Talion Law

 

Albert Camus in The Myth of Sisyphus  incorporated fate , moral heroism in the  world of absurdity in his take on Sisyphus  However, from a psychological point of view, the story is very familiar. This familiar theme was based on the Talion Principle, which is found in the Old Testament "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. " Ghandi remarked  it was something to the effect  of the world going blind. The dynamics are as follows : the powerful was disobeyed or wronged by a morally disloyal mortal and that was followed  by a retribution, a punishment consequence for the victim. Retribution occurs after the fact and in no way can undo the “crime.’ TakeTrump, he rationalises his vengeance as transactional.

Briefly, a few points regarding the convoluted  irrationality of the Sisyphus myth : 1. Greek  Gods like  Ares, Jupiter and Mercury were involved , directed and controlled man's behavior.  2.  Sisyphus was accused of stealing the secrets of the  God's 3. Because of his benediction regarding water, he was sentenced to death.  4.  His wife failed his test to have his unburied body placed in the middle of the public square.  5.  Mercury saved  him  from death 6.  His punishment was being chained to the rock in the underworld. 

In the myth, these gods are ruthless,  contradictory , controlling and cruel. Their word was law ,one must  be loyal and obey in order to please the gods .This condition is similar to authoritarian rule.  Sisyphus with his  "minor" offenses displeased a God and was  first sentenced to death and then “rescued” only to be  severely and cruelly punished,and condemned to futile and hopeless labor.  He had to roll a rock to the top of the mountain but then  the heavy  rock would fall back because of its  weight.  This repetitive behavior was his punishment without any  trial. God said he was guilty and so be it .

Repetitive and futile labor with no end in sight reminded me of employees of the past ,working on an assembly line. Psychologically, repetitive behavior results in experiencing satiation.  Satiation can be defined as a task beginning with a positive valence.  However, with repetition ,that same task psychologically changes from a positive to a negative valence. 

 In graduate school, Dr.Jacob. Kounin demonstrated the effects of satiation.  In the class,we were instructed to draw a cat with a round head,two pointed ears,  a round body and a tail.  We were instructed to keep drawing that cat.  After a while, both the body and head became misshapen.  The size changed, the rotation changed and integration exacerbated a distortion of the shape; Perseveration also occurred in the drawing as the head was first drawn repetitively  across the page.  In other words, to combat the boredom of that same task, I  made various changes resulting from the satiation as the same  task became quite negative. Workers on the assembly line were found to come in late to work,had frequent absences and engaged in drug and other escape measures despite being paid well.

Satiation occurred earlier, in the year, when I chose to create a defensible fire space around my 11+ acres. The task of creating a defensible space was to reduce the fuel zone for fire safety.  In fact, I bought a new battery operated weedeater and cut the weeds daily, but after a while the task became tiring and I did not enjoy the experience.  Although the gods were not punishing me,  I continued to complete the project without any joy or heroism .

Currently from a political point of view, the New York Times, NPR and cable news are reporting  about the power of an authoritarian government.  There is an absence of fairness, disrespecting the Constitution, authoritarian overreach and the rejection of laws.  Federal courts have ruled many of these actions unlawful only to be overturned by the Supreme Court. The GOP acts like Sisyphus. They perform repetitive tasks submitted to them by their leader.  They faithfully obey,follow and submit to his wishes. Will they continue and  follow the same fate as Sisyphus with no hope or opportunity for  future freedom ?

Also ,note that Sisyphus was sentenced to be alone without  being able to meet  the ego needs of sex ,autonomy, dominance ,achievement,  nurturance, and play   However, the ego need of abasement, the submission to external force ;accepting injury,blame,punishment ; to surrender; resigned to fate;to seek pain punishment and misfortune was met.In other words, the absence of   love, happiness, self acceptance, meaning, fate with  a negative future does not define an authentic being.  Psychologically, Sisyphus was not displaying ego strength ,authenticity  but mental illness and inauthenticity.

Albert Camus's last two sentences of his essay reads: "The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart.  One must imagine Sisyphus happy."  If Sisyphus was happy,  it's certainly self-deception , denial of his reality and one example of the irrationality pertaining to human frailty.  Humans are adaptable and  make themselves believe crazy stories over and over. 

 My take is that Sisyphus was an obedient and submissive  victim to the irrationality of the authoritarian  gods.  Sisyphus's behavior was also associated with a ridiculous test for his wife which does not represent love but was associated with mistrust. His compliance resulted in his inability to meet many of his ego needs  which suggests  victimization ,self imposed tragedy and being inauthentic  Further, Freud’s repetitive principle - repeated self destructive behavior with a punitive super ego comes into play and is associated with neurosis. Also, to be alone and  chained to a rock does not serve any human purpose and one wonders what is his  point of living with his situation.This Greek myth is about mental illness , with the strong treating the weak cruelly and unjustly .

Saturday, a group of us joined the "No Kings protest"  rather than bow , submit  and please the king,Linda, Pat and I were joined by Linda's daughters Sidne and Kristi and their friend Carol.  The turnout was spectacular, peaceful and uplifting.  People honked  their horns ,passengers gave thumbs up and numerous creative signs were displayed.

Reference

Murray, Henry A. Explorations in Personality.

Precious ?

 

President Kennedy "Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future."  Statistics in our Republic tell a very disturbing story regarding our children.  For instance: 1.  High school students are reading and learning math and science at historic lows.  2.  Significant increases in suicidal ideation, particularly among females.  Percentages of females who had dangerous suicide attempts exhibited upward trends.  3. Overdose deaths among adolescents increased substantially since the end of 2019.  Nearly 1/4 of deaths included evidence of counterfeit pills.  Two thirds of the descendents had potential bystanders present.  Approximately 41% had a history of mental health conditions or treatment.  4.  Young people who drink alcohol are more likely to engage in risky behaviors like unsafe sex..  This behavior can lead to injuries and other health conditions.  5.  Alcohol can impair brain development affecting memory and learning.  6.  56% of 18 to 24 year olds and 16% of adults between 25 and 34  remain in their childhood homes,  7.  The US  birthrate hits a historic low of 1.6 children per woman.8.One in four girls are estimated to experience child sexual abuse. 9.  About one in 10 adolescents will experience homelessness before the age of 18 . Approximately 4.2 million youth experience homelessness in the US each year. We know that man's development or being is related to his nature and his nurture.  With that being said, this essay implicates parents with an excessive need for affection.as it relates to their children .  

