI hardware/software, biotech, and advanced robotics startups
Tie all public funding to performance metrics and scalable impact
Require tech transfer or partial revenue-sharing when federal funding is used
Prioritize national strategic research initiatives in AI, biotech, robotics, semiconductors, and energy.
Establish long-term, DARPA-style research hubs modeled after Bell Labs and the Manhattan Project.
Anchor core tech research to economic and national security outcomes with protected multi-decade funding.
Shield these programs from political turnover through national-interest mandates.
Effect: Supercharges private-sector growth and public-sector cost savings
Tier 2: High Impact (~10–15%)
7.) Entitlement Reform (Medicare & Social Security)
Impact: 15–20%
Timeframe: Phased in starting immediately, major effect in 10–15 years
Actions:
Raise retirement age to reflect longer life spans
Means-test wealthy retirees for Medicare and Social Security
Expand private retirement saving programs
8.) Skilled Immigration Expansion
Impact: 10–15%
Timeframe: Immediate gains, long-term compounding
Actions:
Unlimited high IQ, AI/HPC, STEM, elite talent visas with merit-based entry (non-gamable testing)
Citizenship fast-track for high-IQ/high-ROI immigrants
Global recruitment campaign to discover and import elite talent and entrepreneurs
9.) Government Efficiency (Permanent DOGE)
Impact: 10–15%
Timeframe: 5–10 years
Actions:
ROI audits for all departments
Merge or shut down redundant agencies
Consolidate all core services under high-performing units
Eradicate all DEI/woke/equity offices and mandates across government to restore merit-based staffing
10.) National Ban on Communism, DEI, ESG, Equity Mandates
Impact: 10–15% (Cultural + Economic Alignment)
Timeframe: Immediate effect via statute; societal reversal within 5–10 years
Actions:
Pass federal legislation banning the promotion, implementation, teaching, or funding of:
Communism and Marxist-derived frameworks
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) mandates
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scoring systems
“Equity”-based policies that enforce unequal treatment based on group identity
Law applies nationwide — to all public and private institutions: government agencies, corporations, K–12 schools, universities, military contractors, NGOs, and federally subsidized entities.
Enforce compliance through:
DOJ and state attorney general oversight
Termination of federal funding, licensing, or tax benefits for violators
Civil and criminal penalties for discriminatory enforcement of race, gender, or political ideology
Replace all identity-based frameworks with strictly merit-based standards in hiring, admissions, procurement, funding, and education.
Establish a permanent Office for Ideological Neutrality and Constitutional Merit to audit institutions and prevent ideological capture.
11.) Ban or Contain Bad-Faith Labor Unions
Impact: 5-8% debt-to-GDP reduction equivalent (via reduced overhead, friction, higher efficiency)
Timeframe: 5-10 years
Actions:
Disband or restructure all public and private labor unions operating as ideological enforcement arms (e.g., promoting communism, anti-merit doctrine, or sabotage of automation and productivity).
Ban union obstruction of critical infrastructure automation (e.g., ports, transit, defense).
Replace politically entrenched public-sector unions with merit-based contract systems and AI-audited performance oversight.
Reclassify union-led shutdowns of federally funded operations (ports, transport, logistics, energy) as acts of economic sabotage, subject to federal legal action.
Protect high-skill, non-political labor organizations that deliver ROI-aligned results (e.g., technical guilds, medical, engineering).
12.) Streamlined, ROI-Based Education Reform
Impact: 10–15%
Timeframe: Begins immediately; full ROI visible in 5–10 years
Actions:
Replace current education structure with a streamlined, job-outcome-aligned model focused on mastery of skills needed in high-ROI sectors (STEM, trades, AI, robotics, biotech, advanced manufacturing, logistics, etc.).
Abolish generalized, ideology-laden courses at public institutions unless directly tied to cognitive performance or practical economic value.
Require all federally funded schools and universities to implement “pathway compression models”: minimal credit hours to transition from high school → trade certification or degree → full-time work in under 24 months.
Tie federal education funding to workforce placement rates, real skill acquisition, and cost-per-outcome efficiency.
Ban all public funding for majors, departments, or courses that do not pass a labor market ROI audit (e.g., grievance studies, DEI-based curricula, critical theory).
Incentivize private industry to directly partner with schools in designing technical curricula and on-site apprenticeship pipelines.
Create a National Applied Skills Academy that consolidates all practical adult reskilling under a single platform, with AI-optimized course sequencing based on demand, aptitude, and time-to-placement.
