It's Real

Covid- 19 is here. This essay addresses the behavioral health differences between and among individuals. In the past few months, more and more information surfaced about this deadly virus. In fact, we along with another couple, had tickets to attend Hamilton in San Francisco on March 7. On March 3, I called my friend, who happened to be in Florida visiting his brothers, about my concern about attending the show. During that conversation, I told him that Linda and I decided not to go but that I would pay for the tickets. He understood but Dave and his wife attended Hamilton anyway.

I remembered hearing president Trump state something like “we have good numbers; we got this-no problem; once the weather changes and becomes warmer, the virus will go away” in an attempt to downplay the health concern. Did Trump know or realize the seriousness of the threat? However, medical people had a very different slant regarding this virus and gave a contrary message.  Despite the evidence, Fox News individuals like Pete Hegseth stated “the more  I learn about this, the less there is to worry about;” Trish Regan “liberal media using the coronavirus to impeach the president;” Sean Hannity and Laura Ingram “the press are panic pushers stirring up mass hysteria.” It was reported by the other press that in 2018, Trump reduced funding for the disease-control unit of the CDC prevention unit by 16% from the 2020 spending levels.  Did you believe or see through those lies and propaganda messaging?

Then last Friday, the 14^th, while going into the local market an individual that I didn’t recognize yelled out to me something to the effect that “he’s on top of this, he’s providing a stimulus.”  This past weekend, Linda called her friend to tell her that she would not host next month’s Winning- Women gathering nor would she attend this month’s gathering due to the health concern- a group of women that get together and drink wine.

More recently, the president changed his tune about Covid 19. It was now recommended that no more than 10 people gather at one time in one place.  The NBA, NCAA, MLB and other leagues had already been canceled. Airline flying restrictions were implemented along with subsidies going to corporations and businesses. The House submitted a bill to the Senate. Governors like Andrew Cuomo implemented closing of businesses, schools while recommending limiting the number of people in groups. More and more restrictions surfaced from canceling a primary election in Ohio to news that basketball super star Kevin Durant tested positive for the virus. One doesn’t have to be over 60, have a respiratory illness or be in superb physiological health to test positive for the virus. According to Johns Hopkins University, there are now 13,314 cases and 199 deaths and rising across the country. The stock market continued to decline.

As of Tuesday, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and CNN’s interviewers were appalled and worried about the number of Americans not taking this virus seriously. They talked about partying of college students, on their spring break ,in Florida, attendees at Disneyland’s theme park, and video of San Francisco residents walking hand-in-hand, lack of social distancing, skateboarding, jogging, being on bicycles like normal. They asked how individuals could continue this behavior? Don’t they know that they could be carriers and infect others? Don’t they know that they are putting our health system, our health workers, the number of hospital beds, and the number of ventilators at risk? The media said these people must be selfish and not care about others. They are harming all of us. We have to be together.

Let’s examine these assertions more critically. We know that when born we continue, for a number of years, to be the most helpless of all. In fact this physical and psychological condition sets the stage for man to develop various needs to confront his emerging insecurity, dependency and helplessness. Not only that, but man eventually realizes that he’s going to die and return to that inorganic state.

In man’s development, the existential problem of his birth and of his existence are somewhat satisfied based on the conditions of his various physiological requirements and psychological needs and passions. As man evolves, he becomes aware of his aloneness, separateness, powerlessness and ignorance. The need for affiliation or to unite with another becomes of paramount importance. There are various ways to reduce that anxiety of being alone. One way to achieve this human dilemma and to transcend loneliness is by submission to a person, a group, an institution, political party or to God. By submitting to something bigger than oneself, is to identify or to connect with a larger power. This submission or masochistic behavior allows a sense of identity and union. But unfortunately it facilitates that individual becoming dependent on and becoming dominated or heavily influenced by it. A person, a group, an institution, a political party or God can be sadistic and controlling.  With submission, facilitates a buying in to various messaging that does not have to be truthful or even moral.  We can be easily misled.

Another way to overcome separateness is to unite or merge with others by making others part of oneself. In this way, it’s a transcendence of individual existence away from domination as well as not being involved in a symbiotic dynamic. The push for affiliation can then become more of a union, a bonding, or a solidarity. This is a move toward others, an involvement in a more humanistic and productive way.

In his separateness, man can also move toward others in an aggressive, manipulative, destructive or hostile manner. The move against another can be passive, aggressive, verbal and or physical. It doesn’t take much as man is easily frustrated, and the consequence results in one individual dominating another. History, has demonstrated over and over  man’s dominance over another be it female, male, color of skin, religious belief, state, country,  economic and/or other reasons.

Narcissism is also related to the affiliation need. At first, we are all narcissistic. Our only reality, as an infant, is our physiological needs for warmth, affection, or food. The “I” is not experienced differently from the “the other.” Slowly through perception, and with cognitive development, we begin to differentiate changes. We form individual and separate entities. The capacity for love can now be established as well as the reality that one’s thought process, feelings, and needs can be distinguished and are different from another’s. The importance is the ability to experience and perceive another’s realities as being separate from one’s own. In other words, through nurturing development, we begin to experience it’s not about only “me,” “me,” or “me” it’s about the importance of” you” as a separate, significant and human individual as well. However, with excessive narcissism, my partying on a beach is about me and I don’t care that I might infect you by being a carrier of this deadly disease.