From a psychological perspective, our country generates a great deal of anxiety . Often, individuals have more anxiety than they are aware of and also without  being aware of it at all.  Anxiety may be hidden behind feelings of physical discomfort such as heart pounding and fatigue  and may be concealed by  a number of fears that seem rational or unwarranted . It also may be the hidden force driving one to drink, eat and/or to submerge ourselves in all sorts of distractions like smart phone usage, social media, keeping busy , engaging in excessive  sex .  Also, anxiety ,when based on the feeling of being menaced ,easily provokes a reactive hostility as a defense.  In other words, anxiety can  and does provoke aggression and reactive hostility . And,  hostility when repressed ,may create anxiety so that there's a reciprocity between hostility and  anxiety that’s  always generated and reinforced by the other.

Based on  the above , the importance and implications  of a successful union cannot be understated as it relates to the mental health of their children. Universally, Homo sapiens experience degrees of existential anxiety related to being dependent, insecure and powerless. Within the context of surviving, there’s  an ego need for affiliation, in which affection plays a most significant part. Also, within some unions there is an excessive need for affection by one or both individuals.which results in an unsatisfactory union. 

In essence, individuals consciously or unconsciously  “protect “themselves ,in various degrees, against anxiety with a striving to be loved or approved of.  And , if excessive, often  go to any lengths to have this wish gratified. Behaviorally, they  might have a tendency to comply, to give in  and not take any steps of self-assertion . Or, they could strive to dominate by exhibiting their success, power, and possessions .There are  many ways with various degrees in which individuals go to protect themselves against anxiety in which there is a powerful  need , a desire for affection .

However, when driven by anxiety,  that feeling and acting behavior is often compulsory and indiscriminate with  hunger and  sex being examples .One can experience pleasure and satisfaction as a relief from the anxiety . Also, there's the unconditional and excessive demanding ,striving for reassurance, wanting the feeling of being loved, appreciated,and being reassured constantly so there can be relief  from  pent up  hostility because of feeling helpless and insecure  and frustrated living in a “non loving” hostile world. Therefore,  the anxious  angry one searches and demands  affection, loyalty,and appreciation unconditionally.. This excessive need threatens the union. 

Linda Ronstadt's "it's so easy to fall in love" fits because of  the neediness ,the insecurity , and the tremendous amount of anxiety that’s coupled with hostility. It’s not love but a dependency. . As a result, we are not talking about love even though the words are repeatedly  expressed. 

 Love is actually an expression of a positive attitude toward others and is not based on  anxiety, fear of loss or to dominate and subjugate  the other person .

Further, love is not using another person as a means for some other purpose, or the  fulfilling  of some other need like wanting that other person only for sexual gratification, to avoid being lonely,  for marriage  or for prestige. Often ,blind admiration is not love but a responsive gratitude for some kindness and a hope for affection. The excessive need for affection, results in an incapacity to love. Being unaware of the  incapacity to love is likely related to a hostile impulse toward others .

Briefly, love has to do with an attitude and orientation of character  in which one  relates to the person  with intimacy and care .It permits validation of all components of personal worth  of the other, mutual sexual satisfaction ,concern, respect, understanding,being separate and being one coupled with maturity.

With that brief representation of an excessive need for affection, if present, it's likely that the union will fail with drastic implications for the offspring . Of course there are  other mitigating nature and nurture factors like  fantasies and expectations interfering with a successful union. There has been an inordinate amount of nature and nurture research pertaining to children, parents and families describing psychologically  the implications and its ramifications . All of the findings are beyond the scope of this essay.  However, the following are a few examples that illustrate the research areas that are associated with parent-child family dynamics.  They are as follows:  Democratic parents, the warm-restrictive parents, hostile authoritarian parents,  hostile neglectful parents , effects of inconsistent discipline; child self-concept; parent response to children's behavioral predispositions; parental absence; effects of father absence on boys  effects of father absence on girls, social class differences ,social class difference in child rearing practices ,class differences in child's attitudes to parents ,influence of siblings, sex of sibling, sibling death in childhood ,sibling rivalry, development of conscience and moral standards, parent-child relationships and conscience development, anxiety,  the mechanisms of defense, nightmares, sleep disturbances, school phobias, death, phobias, depression, repression, compulsions ,conduct problems,, development of prejudice ,prejudice and mental functioning and racial attitudes. 

Additionally, other concerns pertaining to dysfunctional child rearing are as follows: and take many forms  .In regards  to health , pay attention to  the mental and physical health of the parents, especially their decision making.. Does  their preaching have to do with the consistency of their  behavior ? Or,is it “ do what I say ,not what I do? “

 Are the parents eating nutritiously  and are they physically  and mentally healthy?  California, for example, is the only state ,so far, that's prohibiting ultra processed foods being fed  during lunch time. Again, it’s about making appropriate decisions with children  .

.Are the parent's view on vaccinations consonant with their choices and decisions regarding their own health and /or is it based on  science or lies.?  5. Parental behavior and decision making related to computer games, iPhones and social media.are significant. For instance, some school districts are banning I phones for good mental health reasons.    Moreover, Utah has limited pornographyand there's a backlash against online gambling . Yet, The Daily Caller,  a prominent conservative online publication, published an online opinion calling for violence in response to physical assaults on conservatives in America. Studies have shown that many parents are unhappy that they allowed their children to have iPhones too early. 6. With divorce,there's tremendous social economic strain resulting in mothers working while the child has to deal and cope with after school programs, babysitters, older sibs,  grandparents, as "parents."Capitalism does not benefit all. 

In conclusion,i. Too many of our  children , young adults and families are experiencing mental health issues 2.  Psychologically, foundations of character and  personality are  formed very early based on nature and nurture  3. Parents   that exhibit an excessive need for affection are experiencing much  anxiety, hostility and an incapacity to love 4.  Children reared within these families are saddled with negative  psychological conditions and barriers for obtaining favorable  mental health. 4.Outlawing birth control and abortion is unjust ,criminal and  another contributing factor for  harming children 5..With capitalism, resources are exploited , just like what we are doing with our children.

Reference

Horney, Karen.  The Neurotic Personality Oo Our Time.  