13.) Full-Spectrum Military Modernization
Impact: 10–15%
Timeframe: Begins immediately, compounding through 2040
Actions:
Replace outdated procurement with modular, AI-audited, performance-based acquisition pipelines.
Fund advanced R&D in autonomous weapons, drone swarms, space-based defense, hypersonics, quantum comms, and cyberwarfare.
Require quarterly readiness assessments using AI-driven combat simulations.
Establish strategic reserves of energy, rare earths, and critical materials to secure military logistics.
Tie military funding to measurable combat capability and tech innovation benchmarks.
14.) Strategic Biotech Upgrades (IQ, Health, Infrastructure)
Impact: 7–12%
Timeframe: ROI begins within 5 years
Actions:
Subsidize embryo selection for IQ and low-disease-risk offspring
Pareto efficient gene therapies for metabolic disorders, IQ upgrades, cognitive enhancement, and preventive care in adults (e.g. Gene Editing Targets for Weight Loss 2025)
Fund infrastructure projects with enforceable ROI and productivity benchmarks
Accelerate deployment of high-impact/ROI medications (e.g., GLP-1s for weight loss, anti-inflammatory therapies, curative one-time treatments) (Related: Best Weight Loss Drugs 2025)
Back AI-guided diagnostics, AI telemedicine, precision medicine, and personalized preventative care
Restrict public funding to treatments/services with proven or forecasted high ROI
Note: This initiative synergizes with other biotech, AI, and entitlement reforms.
Tier 3: Moderate Impact (~5–10%)
15.) Crypto + Dollar-Backed Stablecoin Promotion
Impact: 3–6% (indirect but powerful over time)
Timeframe: Begins immediately; strong network effects within 3–5 years
Actions:
Fast-track legal frameworks for USD-pegged stablecoins (stablecoins increase USD reserve currency strength)
Support private wallet infrastructure and government interoperability
Encourage international trade and remittances in stablecoins
Effect: Cuts financial overhead, reduces need for new dollar printing, expands global demand for U.S.-tied digital finance (strengthens USD).
16.) Criminal Justice Overhaul (Singapore-Style)
Impact: 5–10%
Timeframe: 3–7 years
Actions:
Fast-track judicial process, harsh sentencing for drug/gang crime
Deploy AI camera systems in high-crime areas
Use military assets domestically to dismantle major gang infrastructure (operation gang extinction)
Hone in on high crime areas
17.) Privatization of Federal Services
Impact: 5–8%
Timeframe: 5–10 years
Actions:
Sell or corporatize USPS, airports, roads, and other infrastructure
Use performance contracts with KPIs to ensure private-sector delivery standards
Tier 4: Niche Targeted Measures (~2–5% Each)
18.) Tax Reform
Impact: 5–8%
Timeframe: 3–7 years
Actions:
Simplify code, reduce tax rates wherever possible, close loopholes
Optional: Implement Destination-Based Cash Flow Tax (DBCF) for competitiveness
19.) Sovereign Wealth Fund
Impact: 5–10% over 20–30 years
Timeframe: Begins accruing returns after 5–10 years
Actions:
Seed with resource royalties and surpluses
Invest globally in equities, infrastructure, and high-yield assets
20.) Government-Backed S&P 500 Birth Accounts
Impact: 5–7% after 20–30 years
Actions:
Monetary deposit in S&P 500 index fund per newborn
Locked with age-based withdrawal windows — maximums per month; all funds revert to Treasury upon death
Gives everyone skin in the game (capitalism/economy) — prevents irresponsible spending (under gov control)
Accelerates U.S. economy and benefits citizens via bidirectional feedback loop
21.) Dynamic Debt Management
Impact: 4–6%
Timeframe: Immediate interest savings
Actions:
Refinance high-interest debt during low-rate windows
Lock in long-term favorable borrowing rates
22.) Micro-Level Cost-Cutters
Impact: 1–2% each, potentially 5% total
Actions:
Eliminate low-utility spending (e.g. pennies)
Establish anti-fraud task forces (eliminate scammers in India)
Reform government procurement
Enforce local-level zero-based budgeting mandates
Note: This isn’t even my full protocol… but is somewhat of a condensed, more readable version. I have far more suggestions/strategies. “Impact” is estimated (numbers may be inaccurate).
Realistic Implementation Timeline: ASAP Protocol
Why the ASAP protocol would help...
This protocol offers a comprehensive, self-reinforcing, and highly scalable pathway to restoring fiscal health while upgrading national capacity at every level.
ZBB + Caps freeze government bloat, guaranteeing spending never re-spirals.