Another way to view man’s behavioral health interactions with another is to be able to look at the world, nature, other persons and oneself as they are and not to be distorted by ones desires and fears. Reason, in man’s development with maturity, is his faculty for developing objectivity and reality with thought. Intelligence on the other hand is man’s ability to manipulate the world with the help of thought. Reason assists at arriving at the truth, while intelligence are man’s tools to manipulate the world within his subjective need structure.

Reason must be practiced in order to be developed. It’s about acquiring knowledge about the world, oneself, and one’s society. If we have illusions in one aspect of our life then our capacity for reason is restricted or damaged while attempting to utilize the use of reason. Reason can also inhibited with regard to other factors. Reason can help us with orientation and help us to be in touch with reality or in other words to look at the world more objectively. Reason is important and fundamental for man’s well-being. With intelligence, we create mechanisms that distort reality. We can deny, rationalize or use other defense mechanisms to prove to ourselves or others that our actions are right, just or even moral as in I feel great, and I do not have the virus. This is what Epicurus meant when he said “nothing is good or bad but thinking made it so.”  We can explain away any action by ourselves or any action by others as being ”okay”  even by God as in Manifest Destiny.

There are a significant group of individuals that have submitted, identified and are being dominated by president Trump, the Republican Party and certain media. The messaging is brainwashing propaganda. One buys into the messaging regardless. Truth or the use of reason does not have to be utilized. Intelligence or folk science with the defense mechanisms are apparent. Information that counters the message has to be viewed as evil, wrong, terrible, bad and threatening. Thus, one becomes easily angered by hearing the opposing view. One does not use reason as it’s simply not available when one submits to a force greater than oneself. Covid 19 is just a plot, it’s not real are examples.

When one disregards a physician’s recommendation based on science, and goes on and acts as if nothing is wrong, this suggests that narcissism is interfering in the interaction with others. By potentially infecting others and creating possible overwhelming demand on the health system and its workers, is not only hostile but destructive. When we treat others with disrespect and hostility, we are disrespecting ourselves as well. This behavior is not only counterproductive it also speeds up our own mortality. Once again, reason is not employed but intelligence is misused to distort reality.

Yes, to deny and to disregard health recommendations and information coming from most Governors, Department of Health or CDC are not just selfish but suicidal. The human need to submit to a force greater than oneself can also be detrimental. The degree of narcissism affects the ability to relate to others in either hostile, productive or creative ways. When there’s an absence of reason, we have distorted reality with an emphasis on common sense, defense mechanisms, nonscientific, self-defeating and irrational thinking. We are in this together like it or not. It’s serious and real.

Taking Cuts

Let’s place Jeff Bezos first, Bill Gates second, Warren Buffett third and so forth followed by the rest of the 300 million or so in our country. In other words, imagine a straight line of people going from the richest to the poorest.  Everyone has a place on that line up regardless of income inequality. There may be a significant wealth gap between the person ahead or the person behind. The idea is that everyone has their place on this imaginary line.

Let’s go back to the time of our founding fathers. In the 1770’s, imagine a line going from the wealthiest to the poorest. The WASP’s were at the head of the line and the slaves and indigenous followed. That socioeconomic system continues today with capitalism being the engine. Today, the concentration of capitalistic wealth and power continues to exist and favors a few individuals, Wall Street, corporations etc.  Further, the politicians are elected and reelected based on the contributions of the elite wealthy groups and keep the power structure secure and in place.

 Humans are competitive and there is a significant positive correlation between competition and capitalism. Capitalism favors, in large part psychologically, on competitiveness. Humans are also self-centered, prejudiced, stingy, exploitative and narcissistic. Humans think and act in the present. Humans have difficulty delaying gratification. It’s about gratification and short-term pleasure in the here and now. Forget about tomorrow and take all that you can when you can. Corporations similarly think in the short-term with their quarterly goals, and maximizing profits. One never knows about tomorrow. In fact, the fossil fuel industry is speeding up the process of self-destruction regardless of the existential threat of climate change and the Earth’s demise. They certainly don’t care about the grandchildren. In fact, the second coming of Christ or Armageddon may happen first. So, don’t worry because we have honor, glory and power.

Let’s focus on the current president and his party. This WASP has a history of lying, cheating and taking advantage of others in order further his self-interest. So when he says Make America Great;  I’m going to build the wall and make Mexico pay for it to keep out the rapists, criminals drug’s etc.; or calling somebody a traitor, a snake etc., he’s sending a clear fear  message. The message is to the uneducated white males and others. The message is that people with a different skin color or people who believe in a different religion or God are not going to get ahead and pass you in line. Your place in line is secure. You may not like him, but like his policies of tax cuts for the elite and keeping others out of the country because he’s saving your place in line. Furthermore, the same God that’s on our coin; the God reference on our Pledge of Allegiance; also gave the Wasp power elite the permission to wipe out the Indians as in Manifest Destiny. Our God further supports the discrimination policies against the poor, vulnerable and weak.