Mussen,Conger ,Kagan.  Child Development and Personality

Alzheimer's

 

This essay has to do with Alzheimer's Disease( AD) which has been described as just one of 50 or so dementias.  Factually, A D is found in up to about 50% of people aged 85 and older . And,an A D pathology is found in 60-85% of all dementias in the US.. World Health Rankings had the  US ranked 8th for AD and Dementia .

 AD is a complicated degenerative disease . A University of Washington study of 3400 autopsies of  older men and women, taken from the normal population, found that 45% had plaques and tangles associated with AD  Additionally, 33% had evidence of tiny strokes from vascular multi--infaret dementia and another 10% had Lewy bodies that are found in  both Parkinson's  and Lewy body dementia.  Also, many  had a combination of two or more of these brain pathologies present at autopsy.

Other autopsy studies found that older people get dementia with 65-85% of  plaques and tangles of A D in the brain.  However, only 30% of these people had pure AD. The rest had evidence of Alzheimer's pathology, vascular dementia or stroke.  30-50% had Lewy body dementia ;and  20 to 30% had Parkinson's disease. Also, 48% had more than one type of dementia  which appeared to accelerate the deficits and speed of decline.  However, the famous Nun-studies showed that  having the plaques and tangles of AD. in the brain ,did not necessarily mean someone will become mentally disabled with dementia .In other words, a thorough understanding A.D.  is limited at this time and is one possible explanation as to why there's no effective treatment..

It's been stated that only 5 to 10% of all A.D. cases run in families of the early onset familial type and 90 to 95% of all A.D. cases typically do not run in families, in the late onset sporadic type.  Yet ,it has also been stated that risk factors for A.D. is about 50% genetic and about 50% lifestyle.

Listing of lifestyle  risk and risk reduction factors for A.D includes 1. Genetics and family history(50% of risk).  2.  Age and sex(more women than men) .  3.  High blood pressure.  4.  Cardiovascular disease 5.  Insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and diabetes.  6.  Traumatic brain injury.  7.  Low educational achievement ,low mental stimulation and smaller brain size . 8 Poor diet, toxins, lack of exercise and obesity.  9.Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. 10. Chronic inflammation, hearing loss, low social support. 11.  Chronic stress, anxiety, depression and sleep disorder .12. History of caregiving for family members with dementia.

The high  number of people in the US with an AD diagnosis is not surprising based on lifestyle risk factors.  On the other hand, people who live to 100 years old( centenarians) have remarkably low levels of dementia.  This is especially true for the 50% of  centenarians who live independently.  There are  over 70,000 centenarians in the US. Although there are genetic factors involved, centenarians are having  a long and healthy life. The most important  predictor, for them, is the lifestyle they had  led.  To repeat, brain health is associated with lifestyle. Protect your brain. Smart centenarians have the know how!

A few statistics pertaining to the brain.  The adult brain weighs about 3 pounds; the size of a medium cauliflower; 100 billion neurons and 100 trillion synapses.  Essentially, there are three brains of a human being.  There is the archaic brain , the old brain and the new brain.  The Archaic Brain is involved in the pathophysiology of dementia such as Alzheimer's. 

 The Old Brain has a number of functions pertaining to A.D.  These functions include 1.  Mood, memory, and hormone production control . 2.  Anterior cingulate structure primarily responsible for cognitive, emotional and attentional processing.  3.  Hippocampus functions related to memory formation, spatial memory and navigation.  4.  The amygdala is primarily responsible for fear, fight  or flight responses and anger. 5.  Hypothalamus is the major controlling organ of the autonomic  endocrine system regulating temperature, hunger  thirst, sexual arousal and the sleep-wake cycle .6.  Hippocampus and other limbic areas are selectively destroyed in dementias like A.D. 

 The New Brain is where most dementias destroy areas of the cortex and or white matter connective tracts to produce cognitive impairment.  With that being said, it's no wonder there's been inadequate treatment for dementias because of the complexity and workings of our miraculous brain. 

Although memory doesn't encompass all cognitive abilities,  it's an important facet of cognition.  And, different types of memories are related to different parts of the brain.  Memories are classified according to length as short-term and/or long-term.  Short-term memory encodes information into the cortex to hold onto for approximately 30 seconds. An example might be remembering a phone number long enough to call that number . Also, short-term memories are forgotten unless they are consolidated into long-term memory.  

Long-term memory consolidates information into long term storage so that information can be retrieved at a later time.  The hippocampus, of the limbic system, is heavily involved in storing long-term memories.  Long-term memories can be retrieved at a later time with free recall being less effective than cued or recognition recall. 

Declarative memory is a conscious recall of facts and information such as who is the President of the United States.  Episodic memory includes facts and events tied to specific time which they occurred.  Example: what happened on your 21st birthday, the day you graduated from college .This type of memory is first impaired in A.D.  Procedural memory is unconscious knowing of how to do actions, operations ,tasks and skills. Examples include how to ride a bicycle, and how to drive a car.

Warning signs for A.D. includes 1.  Memory loss that disrupts daily life.  2 Difficulty with planning or solving problems.  3 Difficulty completing familiar tasks.  4 Confusion with time or place.  5 Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. 6 New problems with words and speaking or writing. 7 Misplacing things and losing ability to retrace steps. 8 Decreased or poor judgment.  9 Withdrawal from work or social activities, 10, Changes in mood and personality.

Billions of neurons die as a result of A.D. pathology.  These neurons die from several different interrelated causes which makes it very difficult to develop drugs that will significantly alter the course of the disease.  There are at least seven mechanisms for neuron death in A.D. Will there ever be appropriate and meaningful treatment for A.D. in my lifetime?  I don't know but certainly the current GOP policies regarding AD funding ,cutting grants  and witnessing the brained drain is making things worse for too many individuals in our Republic.  And, maybe the GOP motivation is just that they don't care.

In summation 1. The US has  high rates of A.D. 2.Lifestyle factors are responsible for about 50% of A.D. pathology. 3.  The human brain is remarkable and complex. And A.D.  functions interactively between  the archaic brain, the old brain and the new brain . 4. A.D.  Is progressive; accompanied with aging ,and  exhibiting a weakening in a changing  body. 5.Psychologically ,psychic energy that was previously  directed towards meeting ego needs of achievement, aggression, dominance, independence , self reliance and so forth is now directed towards affiliation by pleasing and cooperating with another with dependency and attachment coupled with insecurity, anxiety and fear in the direction of the end. 6..There is no effective treatment for A.D.7. The GOP has drastically cut  A.D. research funding .