AI/Automation adoption leverages exponential compute, drastically cutting costs and boosting GDP.
Aging Reversal & Gene Upgrades can slash long-run healthcare and entitlement burdens while enhancing workforce.
Aggressive Immigration & Deregulation each raise the economic growth rate significantly—compounding synergy.
Near- and Long-Term measures (infrastructure ROI, private sector expansions, “Manhattan” biotech breakthroughs) sustain growth for decades.
Under these no-resistance conditions, it’s feasible to bring debt-to-GDP from 120% to ~50% over ~10–15 years while expanding the economy at a rapid clip, thanks to the combined force of spending discipline, massive AI/biotech leaps, and unfettered pro-growth strategies.
Yes… there would be backlash to my protocol.
The default path is failing.
Current trajectory = unsustainable: Exploding entitlement costs, slow GDP growth, runaway debt, bloated bureaucracy.
No major reforms have worked in decades: Just patchwork fixes, partisan gridlock, and political cowardice.
Without bold, integrated, tech-powered reforms: The U.S. faces either economic stagnation, mass austerity, or eventual collapse.
This plan isn’t too radical. It’s reality-based. The status quo is the real extremism. Nobody will be “forced” to say engage in genetic upgrades… they will be optional — but at least there will be an option.
1. Eugenics Accusations
“Embryo selection and gene IQ upgrades = tech-enabled eugenics.”
Critics: Bioethicists, progressives, religious groups
Response: Voluntary, subsidized, reduces disease and levels opportunity. We are currently already “playing God” running a dysgenic experiment.
2. Anti-DEI/ESG Pushback
“Eliminating DEI is an attack on marginalized groups.”
Critics: HR activists, DEI professionals, NGOs
Response: Merit-based systems outperform quotas; focus is competence and ROI.
3. “Playing God” Fears
“Gene doping and anti-aging violate human nature.”
Critics: Traditionalists, ethicists, religious voices
Response: All enhancement is “unnatural” (glasses, insulin, etc.); this reduces suffering and increases productivity. You are already playing God and making dysgenic decisions.
4. Tech Displacement Anxiety
“Mass AI/robotics will destroy jobs.”
Critics: Populists, unions, labor economists
Response: Yes, but it cuts costs, raises GDP, and new industries may emerge. Job guarantees can be layered in if needed. If severe? Universal Basic Income (UBI). (Avoid premature UBI)
5. Authoritarian Comparisons
“This is a technocratic dystopia run by spreadsheets.”
Critics: Civil liberty groups
Response: It’s transparent, performance-based, and prevents collapse. Freedom without solvency is an illusion. BTW, what’s wrong with some smart/ethical authoritarianism?
Comparison: ASAP Protocol vs. Trump Protocol (2025) — Economy & Debt
The ASAP protocol isn’t trying to make America great again… it’s trying to make it greater than ever.
PHASE 1: 2025 (Initial Rollout & Shock)
A) ASAP Protocol
Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) Launch
Partial Implementation: The White House enforces ZBB on major agencies, but entrenched bureaucracy slows adoption.
DOGE Efficiency Gains: Early cuts to redundant programs save $30–$50 billion in Year One.
AI & Biotech Kickoff
DARPA-Style Subsidies: Federal grants and matching funds for AI, robotics, biotech research.
Municipal/Back-Office Automation: Pilot programs reduce overhead in compliance, data entry, and licensing.
Energy Deregulation & Fossil/Nuclear Acceleration
Fast-Track Nuclear Approvals: 5–10 new small modular reactor (SMR) projects greenlit.
Expanded Drilling: Deregulated permitting for oil/gas, aiming at +1M barrels/day within 18 months.
Cultural Reset & DEI/ESG Ban
Anti-Woke Executive Orders: Federal agencies cannot require DEI, ESG, or “equity-first” frameworks.
Institutional Pushback: Academia, activist groups threaten lawsuits, while many companies comply to avoid losing federal contracts.
Port Automation & Union Reforms
Executive Pressure: Major coastal ports must adopt partial automation by year’s end.
Union Resistance: Significant standoffs with dockworker unions, but White House stands firm.
Phase 1 Outcomes (ASAP)
GDP Growth: ~2.7% to 3.5%
Inflation: ~2.5%
Debt-to-GDP: From ~125% down to ~121% (ZBB + modest revenue from productivity gains)
Sentiment: Mixed optimism. Business/tech excited by AI-friendly climate, but cultural flashpoints (banning DEI) and union tensions create unrest.
B) Trump Plan (2025)
Tariff-Driven Strategy
10% Universal Tariff: Imposed April 5 on all imports to reduce deficits and boost onshoring.