Immigrants and these other peoples are not going to receive citizenship, minimum wage, health insurance, Social Security, or even Medicare for all. A socialistic government that provides subsidies and entitlements for farmers for not growing crops; for the fossil fuel industry; or for Wall Street, Boeing etc. is okay because they’re God-given entitled. But, if we start paying people a minimum wage and give them health insurance then this form of a democratic socialistic government is bad because these people may get ahead of you in line.

Politically, Bernie Sanders is bad because he’s saying “no” to the corporate world with their money influencing lobbyists. More importantly, the country’s demographics are changing and people are supporting Bernie which, if elected, will enable many people to pass and then take cuts in line in front of all those old, uneducated, white male WASP folks. Forget about love thy neighbor as thyself and replace it with me first, me first and me first. Keep your place in line at all costs and certainly do not allow others to take cuts. As far as messaging goes, what propaganda group is behind not wanting workers lose their health insurance? Who loves their health insurance? The goal of each health insurance group is profits. Medicare for all will interfere with profits for the insurance company.

If most understood about pure or traditional socialism, Bernie would be the hero and not the capitalist villain. Instead, the politicians, the brainwashing by the sophisticated government media system cleverly equated socialism with Soviet and Chinese communism. These totalitarian systems are diametrically opposed to pure socialistic practices in which the workers control production. The truth doesn’t matter when it comes to government propaganda. The uneducated belief is that socialism is bad and evil just like communism. Bernie does not have a chance because too many are ganging up on him with their hands extended out to the lobbyists. Who wants to bite the hand that feeds them?

In our form of a Republic, capitalism is our God with the pursuit of greed, profit, power, exploitation, destruction. and control. Thus, the pursuit of happiness is largely defined and based on socioeconomic status. Within our political and economic system, competition, aggression, narcissism, dominance, and achievement flourish. The result allows the powerful to rule by keeping most others in their place. The antithesis is Judaic-Christian principles and moral socialistic ideals with its qualities of humanism. Love thy neighbor, assist the poor, welcome strangers, not lying, killing and cheating, absence of jealousy, rule of democracy , highest development of man etc. are principles and qualities of and for the people. Jesus, a true socialist, and his teachings are not requirements for our mixed-oligarchy-autocracy --limited democratic, capitalistic republic.

It Ain't Easy

For those of you that are auditory learners, the article “Get Healthier Through Listening” found in the New York Times dated February 2, 2020 might be a good fit. The article lists seven interesting podcasts regarding health. This essay pertains to both physical and emotional health.

The following are the 7 podcasts:

1.     Hurdle- pertains to stories from numerous experts and their useful tools in the fitness world of health. The starter episode is titled “How to Start [and Stay] Running.

2.     Mental illness Happy Hour-pertains to intimate and private conversations with guests about their humorous and traumatic psychological issues. The starter episode is titled “Best of: Rob Delaney [2011].”

3.     The Nutrition Divas Quick and Dirty Tips for Eating Well and Feeling Fabulous- pertains to variety of topics, dietary advice and simple lessons by being better informed. The starter episode is titled “10 Nutrition Worries You Can Stop Stressing About.”

4.     An Arm and a Leg-pertains to dealing with the cost of healthcare and wellness and how to navigate the pitfalls. The starter episode is titled “Can They Freaking Do That?!”

5.     Food Psych-pertains to stories about how individuals unlearn years of restrictive unhealthy behaviors by listening to various body cues. The starter episode is titled “Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size FAQs.”

6.     Outside Podcast- pertains to stories set in the great outdoors where well-being is placed at the intersection of physical endurance and psychological upheaval while looking at the amazing ability of the body in overcoming many stresses. The starter episode is titled “Struck by Lightning.”

7.     The Model Health Show-pertains to overall health by overhauling lifestyle, accelerating fat loss and building muscle mass. Combatting chronic pain from generative disc disease is one example. The starter episode is titled “T MHS 383: How Your Thoughts Control Your Biology and How to Transform Your Thinking.”  

These podcasts fit well within today’s electronic media savvy population and provides much information. Just sit back and listen. However, 200,000 years ago our ancestors were hunters and gatherers. This suggests that they just didn’t sit around and learn by listening. For information gathering, they used other senses for survival too. Then, about 10 to 12,000 years ago agriculture was introduced and with its many labor saving devices that diminished physical activity. So presently, one suggestion, if you’re going to listen to a podcast, begin by standing. Sitting in chairs, sofas etc. are unhealthy.

 Consider, taking a look at what might be holding you back from engaging in and in making better decisions regarding physical and mental health. Obviously we are talking about lifestyle and the numerous behavioral reinforcements or lack of reinforcements made over time. Another factor to consider but related is that likely the problem is not about lack of information but about doing or simply put, motivation to do.