Reference

Brain Injury: Alzheimer's, Stroke And Head Trauma.  Institute for Natural Resources.

Deja Vu ?

 

Describe our 2025 Republic ? This essay provides a few socioeconomic, political, and psychological notions that characterize the 1929 German Republic and will compare them to our 2025 Republic.  Similarities between the two republics are to be noted

In 1929 Germany , the following are a few factors  attributed to an embittered , vulnerable angry and sadistic lower middle class that was affected by large-scale unemployment and increasing  militaristic strength forces perpetuated by social Democratic leaders of heavy industry and following their WW1 defeat along with the unfair  Versailles Treaty  With that introduction ,a brief listing of significant factors follows: 1.  One political party became dominant, backed by the industrialists and the Junkers(landowning aristocrats).  At that time, there was inner tiredness,insecurity,  resignation ,anger and disappointment with their political leaders. In fact, the Kaiser, and others were  ridiculed.and scorned. 3.  There was a spirit of blind obedience to a leader and hatred against others especially those  that were non Aryans.  4.  The lower middle class loved the strong and hated the weak with expressed hostility. They  were envious and rationalized their moral indignation with an enhanced respect for authority, the craving for submission and lust for power  .5. With the depression and  inflation, their savings and sense of security was severely threatened .They sought security which affected their narcissistic pride related to their economic decline.  This decline and insecurity was also  related to  social prestige as their sense of superiority was threatened as they had no one to look down upon.  6.. There was a breakdown of family, and the authority of the father. And the younger generation acted as if he didn't care about receiving their parents approval .Parents lost prestige and authority as the younger generation believed they were superior to their elders.  Economically, the parents were deprived of their role of backers and providers  for the economic future for their children.  Furthermore, this older generation grew more bitter and resentful as the chances for making a living diminished. 7.  With increasing social frustration,they thought of their life in terms of the nation which now had no or little chance for the future or to a return  of the great German Reich. Previously,the German Reich was a symbol of social prestige and security.  They experienced feelings of powerlessness, anxiety, and isolation as well as a resentfulness against the urban creditors with whom  they were in debt.  9 .This individual insignificance and powerlessness was related and perpetuated by monopolistic capitalism 10.. This Nazi regime proved to be economically detrimental to the have nots  but it fostered the interests of the most powerful group of German industry and furthered  the development of monopolistic capitalism- the haves.

Pertaining to Trump voters in 2024, we find a larger share56%  of young men, especially white men, voting for him . Also; 24% of black men and 47% of Latino men did likewise,  especially those aged 45  and older . 

Stated polling  percentages important to young men and women in the 2024 election were : 1. 66% of young men were deeply pessimistic about Biden's handling of the economy as did women  aged18 to 44 .  Almost 2/3 disapproved of Biden's overall job performance while 50% of white men approved  of Trump's previous handling of his presidency 2.  40%  of these males listed inflation and the cost of living among the top three issues followed by immigration, the border ,and  jobs. 3. Inflation and cost of living were most frequently listed as a top issue among  women. 

Economically speaking ,57.4% of Americans have accumulated less than $1000 in savings. The median retirement savings of the richest 10% are 35 times higher than the median retirement savings of the poorest 20%. One quarter of non-retirees have no retirement savings at all.A monopolistic capitalism is a major reason  perpetuating the increase in economic inequality.

The degree of health in our republic is 76% of those experiencing the lowest levels of well-being in 2023 were males aged 25 to 44.  2.  76% of men and 73% of women in the US were either  overweight or obese in 2021 4. There were  905,000 deaths due to cardiovascular disease in 2021, We have a poor health republic  and longevity is related to high-quality education, earning a sufficient income and importantly,making smart cognitive and physical  lifestyle choices

Our current authoritarian led republic is supported by appointed  government loyalists, Congress ,Supreme Court ,corporations,  Tech billionaires  and about 40% or more individuals 2.  Political figures, comedians,journalists , universities,rule of law and scientists are  attacked and discredited by  Trump 3.  Trump is making the economy worse for the have nots and better for the haves. 4.  Foreigners and immigrants are state enemies “justifying” or an excuse for a police and military state  5. White nationalism, racism, hate , prejudice and verbal and  physical  attacks are increasing.  6.  Trump's sadistic rhetoric and executive orders reinforces acts of violence ,splitting and hate 7 .Trump's MAGA slogan is about restoring and compensating for feelings of anxiety, powerlessness and insecurity and is the symbol for social prestige ,dominance,exploitation and  power  of a past white USA. The immigrants, Democrats , people of color ,minorities and other non-MAGA types are evil and must be threatened,  attacked and referred to as non humans. 8. Evil and scapegoating  are enemies of  reason, objectivity, and rational judgment.  9.  Trump's political strategies are ,largely  in part, for his TV  audience  based on his narcissism and his need for self glorification.10 Individuals are arrested without due process and being sent to countries other than their own .

It's apparent that there are familiar themes pertaining to both Germany's 1929 Republic and our 2025 Republic . For example: 1.  We have an embittered, insecure ,anxious ,angry and sadistic lower middle and upper lower class( the have nots) as indicated , in part, by the amount of hateful  social media toxicity and their voting record..  2.  We have one political party in control that's backed by biotech industrialists , CEOs , corporations and 40% or so of the population.  Biden , Harris ,Schumer, Jeffries and other Democrats are ridiculed and attacked.  3.  There is blind obedience to Trump and  hatred and disrespect toward people of color , Democrats, foreigners and non-Christians. 4. We have overt hostility, respect and loyalty for Trump, craving for submission  and pursuit  for power, control and domination.  5.  We have inflation, massive personal and student debt along with minuscule savings.  In the past( MAGA) the white population looked down upon people of color, other peoples with discrimination 6.  There is a breakdown of family and the younger generation has difficulty respecting the older generation. The older generation is also bitter and resentful as their economic resources have  been severely diminished 7. Because of the  economic insecurities, the have nots experience feelings of powerlessness , anxiety ,isolation and scapegoat their  resentment. 8 . Their individual insignificance is related to  monopolistic capitalism with its increasing income inequality . 9. The authoritarian  GOP is proving to be economically detrimental to the have nots but not the haves 

Another consequence or contributing factor for   authoritarianism is the  monopolistic economic inequality which affects the mental and physical health of the lower middle and upper  lower class. Pertaining to Dr.Emeran  Mayers microbiomes research, ,there's an ongoing ,two way.relationship between the mind (brain)and the  body (gut).  As a result of an  unhealthy lifestyle, chronic  physical disease such as heart ,type II diabetes, obesity and cancer, as well as the cognitive,-Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, depression, and anxiety, are common.  This unhealthy lifestyle also affects not only the cortex but the limbic  and archaic systems in our brain as well..Other common disorders  Includie stress, suicide, sleep , mood and IBS that’s related to the mind and body connection. ..