High “Reciprocal” Tariffs (up to 50%+): Target ~60 countries with large bilateral deficits (e.g., 54% total on China).
Partial Education Overhaul, DEI Ban
DEI Removal: Mirrors the ASAP Protocol in eliminating DEI mandates at the federal level.
Efficiency in Schools: Some efforts to cut overhead, though no sweeping “education compression” like ASAP.
Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) Lite
Concept Launch: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tries to seed an SWF from some energy revenues.
Constraints: Tariff drama overshadows it; net inflows are modest as deficits remain high.
CHIPS Act & Tech Subsidy Rollbacks
“Wasteful Spending” Cuts: Claws back or delays $30–$40B of CHIPS Act funding, citing cost.
Tech Sector Turmoil: Many chip and AI startups fear abrupt funding shortfalls.
Border Security & Deportations
Wall Extension: More resources for border barriers.
Increased Deportations: Magnifies labor shortages in agriculture, construction, and some manufacturing.
Phase 1 Outcomes (Trump Plan)
GDP Growth: 1.2% to 2.2%
Inflation: 3.8% to 4.6% (tariffs push prices upward)
Debt-to-GDP: ~125% → 129% (tariff revenues help some, but big tax cuts + spending expansions offset gains)
Sentiment: Populist bases cheer “America First,” but corporate/investor anxiety rises; markets see volatility.
PHASE 2: 2026–2027 (Implementation Gains or Friction)
A) ASAP Protocol
Rapid AI & Biotech Scaling
Public-Sector Automation: Over half of clerical gov roles start automation transitions.
Biotech Fast-Track: FDA greenlights select “aging therapy” trials, aiming to curb Medicare outlays.
Sovereign Wealth Fund from IP & Energy
Energy Royalties & Patents: A chunk of new nuclear/fossil revenue + biotech/AI licensing fees fund an SWF.
Defense, Tech Reinvestment: SWF invests in advanced R&D, improving national leverage.
Entitlement Reforms
Gradual Age Increase & Means-Testing: Politically fraught but passed via razor-thin majority.
Future Savings: Reduces mandatory spending growth, lowers long-run debt ratio.
Skilled Immigration Surge
STEM & Elite Talent: Streamlined visas for high-IQ or specialized fields, fueling startups.
Education Overhaul: “Compression” path shortens degrees, focuses on job outcomes in AI/biotech.
Phase 2 Outcomes (ASAP)
GDP Growth: 3.5% to 4.5%
Inflation: ~2.2%
Debt-to-GDP: 121% → ~105% (ZBB + new revenue from SWF + AI productivity)
Sentiment: Rising business optimism, though strong friction over cultural changes (banning Marxism/ESG, etc.).
B) Trump Plan
Tariff Retaliation & Trade Disruptions
China, EU, Others Retaliate: Additional barriers hamper U.S. exports (e.g., agricultural goods).
Global Supply Chains Realign: Some reshoring is attempted but stumbles on labor scarcity and cost.
Sovereign Wealth Fund (Limited Growth)
Small Start: Bessent channels some fossil royalties into a SWF, but it’s overshadowed by continuing deficits.
Debt Service Crunch: Higher interest rates crowd out SWF contributions.
Education Tweaks, Not Systemic Reform
DEI Ban in Schools: Implemented, but deeper “education compression” or large-scale re-skilling is absent.
Minimal Gains: Some local school boards cut overhead, but no major impact on workforce readiness.
Labor Bottlenecks
No Extra Immigration: Deportations + no new major visa expansions hamper factory expansions.
Automation Under-Funded: CHIPS/tech rollback reduces impetus for advanced robotics deployment.
Phase 2 Outcomes (Trump Plan)
GDP Growth: 1.5% to 1.8%
Inflation: 3.5% to 4.2%
Debt-to-GDP: 129% → ~140% (tariff revenue is offset by rising interest costs, big tax cuts, and modest spending discipline)
Sentiment: Frustration from business, farmers, and tech. Populist right remains loyal to the “deficit fight,” but overall investor confidence wavers.
PHASE 3: 2028–2029 (Long-Term Effects & Repercussions)
A) ASAP Protocol
AI-Biotech Payoff
Entitlement Savings: Age-reversing or preventative biotech reduces Medicare growth.
AI-Powered Government: Admin overhead plunges; compliance is largely automated.
Sovereign Wealth Fund Dividends
5–7% Annual Returns: Reinjected into strategic R&D, fueling next-gen biotech, quantum, or aerospace.