As for motivation goes, it’s important to have a significant, important and meaningful measurable goal. It takes more than saying to yourself I want to get in better physical and emotional shape. There has to be an important reason; a priority; enough time and energy; realistic markers that show growth and improvement; and ability to navigate and work through the barriers or obstacles. Saying I want to get in better physical and emotional shape does not work because the goal has to be measured or evaluated effectively. For example, I’ll list 6 of my goals: 1. Consuming a minimum of 7 servings of fruit and vegetables a day 2. Writing at least one essay per week 3. Running – walking at least 45 to 55 miles per week 4.Competing in at least three   10 mile trail running events per year 5. Taking I scoop 100% Whey Protein, 1000mg Omega3, 100mg B1  ,and  100mg  B2  daily 6.Performing  at least 300 crunches per day

If you are auditory learner, the seven podcasts might be helpful as a starting point. Physical and mental health take a lot of work and as I said in an earlier post “It Ain’t Easy.”

American Virus

The Coronavirus is our latest threat, once more, placing our country at risk.  Just follow the Dow. Yes, there was a press conference on Wednesday. The president, on one hand, gave incorrect statistics and minimized the health threat of the coronavirus while, on the other hand, he appointed the vice president to be in charge. Further, medical doctors provided more realistic information about the threat of this virus .The very next day, the Dow dropped close to 1200 points. This essay illustrates the mental and physical danger that the Republican Party poses to our country

For a brief background, let’s return to the “Founding Fathers”.  Jefferson’s Preamble of the Constitution began with “We the people of the United States……” Jefferson’s” We “however, referred only to White, Anglo- Saxon, Wealthy, Male, Protestant landowners. Further, per Madison, the Senators were appointed by the state legislatures. Power was placed in the hands of the few.   The Senators, under the Constitution, were given the power to convict or remove the president from office. These founding fathers also established and implemented the biased Electoral College as another power-control mechanism.

The plutocracy model or minority rule of the rich was based on past Greek and English philosophers. The idea of a consolidation of power was also referred to as an oligarchy. These people were considered distinguished by their ability, wealth, education, corporate, political, religious or military control. Related was the belief in Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny meant that it was sanctioned by God to expand the US throughout the American continents. It was considered both justified and inevitable. Since 1945, we took over the world. Thus, we had Power and Possession held by the elite in order to control and withhold from the masses. The masses were seen as uneducated, morally inferior and ruled for their own good.

Let’s view some of our current economic problems for the populace: A. 1. A fraction of 1%, in the country, holds an enormous amount of net worth 2. Since the 1970s, the middle class has been shrinking along with stagnant wage growth and an absence of savings 3. College debt is in excess of $1.5 trillion 4.  We have an increase in part-time employment with no benefits. 5. Subsidies go to Wall Street, automobile manufacturers, farmers, oil companies, fossil fuels, foreign countries, Boeing etc.  6. Tax cuts are primarily for the corporations and upper 1% 7. Corporations don’t pay  taxes; manufacture products in low-paying countries; hide money in offshore accounts 8.We have the greatest  ever increase in the budget deficit 9 Our massive military expenditures dwarf all other countries.

Current health problems for the populace: B. 1. About 16% are uninsured including 8 million children 2. Opioid epidemic continues 3. Health care and prescription costs are excessive compared to other countries 4. We have cuts and the deregulations to EPA which affects things like mercury emissions, climate change, pollution of chemicals, radiation, fuel economy etc. 5.  There are state attempts to eliminate and overturn Roe versus Wade rulings 6.  We have over 500,000 homeless 7.  We have had numerous legislative attempts to eliminate the Affordable Care Act 8.  There is a denial of the science of climate change and a withdrawal from both Paris and Iran climate and nuclear accords 9. Our obesity statistics rage10. There’s approximately 400 bills from the house and senate that are controlled by Mitch McConnell’s withholding 11. There have been recent cuts and limited funding for the Center for Disease Control or CDC.

 Current social problems for the populace: C. 1. Gun murders are out-of-control 2. We have lack of common sense gun laws because of NRA lobbyists 3.  We have excessive racial incarceration rates 4. We have discriminatory hiring and firing practices 5.  We have discriminatory housing availability 6. Voter suppression and gerrymandering practices exist 6. The labor unions have been diminished in power 7. The Senate is easily controlled by a few states with its limited population.8.Voter plurality in an election does not always work. 9. Believing one’s vote does not count or matter exists 10.  House Republicans opposed legislation against teaching a curriculum of climate change in the schools 11.  Every Republican running for president in 2016, with the exception of John Kasich, denied the existential crisis of global warming 12. The Doomsday Clock has moved us closer to midnight thanks to this Republican administration.

The elite with its control of the media affects attitudes and public opinion. George Romney called it brainwashing.  Charles Wilson Sec. of the Defense allegedly said “What’s good for General Motors is good for the country; “and Colin Kaepernick of the NFL kneeled during the national anthem in protest of police brutality and racial inequality in 2016, his last season of football. He was also criticized by the current president.

 Socialism has been labeled bad and dangerous to capitalism and democracy. However, Karl Marx wrote that man could become more human when he became more aware of his socioeconomic conditions. By becoming aware, then it’s up to the working class man to produce goodness with changes. By changing conditions, man doesn’t have to become exploited, but can achieve self-realization on the road to maximize his human potential. Karl Marx believed that the subordination of the individual for the economic ends of the powerful state and of the concentration of capital results in man’s alienation and feelings of powerlessness. Further, Marx thought that no privileged group can become associated with humanism.