Poor lifestyle choices  include  antibiotic meds , diet laden with sugar, salt and ultraprocessed foods, lack of exercise, few social connections and inadequate meaningful contributions,have been identified as contributing factors for physical and mental illness. Ultraprocessed foods are easy ,convenient, inexpensive ,taste good and appeal to the have-nots.Unfortunately, poor diet affects major decision making.

 In essence,it's been found that   inadequate lifestyle choices  affect  the brain's cognitive decision-making. Also, add the amount of time spent,  lies ,hate, conspiracy, paranoia,and misinformation propagated and found on social media sources.  In other words, cognitive decision-making from brain impairment ( lifestyle, food , social media ) characterizes many of these Trump voters. And, It's not a surprise that a  significant dumbing down  has and continues to  occur  for them . And their  attitude, emotions , thinking and behavior is constantly reinforced by authoritarian lies,dominance  and craziness throughout our cultural  mediums .Furthermore,our nation’s  health, medical care,economic,and  happiness statistics  compared to other nations  do not lie and indicate a realism concerning our nation . Our republic is in trouble. It's not surprising that as our mental and physical health is declining .In fact, a positive  correlation exists  with threats to  democracy ,rule of law ,economics and freedom as authoritarian oppression  pervades this nation at this time. 

Reference

Fromm, Erich.  Escape From Freedom

A Golden Toilet

 

Freud believed that a child passes through a series of differentiated  or developmental  stages during his first five years of life.  These stages are defined in terms of modes of reaction related to a particular zone of the body . The Oral is the first stage and lasts for about a year and the mouth is the principal zone of activity.  During this next stage the  investment of energy(cathexis and anti-cathexis ) are related to its eliminating functions and is called the Anal stage.  This stage ,in the second year, is succeeded by the Phallic stage . In this stage, the sex organs become the leading erogenous zone .This essay pertains to theimplications and consequences resulting from the Anal stage . 

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Briefly, with the expulsion of  feces, after food has been digested, there is pressure from the anal sphincters . This occurrence  removes the sources of discomfort and produces a feeling of relief and sensory delight. With toilet training, usually during the second year of life, the child faces his first decisive experience with external regulation( mother) of his instinctual impulse. The young child has to learn to postpone the pleasure that comes from both holding and  relieving his anal tensions.In essence, a conflict  .

The child appears to value his excretion ( a possession) as an object and the activities of expelling or retaining become his first efforts at direct control of instinctual drives .During, he has  to deal with his mother and her attitude, demands,control and idiosyncrasies on her terms.  This process ,the  mother and child outcome can become significant  initially and especially  for later  feelings,attitudes and behavior  toward his autonomy ,character   associated with   giving to others , letting go and/or retaining,or  holding on to  his own  valuable possessions .

As a result, toilet training begins  the crisis of elimination or retention . This unique conflict related to control, pits the child against  the external world or the mother. This can become a battle over the beginning of independence, self assertion  and mastery for the child. However, it can also  become conflictual as in a battle over will. Too much  arbitrary, irrational  external control over the child results in anxiety,  frustration ,anger and hate. This is likely the child’s first experience with love and hate for the same person as well as with excessive fear ,anxiety , anger and a  loss of love..This and other  child self assertion tendencies against the backdrop of external barriers results in the occurrence of   temper tantrums and has been referred to as the terrible twos.

The dynamics ,in this stage, are associated with  attitudes and feelings regarding  control over the child’s bowel movements . Also, the child, because of his symbiotic relationship with the mother, identifies and incorporates  her  positive , negative, loving and angry attitudes. Successful autonomy  during this stage can result in mastery ,pride , achievement . depending upon positive  reinforcement by the mother . However, negative mother reinforcement can result in a  fierce battle of control of possession within the mother ,family  or caretaker that has long lasting behavioral and character implications.Will security be based on giving , providing for others or by retaining, withholding and obstinacy ?

Character and personality Implications for unsuccessful outcomes, during this Anal stage can lead to the development of compulsive character tendencies as well as being obstinate , teasing, hitting, messing ,withholding ,throwing, stubbornness, willfulness and  general naughtiness .For instance, the occurs with temper tantrums ,angry verbal  outbursts ,parsimonious and repeated behavioral tendencies.are common. Other outbursts are associated with frustration related to  rules and laws which results in regressive mechanisms designed to cope . Furthermore, there  is  sadomasochistic pleasure accompanied with. severe  diminished self-assertion resulting in anxiety, rage, anger, contempt and hatred . 

 During the Anal stage, the young child is developing language ,locomotion, saying no and is able to do much and yet  he is subjected to this control by others. Specifically, the mother is the child's first love object, a major source of repeated gratifications for  hunger, love, action,and  pleasure and hate .

Autonomy is related to developing a sense of well-being and with this muscular maturation of the sphincter muscles results in either letting  go or holding on  which can lead to either hostile or benign expectations and attitudes.  Holding on can become destructive, cruel, suffocating or restraining, or it can become a pattern of care, to have and to hold.  On the other hand, to let go can turn into letting go as a destructive force  an explosion  or by becoming relaxed, let pass or to let be.Temper tantrums,,good-bad, clean-dirty, healthy-unhealthy  and I hate you  remarks are common during this period and  as a consequence of this underlying dynamic retains its integrity throughout life.The child also develops the sense that there is power in being oppositional even if being short lived.

The outer control by the mother ( one to fear or to love) must be able to protect the child against meaningless and arbitrary experiences.  Otherwise, shame and doubt becomes established with negative consequences during toilet training. Loss of trust results as the child  turns against itself by over manipulating  and he becomes obsessive with his own repetitions . Moreover,  he learns to react to the environment in order to gain  power by his stubbornness and  obstinate control.