Debt Ratio Drops Fast: Combined with discipline, debt-to-GDP can approach near 60–70% or even below.
High-End Manufacturing (Robot-Driven)
U.S. Supremacy in AI/Robotics: Domestic “smart factories” outcompete low-wage nations on cost & quality.
Global Leadership: The U.S. leads in biotech, AI, and advanced defense systems, overshadowing China’s industrial dominance.
Phase 3 Outcomes (ASAP)
GDP Growth: ~4.2% to 5.0%
Inflation: ~1.5% (tech-driven deflation in many sectors)
Debt-to-GDP: ~105% → ~60%
Sentiment: High national confidence; potential social rifts between “enhanced” elites vs. traditional workforce.
B) Trump Plan
Stubborn Inflation & Debt
Tariff-Inflation Feedback: High tariffs keep certain consumer goods expensive; no advanced automation to offset costs.
No Entitlement Overhaul: Aging demographics bloat Social Security & Medicare.
Manual Labor vs. China’s Robot Factories
Reshoring Remains Stagnant: Wages + limited immigration hamper large-scale revival.
China’s Automation Edge: By 2028–2029, China’s robotics output undercuts any “human-based” U.S. manufacturing.
Mounting Debt Pressure
No Structural Spending Fix: Interest costs exceed defense outlays by the 2030s.
Sovereign Wealth Fund: remains small; can’t offset ballooning interest or deficits.
Phase 3 Outcomes (Trump Plan)
GDP Growth: ~1.2% to 1.5%
Inflation: 3.0% to 4.0%
Debt-to-GDP: ~140% → ~150%+
Sentiment: Economic stagnation; markets fear a debt crisis; strong populist rhetoric but eroding confidence among businesses.
Assessment (2025–2040 Realistic Outlook)
While the Trump Protocol delivers short-term populist optics, it fails to reform or future-proof the U.S. economy.
It lacks solutions to productivity, aging, tech competition, or systemic fiscal risk.
The result is stagnation, global strategic decline, and increasing debt fragility by the 2030s.
The ASAP Protocol, despite its complexity and ambition, is the only strategy that:
Reduces debt structurally
Scales GDP, productivity, and innovation
Suppresses inflation through efficiency
Restores U.S. strategic leadership
Positions the U.S. to outperform China and dominate in AI, biotech, and military capabilities
Even under partial resistance, ASAP outcompetes Trump’s model by a wide margin.
With full implementation, it achieves what no modern plan has done: permanently restructure the U.S. economy for dominance, solvency, and resilience.
Trump’s Plan
Simplifies many populist demands (tariffs to correct deficits, border crackdown, no DEI in schools).
Positives: Political clarity, immediate sense of “doing something” about deficits. Limited sovereign wealth seed. Some modest education reforms.
Weaknesses: Fails to enact core cost reforms (Medicare/SS), invests little in advanced robotics/AI, retains labor shortages, and sees persistent inflation from broad tariffs. Debt keeps climbing.
ASAP Protocol
Hyper-ambitious, “Manhattan Project” scale approach: Zero-Based Budgeting, AI/biotech, high-skill immigration, sovereign wealth fund, and deep entitlement fixes.
Positives: Forces down debt ratio, boosts productivity via automation, invests heavily in future industries, fosters fast growth.
Risks: Politically tough; heavy cultural blowback from banning DEI/ESG, genetic enhancement, and intense disruption of old bureaucracies.
Long-Run Verdict
ASAP fundamentally restructures the U.S. economy for 21st-century tech leadership, balancing bold fiscal discipline and high innovation.
Trump’s Tariff-Focused Plan addresses immediate populist concerns but largely overlooks how advanced automation and biotech are reshaping global competitiveness, leaving the U.S. prone to debt spirals and lost technology races by the 2030s.
Therefore, while the Trump Plan modestly mirrors ASAP in banning DEI, forming a small Sovereign Wealth Fund, and tweaking education, the difference in debt containment, advanced AI/robotics, biotech investment, and deep structural reforms is enormous.
ASAP is the only plan that:
Systemically lowers debt (down to ~60% of GDP).
Supercharges productivity through AI/biotech synergy.
Prepares the U.S. to outcompete China’s robotics scale-up and preserve American leadership.
Delivers significantly lower inflation while boosting real growth.
Trump’s simpler approach fails to solve core structural issues, hamstrings future competitiveness, and likely exacerbates debt fragility—even if it temporarily pleases industrial-populist regions.