Bernie Sanders has been called a democratic socialist and supports climate change legislation, universal healthcare, pro-labor, free college, eliminating college debt etc. Bernie is a front runner with much populace support. In order for him to win, he requires a high voter turnout with those believing that their votes count too. So, having a Bernie movement is a threat to the few with their power and possession. Remember power is to control the masses and possession means withholding from the masses based on socioeconomics. Therefore, we can expect a negative media onslaught against Bernie’s candidacy in order for them to discredit him. Being truthful about Bernie does not matter. The spreading of doubt, lies or to cast a dark shadow is what matters for those doing the smearing. Power, possession for the educated elite is what matters. It’s not about the masses. They need to be controlled for their own good.

Workers unite, come together, protest and change the system.

It Ain't Easy

We expend an enormous amount of energy inside our heads. We have more conversations with ourselves than with anyone else.  We think about the past. We recall many of our decisions that we should have done differently; of what we should have said; as well as the many conversations about what we should not have said. We obsess and ruminate as well as engage in rehearsing lines and conversations for interactions. We hold on to many irrational ideas, beliefs as well as falsehoods. Often, inner conversations can be negative. Negativity affects mood, anxiety and depression as well as self-esteem. Irrational thinking and beliefs, more than not, leads to ineffective behavior. We can also think in positive ways and make positive behavior or choices.  Negative thinking about future often leads to worry and anxiety along with inappropriate behavioral decision-making. We make ourselves ill by our predictions and behavior. Are anyone’s predictions any better than chance? We also plan, fantasize, synthesize, create and use our imagination.  It should be obvious that we can spend too much inappropriate or nonproductive time with thinking. The Greeks warned us about thinking and as Epicurus reminded us” nothing is good or bad, thinking makes it so.” The article in the January 26, 2020 edition of the New York Times was timely. This article was about mindfulness. Mindfulness, briefly, is keeping our thinking in the present while concentrating on our breathing. While in a mindfulness state, we withdraw and protect ourselves, for a moment, from irrational and stupid thinking and beliefs. This essay addresses mindfulness. Can mindfulness can be effective in combatting high blood pressure?

Mindfulness is pertinent within the religion of Buddhism. Factually, Buddhism is the fourth most popular religion at present. During the drug revolution in our country, the enlightened found insights from this Eastern religion. Gurus went to India to learn and Indian gurus came here to teach. 50 to 60 years later, mindfulness is a $4 billion industry. Its technique has been taught to our enlightened major capitalistic businesses; to our military; to educational systems and of course has been used therapeutically. There is a tremendous amount of reading material that can be found on Amazon-60,000 titles regarding mindfulness. Many mindfulness research articles on mental and physical illness can be found.  However, our illegitimate health care insurance system does not subscribe. Our healthcare system instead is in love with the pharmaceutical industry and would rather promote a pill to treat the populace.

As a tool, mindfulness is used effectively within psychotherapy practices to help assist with treating depression and anxiety.  Roughly a third of all adults in United States have high blood pressure which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. According to The New York Times article, there were inconclusive research findings when employing mindfulness to treat high blood pressure.  Perhaps, a clear cut definition of mindfulness is one issue.

Actually, the definition or an operational definition of mindfulness is one of the most important parts to any research design. Therefore, let’s criticize research design. In any research design, the operational definition and the random sample of those studied are pertinent. Since all studies, do not employ a truly random sample, generalizations from the study are limited to the collected sample. It’s no wonder why there are so many inconclusive findings regarding mindfulness. Moreover, mindfulness is one variable in the study of high blood pressure. Other important variables are necessary to be controlled such as diet, physical activity, philosophy of life etc. in any research design model. Furthermore, in studying heart disease, we know that individuals with high blood pressure have made poor lifetime health decisions. More than likely, these individuals would prefer to take a pill, to increase the profits of the pharmaceuticals, than to change lifestyle choices. Thus, the importance of a random sample of the population cannot be overstated. It’s also much more difficult to study mindfulness than comparing it to a study using a pill and a placebo. Why not have the pharmaceuticals fund research regarding mindfulness, high blood pressure etc.?

Another way to study mindfulness is to take a look at individuals that do not have high blood pressure and heart disease for study. Let’s find individuals with the following characteristics: 1. Individuals that employ mindfulness as a philosophy and behavioral choice 2. Making nutritious and healthy food choices 3. Employing regular physical activity and exercise 4. Not smoking 5. Limited drinking of alcohol 6. A life engaging in inspiration and meaning 7. Having an enriched emotional life. I’ll wager that in sampling these individuals, high blood pressure will not be found.

In my book “It Has Nothing To Do with Age, I met athletes who participated in extreme sports. Not surprising, none of my sample of athletes had high blood pressure or heart disease. In my book, can be found a prescription for optimum life expectancy. In essence, optimum mental and physical health are a result of consistent numerous healthy behavioral choices. Consistent and numerous healthy choices are underlined.  There is no one magic bullet.  It’s clear that mindfulness can be used as a tool for a healthy life. And per David Bowie  “It Ain’t Easy.”

Trumps Mental Health

The following is a clinical description of Donald J. Trump. Information was found based on his words, newspaper articles, television news, documentaries, and tweets. The dynamics of anxiety, power, prestige, possession, narcissism, sadism, competitiveness, fears of failure and lying account for much of this man’s behavior.