In other words, within the dynamics of the anal stage becomes a decisive mixture and ratio of either love ,cooperation and togetherness or hate ,division, control  and stubbornness With that being said, 8   anal  characterological behavioral propensities are associated with Donald ‘s behavior 1.Oppositionalnes.provocativenes, violation  of established norms, principles and laws pertaining to the Constitution, democracy ,interpersonal,economic and legal behavior. He  stiffed workers for their services,had a felony conviction and implemented Project 2025 agenda . 2.  A blending of love and hate as he appoints and sadistically fires individuals ,cutting funding for cancer and other health research ,appointing likes of Kennedy Jr.  and other incompetents to run government agencies and treating so many others as the enemy,  3.  Controlling , possessing , holding on to family members, political figures,  corporations, business employees,the  US economy,Congressional ,senate  and the Supreme Court ,major  media, journalists , foreign leaders in a tight, cruel, suffocating manner.  4. When externally  blocked , results in  frustration with irrational  complaining, an explosion of vile and negative temper tantrum attacks using the term vermin (disease)  ,rapists, murders, on social media , at  rallies and other platforms .5. A  preoccupation with dirt and germs by excessive whipping,cleaning of  his hands 6. He's proud of his special  "possessions" by placing his name on them, along with his golden toilet .7. MAGA slogan is a  particular  sentimentality with  the past irregularities as with. Epstein , or some other  mischievous abundance? 8. Let's face it, mental and physical illness are  both  necessary economic  components for capitalism to.florish. For example ,these industries make money by keeping us alive.

Reference

Munroe,Ruth L. Schools Of Psychoanalytic Thought.

Public Health

 

Our Republic has a Secretary of Health and Human Services which encompasses a wide range of services and programs designed to enhance the well-being of individuals and communities.  Kennedy Jr, and his boss, despite the MAHA slogan, are a threat to the country's well-being.  For example, I contacted my physician at UC Davis to make an appointment for Covid-19.  I was told they don't have any vaccines and to go elsewhere.  This is the first time in 85 years that I was unable to get a vaccine from my doctor.This essay suggests that the current  administration is wreaking havoc on the government  and its agencies with its false claims for authoritarian and populist rule, thereby causing negative and toxic public health consequences for the Republic.

The World Is Now Unavoidably Toxic was an article in the August 10, 2025, New York Times.  A few of the points made are as follows: 1.  Pollution ,like from  infinite spores ,is an endless contagion found everywhere.  2.  Plastics are found in Japanese mountaintop clouds ,Antarctic snow ice, on Mount Everest and at the depths of the Mariana Trench 3.  Plastic is now threaded through the flesh of fish and interfering with reproduction in the stocks of plants as It interferes with photosynthesis.  4.  Plastic has been found in the human heart, kidneys, other organs, the breast milk of new mothers' ,ovarian follicular fluid and testicular tissue.  Also, the build up inside our brain tissue from contamination is growing

and  might be equivalent to the full plastic spoon.

PEAS is a category of long-lasting industrial compounds  found in seafoam sewage ,sludge , eggs , seafood food wrappers, nonstick pans,  artificial turf, and groundwater serving up to 95 million people.  2.  Endocrine disrupting chemicals called phthalates are  found in cosmetics, perfumes and shampoo. Also,it results in cancer risk for children because of the  rubber services introduced to cushion children that may fall in an uncovered soil playground.  3.  River deltas are flowing full of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer runoff into larger bodies of water. Also there’s  pharmacological runoff  from antidepressants, antianxiety medications, cocaine ,methamphetamine ,heart medication and painkillers.  80% of American streams are positive for some kind of chemical or drug contamination.  4.  The term Anthropocene describes our world as being composed of 96% of mammal life , humans and their livestock. 5. There's been a global explosion of not just carbon dioxide emissions but also methane and nitrous oxide among all other forms of pollution and ecosystem degradation 6.  Smoke from wildfires has resulted in breathing in more than 2000 gallons of spores and microbes 7.  Air pollution produced primarily by the burning of fossil fuels kills millions of people each year globally. 8. More than 90% of the world still breathes,  unhealthy air  9.  Unhealthy refers to long exposure with respiratory disease, cardiac conditions, development disorders, various cancers, dementia , Alzheimer's ,premature birth,and  low birth weight. These conditions are associated with cognitive  damage impaired economic performance,  increased rates of violent crime and hospitalization for mental health disorders .

Additionally, studies suggest exposure to multiple pesticides might raise the risk of pregnancy complications and increase childhood brain cancer.  In fact, the country's second-highest cancer rates are likely the result of pesticides, insecticides and fertilizers.  Further, living near a golf course might double the risk of Parkinson's, likely due to  exposure from pesticides sprayed on the grass and seeping into local waterways.

The article The Two Beliefs That Drive Conservative  Health Care policy found in August 3, 2025 edition of The New York Times is  associated with  current GOP public health policy.  According to House Speaker Mike Johnson ,individuals not choosing to work when they can is called  fraud and is cheating the system.  In other words the people who enroll in Medicaid now have to prove that they are working, looking for work or unable to work.  And secondly, the Paragon Institute concluded that people won't face much harm if they lose medical coverage because they are not using their coverage and that makes healthcare more expensive. Even though using coverage results in  some improvements for mental and financial health, it doesn’t lead to improved physical outcomes.

Trump, Kennedy Jr and the GOP are models of making America unhealthy by cutting Medicaid health coverage; reducing funding and scientists from the following agencies- NIH,FEMA, FDA, ACF,AHRQ (Between 2010 and 2014,  their initiative made hospital safer and likely helped to avert an estimated 87,000 patient deaths and saved nearly 20 billion in healthcare costs),ARPA-H, ATSDR,CDC, CMS, EPA and , cutting  Energy department  emissions funding,and freezing of  federal grants that support domestic violence programs .  Further, they are attacking  university research  and witnessing massive recruitment for our scientists from other countries, proposing to sell off federal land; denying climate change, crippling the Department of Education and thereby reinforcing the dumbing down of our children.The Presidential fitness test should first be modeled by Donald.

An article titled "Kids Everywhere Are Healthier.  Thank America."  It was found in the September 7, 2025 edition of The New York Times quoted Robert F.  Kennedy Jr "we are the sickest country in the world" "The Trump administration is using these as excuses to demolish what is best about America's health and science infrastructure.