Risks & Effects (Rollouts): ASAP vs. Trump Protocol (2025)
The ASAP Protocol is a hyper-ambitious, systems-level transformation of the U.S. economy, centered on aggressive fiscal control, AI/biotech deployment, elite immigration, and regulatory liberation. Above is mostly an efficient, watered-down version of it — not all details are included.
A) Key Risks
Execution Complexity
Description: The ASAP Protocol weaves together Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB), large-scale AI adoption, biotech R&D, entitlement overhauls, “education compression,” military modernization, and a Sovereign Wealth Fund. Coordinating these massive shifts across federal, state, and private institutions is challenging.
Effect: Potential delays and partial rollouts reduce early fiscal impact and GDP acceleration. Reform fatigue or fragmentation could occur if different agencies or political factions block full integration.
Cultural & Ethical Backlash
Description: ASAP mandates banning DEI/ESG/“equity” frameworks nationwide; also endorses embryo selection and IQ-enhancing biotech for the willing.
Effect: Intense pushback from academia, media, and activist sectors, leading to lawsuits, negative press, or sabotage. Potential for significant cultural polarization that might slow or dilute reforms.
Frontier Tech Underperformance
Description: The Protocol banks on biotech breakthroughs (e.g., aging reversal, advanced metabolic/cognitive therapies) to trim entitlement costs. Also assumes AI automation quickly scales in public services.
Effect: If the science underperforms clinically or takes longer to mature, Medicare/Medicaid savings—and public enthusiasm—could be disappointed. Political opponents could exploit these shortfalls to discredit the plan.
AI Labor Disruption
Description: Rapid AI adoption in government and private admin tasks displaces workers at scale, especially in bureaucracy and white-collar roles.
Effect: Political backlash over job losses or forced retraining. Risk of union unrest or populist push to slow AI. If poorly managed, it can hamper the Protocol’s momentum.
Global Talent Arms Race
Description: ASAP’s push for high-skill immigration might trigger “brain drain” from other nations (China, India, EU). They may respond with special policies to retain/attract top talent.
Effect: Diplomatic strains. If not coordinated, the U.S. could face reciprocal restrictions or friction with key partners. In a worst case, talent inflow is less than projected, limiting some of ASAP’s gains.
B) Likely Effects if Fully Implemented
Economic
GDP Growth: 4–5% (or more) annually through the 2030s, propelled by AI-driven productivity, biotech industry booms, and streamlined government overhead.
Debt-to-GDP: Falls from ~125% to ~50–60% by mid/late 2030s, thanks to ZBB cuts, entitlement savings from biotech, a robust Sovereign Wealth Fund, and consistent GDP expansion.
Interest Burden: Peaks around 2028, then shrinks to <10% of the federal budget as principal is paid down, debt ratio declines, and investor confidence rises.
Productivity: Surges via automation in public services, reworked education (job-outcome-driven), deregulated energy, and advanced infrastructure. U.S. moves to frontier efficiency levels.
Social
Healthspan Increases: With biotech therapies, seniors remain economically active longer, easing Social Security & Medicare pressure.
Shrunken Bureaucracy: Federal workforce declines significantly (replaced by AI in back-office roles); public services become faster.
Class Divides: Emergence of “enhanced” elites with embryo selection or biotech-based IQ/health gains, risking new socio-political tensions unless carefully managed.
Education Overhaul: From K–12 to universities, ideological or “bloat” programs are cut; replaced by skill-oriented pathways. Some cultural backlash arises from dismantling old structures.
Global
Tech & Defense Dominance: The U.S. invests heavily in AI, biotech, nuclear, and advanced defense R&D, outpacing China in critical industries.
Enhanced Trade Credibility: A strong Sovereign Wealth Fund, plus a stable currency and balanced budgets, restore global confidence.
Dollar Stays King: With the U.S. surging in next-gen manufacturing and IP, the greenback retains global reserve currency status.
Exporting Innovation: Instead of exporting inflation or low-value goods, the U.S. exports cutting-edge biotech, robotics, and advanced weaponry.
Trump Protocol (2025)
(Also referred to as the “Trump–Bessent–Lutnick Plan.” It merges universal & reciprocal tariffs, partial DEI bans, limited SWF measures, some education tweaks, and fossil/nuclear expansions. It does not include major entitlements reform or broad AI/biotech subsidies.)
A) Key Risks
Global Trade Retaliation
Description: Tariffs range from a 10% universal baseline to over 50% for “high-deficit” countries. Although it partially spares allies who accept new deals, many large partners (China, EU) respond with counter-tariffs.
Effect: Shrinking global export markets, potential WTO disputes, and risk of fracturing alliances. The U.S. may see certain supply chains re-routed or realigned in ways that hamper its competitiveness.