Underlying Trump’s personality and character is considerable anxiety which affects inner insecurity and accompanies his push for power. This is an unconscious process. The purpose for this “power” behavior is an attempt to alleviate from feeling helplessness, fearfulness, weakness and/or inadequateness unconsciously. Therefore, it’s an attempt to reduce the unpleasantness which is anxiety.  Hostility accompanies the expressing of “power.” Often, anger-hostility is pushed away from consciousness by the defense of repression. As a result of repression, it doesn’t take much to provoke him, and he is quick to react or explode. So he is trapped by his own anxiety, inferiority and hostility.

 Trump is extremely sensitive to any appearance or perception of being weak or inadequate. To compensate for this insecurity, he displays being in control and by dismissing anyone not loyal or subservient. He appears not to give in nor ever admit to being wrong. He does not seem to take advice from experts and even boasts about knowing more than the general’s or anyone else. To illustrate, Trump visited Dover Air Force Base to witness the return of a Navy Seal killed in air raid gone bad. He shifted the blame to his generals by remarking “This is something they wanted to do.” These character traits are compensations and a defense for his anxiety, inferiority, insecurity or weakness. He has to dominate others and project power regardless of the situation. For instance, at the recent National Prayer Breakfast, he did a fist pump while addressing the crowd.

Trump is fearful of feeling of being regarded or perceived as being insignificant. His “power” rigid bravado of sadistic verbal assaults provides a distortion that promotes his illogical belief that he can master, influence or dominate any situation, no matter how difficult.   Any display of insignificance or weakness for him is simply a disgrace. He has to be in charge or in control.   His need to control results in permitting few to join his circle. Make no mistake- he is the boss. By being the boss, hiring and firing become the norm.  He classifies people as either strong or weak .He despises, with contempt, those that are “weak.”  Really, was war hero John McCain weak for being a prisoner of war.

Trump’s recent attempt to hold up the aid to Ukraine was another example of his drive for power, dominance and control. His phone call was perfect, which meant for him that he was right. His passive aggressiveness was evident by keeping witnesses from testifying and ignoring subpoenas. This is Executive Privilege?  He would not give in because striving for power means that he can’t give in nor admit fault because that would be a weakness. In fact, his attorney said that if the President thought that it was for the public good, then this would be ok. The president holds the most powerful position in the world. This is a perfect fit for this man’s character.

With his anxiety is also his drive for prestige, admiration or stature.  He has a narcissistic desire to impress others, to be admired and respected. To be admired, he flaunts money lavishly and conspicuously. He displays his name on buildings, golf courses etc. Prior to obtaining office, he had numerous radio interviews with Howard Stern. Made contact with reporters from the New York Times in order for them to print stories about him. If you do not admire nor worship him, you are his enemy. He calls various networks and reporters who criticize him as fake and the enemy. In other words, you have to display admiration for this man because if not, you’re seen as a traitor and an enemy. These behaviors do not extinguish his anxiety nor remove him from experiencing an unconscious feeling of humiliation. However, once again, the result of this unconscious mental ordeal or process is met by the repression of hostility. This results in more anxiety and explosiveness. Pelosi, Romney and others, who do not admire him, are seen as enemies.  His turning his back to Pelosi and not shaking her hand during the State of the Union and his diatribe at the Prayer Breakfast are examples of his rage, hostility, verbal abuse and an attempt to humiliate another. He has to humiliate others with his verbal sadistic attacks. He does not forget nor forgive his enemies. He gets even in his passive aggressive ways. Just ask, Comey ,Sondlund, Kelly, Mattis, McMaster. Lt Col Vindman and his brother, Cohen etc.? What can be more humiliating to this narcissist than to be impeached?

His push for narcissistic prestige including his competitiveness, result in him leading, being first and having more than the other every single time. He told others that his inauguration crowd was larger than Pres. Obama’s; his Mexico-Canada trade deal is the best in history; his beautiful  border wall ; claims he’s the most successful president ever and won against impeachment. His self-promotion boasting goes on and on. This prestige drive once again is his defense against unconsciously feeling humiliation. His competitiveness with his drive to avoid failure is strong. He cheats at golf by moving his ball in a more advantaged position or in bending the rules to lower his score every time. He hides his tax returns from scrutiny as it would likely   expose some form of cheating resulting in embarrassment. Furthermore, he even wants Congress to expunge his impeachment from record. Will these behaviors reduce his anxiety or sense of worldwide public humiliation?

This Presidents striving for possession hostility takes the form of a tendency to deprive others by exploiting and restricting them.  He believes that he can outwit others and/or injure them in some way. Earlier discrimination against Blacks from obtaining housing, numerous bankruptcies and withholding money payment from others, not paying taxes are examples of exploitation and withholding. The exploitation from his phony University and Foundation are other examples. He withheld government money from the Ukraine in their war against Russia; received foreign help to win an election; and outwitted the Congress in the impeachment proceedings. The personality tendency to deprive or exploit is anxiety based. His unconscious belief and projection is that others take advantage of him. They cheat and exploit. This is simply a projection He is the liar, cheater and exploiter.