Kennedy Jr.  lies when he suggested kids were healthier in the 50s and 60s than they are today.  Leukemia, smallpox, and polio infections tell a different story.  In fact, death rates for American children between the ages of one and 15 fell more than 75% from 1950 to 2018.  Also, people with HIV, cancer, hepatitis C, have longer lives.

NIH is the largest biomedical research funder on the planet and the United States leads the world in scientific discovery and has produced more Nobel Laureates in medicine than  In the following nine countries combined.  In 2016, more than half of all new medicines released globally originated in the United States and other countries routinely wait for FDA approval before starting a new treatment. And, 20 of the top 30 clinical medicine programs are based in the United States.  The article went on to support the facts that Kennedy Jr. is breaking what keeps the nation from getting sicker.Also, to make things worse, quack cures from A.I. are found on social media imitating  real doctors.

Unfortunately, people do not take their medication as prescribed, resulting in tremendous additional costs  to healthcare, and furthering  life-threatening consequences.  The GOP would not dare propose not selling meds to people because they don't take dosages as prescribed because it would interfere with profits. Moreover, people don't vote  so  take away their voter ID cards and people don't always seek medical attention for a number of reasons.  Healthcare insurance is a right and has nothing to do with employment.  The GOP policies regarding health and  welfare of the people are vicious ,cruel and related to economic wealth and inequity.

The dismantling of government institutions , reducing and  eliminating   scientists, cutting  university funding, rewriting history affecting public school  education  attacking journalists and others  is based on the idea that the liberal progressive ideological beliefs of the managerial class have an overbearing bureaucratic control over government ,giving the working-class  unlimited power, thereby reducing and/ or eliminating upper-class rule.  To quote  J.D. Vance,”This anti-managerial bureaucratic idea has to be defeated and that to have any hope of forcing real change in the system, it must  generally overthrow the modern ruling class by seizing the institutions from them. “ In essence, the far right populism employs  the old overused trope that socialism - working class dominance is evil and thereby uses this as a  rationalization for its sadistic  exploitation and control  by giving  and placing one  inept , criminal with unlimited  power irrespective of the Constitution.  This implementation of this hateful disingenuous idea of populism is based on an  anal,hateful controlling  retentive character tendencies  resulting in horrible public health consequences for the majority in our Republic .  

PS

The following research has been canceled: 1.  To improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy.  2.  Study to improve childhood cancer survival rates in low resource hospitals.  3.  Development of a new technique for colorectal cancer prevention.  4.  Project to analyze premalignant breast tissue in high risk women..

Linda

 

Linda, last week ,entered her 93rd year.  She was born in Kankakee, Illinois in 1933.  Helen and Raymond were her parents and she was the middle daughter sandwiched between Anne and Bretta.  She has fond memories of swimming as a young girl , playing outdoors and hunting with her father.

The family moved to Gary. Indiana, Kansas City, Kansas as a result of Raymond's management skills for Sears Roebuck and Company .Prior, when Raymond attended Lake Forest College , he played quarterback on the football team which beat Michigan.. In fact, I told Jim Harbaugh the story on Jim Brandstatter's radio show. 

 Linda was a cheerleader at Shawnee Mission High School and an excellent golfer joining her mother at the Indian Hills Country Club.  Note, that on one celebrity outing, Linda golfed with "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias. In that four some,the Babe asked high school aged Linda if she wanted to join her on the pro circuit. 

Freud described a normal, mature, and healthy personality as being able to love and to work  Linda's productive personality  orientation relates to her attitude about  human experiences in the areas of mental, emotional and the sensory domain with self and others. In fact , she has  realized her powers,effectiveness  and potential .

Linda's productiveness was evident in many activities with a great expenditure  of energy as she made an impact on so many others . Linda's productivity was  related to the arts, athletics, learning, marketing , managerial abilities and her love and care for others . Her love was unconditional.  She made numerous connections with others and used her thinking ,creativity and  curiosity  extensively .

Linda's orientation was highlighted by her ability to enliven and enrich  the lives of so many that she met during her lifetime.  Her caring, respect and laughter are contagious.  She extended herself and embraced others irrespective of their beliefs or skin color.  She was a humanist at heart that was reflected in her character.  She  is a truly  remarkable loving individual 

Linda played the ukulele and expressed and achieved excellence in the areas of glasswork  and other works of art. There are many examples of her glass work throughout our home, as well as  with her drawings and paintings.  She also assembled numerous Ride and Tie shirts and used that design in creating a very  special meaning blanket.  Linda and our friend Mike were involved in a tile exercise with children. Their art project is visible and decorates an area near  ALT'S swimming pool.                        

Linda was a Whitewater guide working with those that were  handicapped; an excellent flyfishing person ; mountain biker, down hill skier,  kayaker and swimmer.  In fact, she started a water exercise program in our community years ago.  Linda also initiated and began the ball experience at ALT as well.

Linda was a past president of the Silver Spurs equestrian club  in our community.  She participated in limited distance endurance competitions and was a crew member on my many endurance runs and Ride and Tie events. She rode Raider and I Gypsy and  she also hit the trails with her equestrian friends.

Linda was a PE teacher, a Motorola salesperson and owner of the Merry Maids franchise in Auburn.  Linda recently  gave that business to her oldest daughter Sidne.  Her second oldest child.Kristie recently retired from teaching and her son Buck  has the Home Instead franchise.

Linda was once a proud Republican, but is now a loyal Democrat.  In fact, we recently saw Bernie and AOC at a political event this year.  Linda continues to smile, laugh , engage in yoga ,H2O exercise, driving the golf cart and going to Ironworks gym  irrespective of her cognitive condition.

The Devoted

 

This essay provides one explanation  as to why Trump had a significant following in the 2024 election.  In the past eight months, there's been massive firings of civil service workers, dismantling of  government agencies, disruption of former world allies, economic vulnerability , defunding of universities and  science, attacks on news, political figures and former presidents , a sadistic assault on people of color, sending them to horrible imprisonment locations and of course the terrible bill passed by the GOP Congress.  Although  recent polls  suggest that the majority of citizens oppose these policies, a  significant number around 40% or so  still support him .

From a psychological point of view, the significance of  anxiety and fear reproducing infantile and  child experiences result in dynamics that are seen and repeated in adult behavior.  Anxiety is a repeated prototype and  also associated with  dependence, helplessness and isolation which began with the trauma of birth.  Humans, as a species, remain dependent on another  for  survival.  The dog, cat or horse are examples of initial dependence on the mother and then seem to rapidly become more and more independent within their development.  It's not so for humans.