Labor Shortage Bottleneck
Description: The plan still heavily restricts immigration while pushing to reshore manufacturing. It invests less in advanced robotics than ASAP.
Effect: Domestic factories can’t expand quickly if they lack enough workers. High labor costs plus limited skilled immigration hamper sustained reshoring. Inflation could remain sticky.
Fed–Executive Conflict
Description: Trump wants rate cuts to offset tariff-driven inflation and stimulate growth. The Fed, under Powell or a successor, may prioritize price stability.
Effect: Market uncertainty from possible standoffs. Rates might stay elevated or fluctuate, raising borrowing costs for the government and private sector, intensifying interest burdens.
Interest Cost Explosion (No Major Entitlement Reform)
Description: Trump’s plan doesn’t comprehensively fix Medicare or Social Security. Debt grows quickly because of ongoing deficits—tariffs help some, but large tax cuts and new defense spending overshadow them.
Effect: By the 2030s, interest payments risk becoming the single biggest budget item. If rates don’t fall, a potential debt spiral looms.
Lagging Technological Leadership
Description: While there is partial expansion in nuclear/fossil energy and a limited SWF approach, there’s no dedicated large-scale AI, robotics, or biotech subsidy akin to ASAP’s. The CHIPS Act sees major clawbacks.
Effect: The U.S. could lose out to China or the EU in advanced automation. Reshoring remains labor-intensive and can’t match the cost-effectiveness of heavily automated foreign plants.
B) Likely Effects if Fully Implemented
Economic
GDP Growth: ~2.0–2.5% in the earlier years (2025–2030), drifting to ~1.5–2.0% afterward, especially if trade retaliation and limited labor hamper expansions.
Debt-to-GDP: Rises from ~125% to about 145–160% by the mid-2030s. Some tariff revenue does offset some deficits, but not enough, given no structural cost reforms.
Interest Burden: Likely climbs above 20–25% of the federal budget by 2040 if interest rates stay moderate or high, surpassing many discretionary programs.
Productivity: Remains modest. No fundamental education or workforce overhaul; partial re-shoring efforts yield minimal productivity gains. The heavy reliance on human labor (with tight immigration) stifles advanced automation.
Social
Real Wages: Risk stagnation or lag behind inflation in many sectors, as tariff-driven cost increases offset nominal wage gains.
Reshoring Gaps: Factories come back in fits and starts, but labor constraints prevent large-scale rebirth of manufacturing.
Healthcare & SS: No major reforms, so aging boomer costs keep mounting. Possibly leads to more budget crises or patchy short-term fixes.
DEI Partially Rolled Back: Federal agencies ban DEI/ESG mandates, but corporate DEI mostly remains in place unless voluntarily dropped. Cultural tension continues over “woke capitalism.”
Global
Isolated & Retaliated: Broad tariffs on dozens of nations lead to many bilateral spats, souring alliances. The U.S. loses global coalition-building strength on trade/diplomacy.
China’s Tech Surge: China invests more in robotics, AI, biotech, overshadowing the slower pace of U.S. innovation. The U.S. becomes reactive rather than leading.
Reserve Currency Erosion: As debt soars, interest costs balloon, and alliances weaken, some global players pivot away from the dollar. While not an immediate meltdown, the trend is negative for long-term dollar hegemony.
AI Judgment: ASAP vs. Trump Prescription for the U.S. Economy & Debt (2025)
The ASAP Protocol is an aggressive, system-wide modernization strategy. It is complex, layered, and difficult to execute — but it's designed for strategic resilience and long-term dominance.
It combines Zero-Based Budgeting, AI automation, biotech, education compression, skilled immigration, fossil fuel and nuclear expansion, and a sovereign wealth framework.
It also includes a full ideological reset: banning DEI, ESG, communism, and equity mandates from all institutions — public and private.
The protocol directly addresses every core vulnerability:
Uncontrolled entitlement growth
Declining productivity
Labor shortages
Ideological dysfunction
Outdated education pipelines
Weak strategic R&D
Military obsolescence
While some components may face cultural resistance or execution lag, the plan has fallback layers — each element (AI, biotech, energy, sovereign finance, cognitive upgrades) compounds over time. It doesn’t rely on one lever. It’s built to scale across all.
The Trump–Bessent–Lutnick Plan focuses on trade rebalancing through tariffs, reshoring industrial jobs, fossil fuel expansion, and slashing DEI and ESG from federal agencies.
It’s politically clean, operationally simple, and immediately popular in populist-industrial regions.