He deprives others with his executive orders and government policies of keeping “others” out of this country with walls or executive orders on immigration. It doesn’t seem to matter that he hires “illegals” to work at his golf club establishments. On top of that, young at the border are taken from their parents. Why should any child have to be taken from their mother during critical periods of their personality development? For many, these separation anxiety scars never heal. Why take away healthcare, pre-existing conditions and deprive so many ill Americans with no plan for improvement? It’s an attempt to deprive regardless of it being Obama’s Affordable Care Act. Budget cuts to Social Security, EPA, CDC, etc. are more of the same. He is sadistic, mean-spirited, hurtful and foolish. This emphasis to begrudge is exploitive and is meant to further divide the haves from the have-nots.

In essence, underlying the striving for power goes back to feelings of inferiority. The quest for prestige is narcissistic and the striving for power and possession are sadomasochistic and withholding. With these personality dynamics, we find anxiety and repression of hostility. He cannot control his anxiety, hostility and attacks. Unfortunately, these make up Donald J. Trump’s sad character and unconscionable behaviors.

Fear, Anxiety and Hostility

We live in dangerous and stressful times. This essay acknowledges the present amount of fear and anxiety in our culture and society and the defenses and behaviors employed in our country. Although fear and anxiety are both emotional reactions to danger, there are differences between the two. Briefly, or simply put, fear of danger [fire, earthquake, hurricanes, nuclear and world war, climate change,  terrorist threats and attacks, dark skinned  immigrants, government made crises, rattlesnakes, terminal diagnosis etc.] is transparent ,obvious and objective . Our response can be to fight, flight or freeze.  With  anxiety [tension, worry, concern, stress and statements like: are you okay,? slow down and don’t get too close to that car, take the cell phone with you on the trail, and my mother would say while in my 60’s when going for a run “don’t hurt yourself ”] ,is  hidden, subjective and typically denied. In other words, anxiety can exist without awareness. Furthermore, anxiety can contribute to an unconscious or conscious feeling of helplessness, loss of control, vulnerability and weakness against and inescapable danger as when I encountered a mountain lion and her two cubs on the trail. Often because of unawareness,  but not limited to ,we utilize many strategies, defenses or responses  like [denial, rationalization, alcohol, drugs, sex, inhibitions, gun purchases, yoga, keeping busy, inhibitions, poor achievement and impaired critical thinking] in an attempt to avoid, reduce or to distort this awful feeling.  Furthermore, with the appearance of hostile impulses, anxiety follows.  

Anxiety and fears at an earlier time in my life as follows:  I do remember being in the living room, at a young age, with my mother, in our family home on Evanston Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. There was an actual city blackout during World War II or before September 2, 1945. After that memory, I dreamt of being in our second floor attic with a gun defending our home against Nazi Germans.

I was five years of age when the atomic bomb obliterated Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.  I did not have a conscious recollection of that event. However, at Wayne elementary school, we would head to the school basement for air raid drills. In 1947 the Doomsday Clock was originated in response to the development of the atomic and hydrogen bombs. Currently, climate change has been added to the equation. The atomic clock, for the first time, is now 100 seconds to midnight. This symbolic clock, represents a countdown to a potential global catastrophe.  A hostile governmental stance taken toward Iran and others are additions to the equation.

Another memory dating back to 1948 when I went to a movie theater with my parents and brother. I witnessed the horrors of the Israeli war of independence between the two double feature movies. The movie theater was in Mount Clemens, Michigan. I do not remember the movies seen.

 Other memories include being outside playing football, baseball and hockey in the streets or at various playing fields. These were pickup games for peers only. I got on my one speed Schwinn bicycle and brought peers from the neighborhood together for games. Or, I would pedal far distances and not think anything about it. At 12 years of age, I took 3 public buses after school for an hour and a half ride one way across town to meet the Rabbi for Torah instructions for my Bar Mitzvah. I would walk to Wayne elementary school, to Jackson junior high school and at times to Denby high school.

In October, 1962, I remember the Missile Crisis. However, it wasn’t until the Doomsday Machine Confessions of a Nuclear War-Pentagon Papers per Daniel Ellsberg became public, I didn’t realize how close nor the number of times we were  to  a nuclear war catastrophe  with the Russians. Nor did I realize the myth of the black box carried by the president with the nuclear codes. Starting with Eisenhower, the military established their own aggressive formula or criteria for releasing a nuclear bomb or missile to combat the fear of being attacked.

Currently some facts and observations: I drive or run in my community and I seldom witness kids playing with other kids in the streets, on the soccer fields or on the pickle ball courts. If I see children or kids, I also find an adult involved in their play. I rarely see a young kid on a bicycle. I may see a youngster playing on their front lawn. I witness kids waiting for the school bus but seldom see anyone walking to or from school. Some of the kids of today participate in school and sport activities along with parents being the drivers, their cheerleaders and coaches. Are these characteristics only for my community or do they represent the norm in most communities? Yes, today’s fearful and anxiety driven parents have been called helicopter parents in an attempt to control and protect their children. What about school gun safety drills?

