Not long before the presidential election in 2020, a Republican friend warned me not to vote for Joe Biden. They said, “If he is elected you will lose everything you have in your 401(k).” The friend may have been well-meaning yet had obviously not thought very hard before repeating the words of American history’s most flagrant liar, Donald J. Trump.

Had they considered his other predictions, including: “The stock market will crash,” “all guns will be confiscated,” “police departments will be disbanded,” and “the suburbs gone”?

What conclusion can any reasonable person draw, other than that the former president doesn’t have any idea whatsoever about what is likely to happen? From the way Trump talks, it appears he has little inkling about what is going on in the present. For example, he often reports that the price of bacon is “five times as much” as it was during his administration. If that were true we would be paying close to $30 a pound.

As in the movie “The Sixth Sense,” he sees dead people everywhere; and they are voting. In his mind (and only in his mind) undocumented immigrants, who otherwise live in fear of contact with authorities, are risking it all to vote. As with many events reported by Trump, the details about who, where, when and how remain unsubstantiated.

In a recent public forum, Trump described the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol as “a day of love.” Wouldn’t this lead reasonable people to wonder what other festivals he has planned?

Today, despite the system being broken, immigration adds trillions of dollars to the U.S. economy. The former president’s stated plan is to round up “millions of illegals” in the largest deportation in American history.

For this plan not to tank the economy, average citizens will need to have a change of heart about taking over the back-breaking benefit-free work for low wages immigrants quietly and thanklessly handle. Think about that when picking up a gallon of milk or driving by a construction site. Perhaps Fox News could do a few segments on how undocumented individuals are less likely to commit crimes than American citizens.

Trump promises to lower inflation. At its present 2.4%, inflation is quite close to its optimal rate of 2%. It is, however, the view of most economists that Trump’s plan for widespread tariffs will reignite high inflation. Tariffs on imported goods will lead to higher prices for consumers. Trump, the man selling $60 Bibles (manufactured in China for $3), $400 sneakers (made overseas for about $20) and expensive watches (up to $100,000 ) is promising to lower the cost of living for all of us.

This week he added a silver medallion (price $100) with his likeness printed on it. Hail Caesar.

Edward M. Dowd lives in Greenfield.