But even fully executed, Trump’s strategy leaves major vulnerabilities:
No reform of Medicare, Social Security, or long-term debt trajectory
No strategic investment in AI, robotics, biotech, or chip infrastructure
Focused heavily on “trade deficit correction” via tariffs
Labor-focused reshoring assumes global industrial cost parity — which no longer exists
China is scaling autonomous robotics, humanoids, and state-backed AI integration into manufacturing. By 2027–2032, their automated export sectors will undercut labor-based U.S. reshoring — even with tariffs.
Without rapid-fire, large-scale U.S. automation — the Trump plan becomes economically noncompetitive by the early 2030s.
The ASAP Protocol, in contrast, is designed to meet this threat:
Robotics-first manufacturing, AI governance, and energy grid modernization
Expanded fossil, nuclear, and renewable energy — no ideological bias, only ROI
Cognitive and biological upgrades to increase national productivity per capita
Ideological reform that extends to all institutions, not just federal departments
Sovereign fund accumulation that builds fiscal autonomy over time
AI Judgment:
*Gavel slam*
The ASAP Protocol is more complex to deploy, yet it is the only plan that fully addresses both internal fragilities and external strategic threats.
It reduces debt, scales GDP, flattens interest burdens, ends ideological decay, and repositions the U.S. as a hyper-productive civilization in an AI/biotech-dominated world.
The Trump plan is simpler, more familiar, and partially corrective — but strategically incomplete.
It doesn’t counter the trajectory of China’s robotics scale-up, nor does it solve U.S. entitlement and innovation stagnation.
Verdict: The ASAP Protocol is the only strategy that fully prepares the U.S. for mid-21st-century leadership in AI, biotech, and fiscal sustainability, whereas the Trump Plan has partial improvements but ultimately fails to fix the debt, automation, and workforce challenges that define modern competitiveness.
Estimated Quantified Comparison: ASAP > Trump Protocol (2025)
To quantify how much better the ASAP Protocol is compared to the Trump–Bessent–Lutnick Plan, we’ll use realistic projections across key metrics over a 15-year horizon (2025–2040), assuming both are fully implemented and that execution is best-case for each within political and technological constraints.
We define "better" in terms of:
Debt-to-GDP reduction
GDP growth
Interest burden containment
Productivity gains
Crisis risk mitigation
Strategic competitiveness vs China
Key Metrics: Head-to-Head
Normalized Performance Index (Scale: 1-10)
Based on structural integrity, resilience, global leverage, and alignment with 21st-century tech realities.
Average Score: 9.2 (ASAP) vs. 4.3 (Trump Plan) → The ASAP Protocol is likely ~2.1× more effective overall.
Summary of Relative Advantage
Why ASAP Outperforms: A Simple Explanation
ASAP Integrates All Levers: From Zero-Based Budgeting to AI/biotech subsidies, entitlement reforms, a Sovereign Wealth Fund, and high-skill immigration, ASAP addresses every major structural weakness.
Result: Debt falls, productivity rises, and the U.S. can out-innovate global challengers.
Trump Plan Too Narrow: The Trump–Bessent–Lutnick approach focuses heavily on tariffs and partial re-shoring without robust automation or entitlement solutions.
Result: Debt continues climbing, interest burdens spike, growth is modest, and China retains the robotics advantage.
Higher Productivity & Lower Debt: ASAP’s synergy (AI + biotech + R&D + spending caps) is what yields 3–4× the productivity gains and 2× the real GDP level by 2040.
Contrast: Trump’s plan sees minimal TFP growth, leaving the U.S. less globally competitive.
Geopolitical & Strategic Edge: ASAP invests in advanced defense tech and cements alliances via strong exports and stable finances. Trump plan’s broad tariffs isolate the U.S., prompt retaliation, and hamper the country’s leadership.
Conclusion: 2–3× Overall Superiority
By every critical metric—from debt trajectory and GDP gains to innovation leadership and recession risk—the ASAP Protocol vastly outperforms the Trump Plan over 15 years.
While more complex, ASAP is the only framework that simultaneously:
Reduces debt sustainably
Scales GDP and productivity via AI/biotech
Maintains or extends global strategic dominance
The Trump Plan is simpler and initially appealing to populist-industrial voters, but it fails to address core vulnerabilities (entitlement overhauls, advanced tech, labor supply) and thus cannot avert long-term debt/inflation pitfalls.
The result is a ~2.1× overall effectiveness gap, making the ASAP Protocol the clear choice for a stable, innovative, and globally competitive United States by 2040.