The newborn, because of its physiology, begins life with a  symbiotic relationship with the mother caretaker. Further, around six months or so, the child begins to separate himself from his mother, as evidenced by separation anxiety with its crying and fussing actions whenever the mother leaves . Because, all the infants-child care, comfort, safety and security  provided by that mother figure becomes threatened . This dynamic occurrence becomes repeated and reinforced over and over again.  In other words, the mother represents and fulfills the child's physiological and psychological needs which becomes threatened with separation..

During  child development, the  father also becomes an important  identification figure with the introjections.  In fact, the father not only represents safety, security and comfort but omnipotent  power and control as in the "King of the Castle."  The child learns how to please his powerful father and loving mother by receiving their love, nurturance and affection and also learns about  fear and hatred through their anger and punishment which is a loss of love by actions that displease the parents. Love, fear and hate are established early psychologically.  In other words, on one hand, the child experiences insecurity, loneliness, powerlessness  and separation that can be modified by union, identification and  introjection with that powerful mother and/or father figure.  This occurs with positive reinforcement and  results in the fulfillment of the unconscious formula or prototype dynamic that becomes repeated not only in childhood but  throughout one's life.  In essence, the need for  protection and security occurs from all the reoccurrences of environmental, cultural, and human hazards that threaten survival.  It's a survival of the fittest ,but only with affiliation which is unconsciously the father, mother  protectors. Also, reality and comfort demands  can be assisted  by other  significant associations and unions  .

During childhood, a child learns and develops a conscience and language including other cognitive developments.  For example, the child learns from a moral point of view of what's right and wrong based on the child's actions , with rewards or punishments   plus overhearing conversations, remarks and behavior made by an authoritarian father,mother  and family  on a wide range of subjects.  A child essentially learns the attitudes of parents pertaining to money, religion , politics , education, health, play, sex, and so forth.

  Clearly, the child learns and believes  everything the parental figures had to say as  truth, goodness and righteousness . Their word is truth and their actions are the law.  A child's perception and beliefs are that the parents are infinitely knowledgeable in their words, remarks and their  sayings are to be revered.  The parental figures are so knowing, so wise and as a result become the remembered law. 

 Early on, one's moral, ethical attitudes are formed and  based on what they've learned from their parents.and family  Because of their limited capacity and knowledge about the world, they are not, at that point ,in their development able  to challenge what they've heard and witnessed.  The  teachings, ethics and learning become embedded in their unconscious and conscious memory.  These various memories become the guides for later action.

Today's economic, social, religious, political, and hazards of nature are associated  with pleasure, frustration, conflict, hardship and pain . Man generally seeks pleasure and attempts to avoid pain from an emotional point of view, it's obvious that some individuals have done quite well in their quest for survival, while others not so well.

There are too many individuals experiencing an inordinate amount of frustration, conflict,anger,pain,and unhappiness related  to economics, politics, health ,ideology and morality resulting in the unconscious, feelings of anxiety, threat,  powerlessness, isolation and impotency.  These psychic  dynamics ,which occurred in childhood, are repeated throughout life.  When these emotional threats occur, there's an unconscious urgent tendency to return for relief, comfort, safety to a father,  mother protector .Therefore, one seeks a “protector” to provide ,comfort.and to reduce that anxiety, threat, fear  and insecurity. 

The smart powerful ruling class use fear as a primary tactic to continue their oppression and rule over this  socioeconomically class of individuals.  In essence, various measures taken by the elite power is simply to maintain that omnipotence and control and to strengthen their hold on the  infantile psychic dependency of the masses. As a result the powerful  elite  impose and  also become that necessary “father” protective figure.  It's clear and obvious that the power structure intimidates the masses intellectually and emotionally to keep them infantile and docile. Further, the powerful also offers the masses other measures of satisfaction that makes life tolerable for them, preventing some from attempting to change their position from that of the obedient son to that of rebellious son.

It's evident that in religion, politics and economics that the powerful employ various fearful strategies that result in a re-emergence ,for many ,of their infantile dependency needs in the search for  protection from a strong, wise, authoritarian,controlling father figure.  Powerful  threats of fear, danger, murder, rapists, loss of jobs , evil, inflation, socialists, Democrats are in Trump’s rhetoric and generalizations.  He’s the only one that's going to make it better.  I can protect you from the immigrants, I can lower the cost of living,  I'm going to make America Great Again .  These socioeconomically deprived ,  idolize, obedient know that  disapproval results in loss of love, protection, rejection and abandonment .

A fantasy is a wish fulfillment and with repeated use of the words and lies that fantasy becomes real. Trump asserts fantasy and his  reality becomes their reality. Like father, Trump is wise, powerful ,right and superior on all subjects . He can do no wrong.

The objective reality doesn’t matter because Trump is their reality . A few of the myths and illusions perpetuated by Trump's GOP are as follows:1. Pres. Obama did not have a legitimate birthright.  It didn't matter that Trump had no solid evidence as his word was the truth.  2. Hillary Clinton's improper  emails 3.Non Russian involvement in the 2016 election 4. The 2020  election was fraudulent. 5. The January 6 rioters were patriots. It didn't matter to the faithful followers because his words were all that was necessary.  In essence, the fact that Trump is a pathological liar does not faze the belief of his followers.  So whatever he says, whatever he does is true, right ,legitimate and moral.

Trump’s followers  also include big tech ,Wall Street ,mega church groups, Congress , Supreme Court and social media giving him a powerful consensus . 

Perhaps the Epstein coverup might awaken some from their psychic paralysis. From Trump's point of view ,pictures can be altered and a witchhunt promoted. All the lies, contradictions, half-truths, deflections and other outlandish distractions have worked brilliantly for him. His beliefs ,words,  actions are truth within an illusionary reality.  Historically, some of our most powerful individuals ,of their time , have fallen prematurely,  Moses never saw the promised land., Jesus was crucified,  Alexander was poisoned,Julius Caesar assisanted, Cleopatra suicide ,Napoleon exiled , Mussolini killed ,and Hitler by suicide . However, the Trump story continues.

In conclusion, the psychological reality for the devoted is based on their  reenactment of their infantile dependency needs and not  based on objectivity, intelligence, experience or reality . Like a father protector , the admired Trump can do no wrong and will make things significantly better in the eyes of the helpless children .