Trump Fixation

Let’s get right to it. Far too many people are riveted to every move of President Donald J. Trump (DJT), as if every facet of life everywhere is controlled by this one individual. Many on the “right” are tasking him with “fixing” everything, with creating a world in strict accordance with their conservative, some would say “Christian Conservative”, vision. Meanwhile, on the American “left”, there is near hysteria that his every action is the end of the world. This fixation on President Trump as Savior or Satan is dangerous. Why?

1) Many of the truly important issues in the world were “coming to a boil” now, no matter who was in the White House. American administrations have been avoiding confrontation on numerous fronts for decades. Failed diplomacy is on display throughout the globe. It was/is time to address US relationships with enemies and allies alike. Note: When in comes to international relations there are no “friends”. All of these countries spy on each other. Friends?? There are only countries with which we share common objectives. When objectives change, alliances change. It’s not emotional. It’s pragmatic. It’s survival. Post WWII deals no longer work and they need to be addressed.

2) Most Americans pay no attention to issues like demographics, trade, natural resources, energy, industry, global commerce, etc., unless it affects their wallets. Our failure to understand what is happening geopolitically will prove costly. These issues pre-existed the administrations of DJT and they will exist when he is gone. Trade deals, control of resources, managing the more navigable Artic Ocean and other issues must be addressed.

3) It has been obvious for DECADES that our aging population, combined with a declining birth rate, was going to create an economic crisis as pension system funding failed to provide the necessary resources for senior citizens. Welcome to the party! It’s show time. This issue is arriving at the doorsteps of many industrialized nations. Buckle up! Did DJT create this issue? Nope. HAs any congress or administration addresses it in the past 40 years? Nope? Yet, it has arrived. What will we do now.

4) We are 45 years into an economic coup in the United States. Corporate America has purchased your government. Since 1980, while the Federal (taxpayer) debt has soared from $983 Billion to $38 Trillion, the market capitalization of publicly traded American corporations has skyrocketed from $1.36 Trillion to $69 Trillion. How, you may ask, has it been possible for such incredible wealth to be created without the government finding the means to tax it, in order to avoid such massive debt? I have two thoughts, incompetence or corruption, or perhaps both. Regardless, the corporations own America and its government.

5) Russian aggression, the Israel / Hamas wars, drug trafficking and illegal immigration are old, old issues. Again, DJT did not create them and his term will not see full resolution to any of them. Put the presidential persona to the side for a moment, what should WE do about these issues. We need to think about these things.

6) Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are poorly monitored, allegedly non-profit, entities that receive BILLIONS of $$$ of government grant to, theoretically, take care of some of our social issues. Many BILLIONS of $$$ have been unaccounted for and, it appears that numerous public figures have profited from these funds. Yet none have yet been punished. Likewise, many members of congress have done exceedingly well with their corporate investments. They are permitted to invest in companies, even though they create legislation than can benefit or adversely affect the value of these entities. Conflict of interest? You decide. These practices have been permitted by congress and previous administrations. Are you focusing on these people or are you still riveted to DJT?

I could go on but, the point is that DJT did not create these problems. He can’t fix them. We’d all better start paying attention to the people who run the corporations, the people who show up in Davos every year and the puppets they put into public office, including the US Senate and House of Representatives. Fixating on DJT allows all of the “real” actors to keep doing their deeds without public scrutiny. If this does not change, your enslavement is assured.

DJT has provided a perfect finger-pointing target for everyone. He is a place to lay all our troubles. This does not solve problems. It does not hold the real villains accountable. Does DJT have some serious character issues, perhaps even clinical behavior and cognitive issues? In my opinion, yes. He is far from the model president I envision. With that said, the previous President was cognitively unfit for office and his own party leaders knew it, as did the opposing party leaders AND and geriatric clinician who viewed him in action for even 30 seconds.

We the people, have allowed this nonsense to fester for decades. We got these past two presidents because of our own inaction.

We need to work different, shop different and vote different if we want to improve our society. We need to hold corporations accountable. We need a new code of conduct and taxation for those who now control the lions share of American wealth. They enjoy the protection of the American government while shipping their jobs to other countries and parking their most valuable intellectual properties in shell companies in countries with lower corporate tax rates. Their values go up while our deficit spirals out of control.

Our continued insistence on engaging in “cults of personality” will contribute greatly to our ultimate undoing.