Charles Krauthammer’s commentary (”Republicans must deliver,” Nov. 11) couldn’t have a more accurate headline. Unfortunately, his glee for the “now-dominant Republican Party” is absurd. Perhaps he should take another look at the popular vote numbers. This election was won because of our unnecessary and undemocratic Electoral College process, and because of protest votes in three states — Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan — over the loss of manufacturing and coal-mining jobs. The facts, of course, were never spoken by anyone during this election because no candidate wants to admit they can’t reverse the loss.

Of the jobs lost in the last 10 years, 13 percent were lost to overseas labor, while 87 percent were lost to American mechanization. Businesses don’t have to pay robots, or provide them medical, retirement, overtime or holiday benefits. They work faster and longer, and are therefore more productive. All of these factors outweigh their initial investments. Do you think any capitalist businessman is going to forego mechanization to save human jobs?

Similarly, the reduction in coal mining is not the result of that Republican devil word, “regulation.” It is due to the overabundance of cheaper, and cleaner, natural gas supplies worldwide, which also has driven the price of oil down, making fracking shale deposits and processing tar sands uneconomical at below $50 a barrel. Coal mining is headed for the same fate as the horse-and-buggy business once was.

Unfortunately, the low rates of workers who apply for state and federal job retraining programs for 21st-century jobs indicates that many are still in the denial stage.

Trump can do nothing about these issues — no one can. Ironically, the people of these three states who voted for Trump, thinking he can, will be the first of many who will soon suffer from buyer’s remorse.

Paul W. Dutram

Waterville