To the editor:

The letter by Jeff Southard (Journal-World, March 21) recites a list of his fears about Donald Trump expressed as facts. He may be correct in some of them. Time will tell. There is an even longer list of positive developments such as his vigor, appointments, executive orders, major policy changes and extensive cooperation with Congress. A fair assessment of his first eight weeks as our 45th president awaits future events.

All new U.S. presidents face the challenge of climbing up a steep learning curve. I think that, having elected him, we need to give him a chance to succeed in ways that benefit our country. Policy changes always entail risk. Future events will test him and us in unexpected ways.

We should place our confidence in our God, the spirit of the American people, the 18 enumerated checks and balances in the U.S. Constitution, and hope and pray that we succeed as a nation during his tenure. I think that concentrating on our strengths rather than counseling our fears is the better option.

Our system of government will hold an election in 2020. This is a major check on our president. If he succeeds, we succeed, and he gets re-elected. If he fails, we fail, and he is rejected for a second term.

In the meantime, “hissy fits” of pique and outrage do not constitute a reasoned argument about policy. For the sake of our country, President Trump deserves his chance to serve us.