On the front page of the January 19, 2020 The New York Times was titled “A Facial Recognition App That Puts Privacy in Peril.” One of today’s news stories was that a wife was charged with murdering her husband after she burned down the house. She then ran over him with her car. Another story was about the dangers of Deepfake and cheap fake video technology with its ability to spread lies, transmit and distort the truth.

Also in the news is impeachment. This so-called trial lacks cross examinations; witnesses; documents; or jury picked by lawyers. It does have congressional intimidation. This congressional mockery does have features of a trial in that it’s held in a formal setting, with two sides presenting their arguments However, in this case, the defense determines the parameters, rules or guidelines as well as whether or not to hear witnesses and documents and the length or duration of the proceeding.  President or White House has intimidated and threatened many involved but not limited to this current happening. As a result, the model of power with subjectivity, impaired critical thinking, and being above the law has many government individuals and the media fearful and anxious about the Constitution, democracy, and the rule of law. Trump has been called dangerous like being a king with his hostile and aggressive posture. He places the health of our nation at risk.

We are told about terrorist attacks, hate crimes, building a wall “to keep out murderers, drug dealers and rapists,” travel and immigration bans etc. The media and reporters from the opposing group are put down and verbally attacked. We bomb others and they retaliate. We have been at war and wonder why these people want revenge and threaten us. Plenty of hostility here.

Additional stresses evolve around the Democrats running for the upcoming presidential election. Briefly, Bernie Sanders has been labeled a “ communist;” Tom Steyer believes that the skillful capital allocation is critical to a growing society; Andrew Yang points out that we have a  decline of babies born and only one third graduate from college which means fewer work skills and 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck; Elizabeth Warren  states  almost half of the country cannot afford a $4-$500 medical bill, 36 million are unable to fill a prescription and about 35 million avoid going to a doctor because of the bill; Deval  Patrick  is concerned about the dividedness in the country; Joe Biden talks about the racial inequities, economic equities related to home value , insurance, home insurance and because of embarrassment  folks from poor neighborhoods  don’t  involve themselves in their kids’ education.

We have numerous scary and fearful books and movies with titles like “Contagion,” “Nyctophobia,” “The Shining,” “It Comes at Night,” “Annabel Comes Home” and novels such as “The Sum of All Fears,” “School of Fear,” “After the Fall,” Death in the Fearful Night,” and “A Sudden Fearful Death.” On my homepage , I found “Coronavirus update: US issues travel ban warning as Delta to suspend China flights;”  “Death toll rises as public health officials work to combat coronavirus”  and “Beware the Revenge Impeachment.”

In my gated community, a past board of directors made sure that undesirables from a neighboring town would not be welcomed. Someone else would like my handgun to protect him and his wife when they go camping in various state parks. Another, has a spotlight shining in and around their horses at night as well as having a series of padlocks on all their doors. Home security services are rampant as well as life alert instruments.  We have phone apps that inform us of nearby fires. I very seldom see individuals on the trail. When I do, they either have a dog or are with another runner.

This brief essay illustrates some aspects of the prevalence of fear and anxiety in our culture and society. These emotions and behaviors have has been with us for a long time. Yes, some of our defenses against this emotional reality has been on a behavioral national level of creating weapons of mass destruction, spending enormous sums on a military budget, and having the best fighting force ever. We are now beginning to address climate change. The population has an addiction to food, drugs, and alcohol. We have the highest percentage of incarceration rates per population, highest murder rates, and highest amount of gun collection. Even our second amendment to the United States Constitution is supposed to protect us. We can have weapons for self-defense. We have all types of insurance, warranties and protection plans for our purchases. Not much trust there. Yes, when we experience hostility, fear, and anxiety, our defenses can be found.

With the presence of fear, anxiety and our defenses, the costs to our country are great. First, the result of these emotions is exemplified in terms of the tremendous amount of hostility generated, and the defenses and behaviors employed. These emotions and behavior are exhibited within group identity division, tribalism, nationalism, etc. Second, the countries mental health is in decline as evidenced by the deterioration in ethics, moral values, rule of law and humanism. In other words, we are compromised by our many defenses. Machiavelli’s perception was right regarding the use of fear to control the masses.

PS

On a lighter note, last Saturday’s Jed Smith half marathon was good. I was accompanied by Tony and we later went to Baskin Robbins for ice cream.

Finding Happiness

“Is Anyone Happy Anymore?”  titled a December 22, 2019 article in The New York Times. The writer mentioned climate neglect, toxic politics and mortality as issues interfering with happiness. This essay comments on the listed examples of happiness.

The descriptions of happiness were: 1. “Think little” written by Wendell Berry “A person who is growing a garden, if he is growing it organically, is improving a piece of the world” 2. The founding fathers found happiness in the idea of pursuit, both in the chase and in the hunt 3. Irish positive pessimism-be happy, things will get worse 4. Catholic guilt-you don’t deserve happiness anyway 5. Happiness cannot be pursued, only realized and chosen 6. Poet Seamus Heaney became a poet who shared, with his readers, the ability to stay pleased 7. Moving back from New York to the family farm in Ireland 8. Meeting Michael Dooley, a farmer, in his 80s who rode a bicycle and continued working the land. Dooley would take off his jacket, lay down on it and watch the world turning with him in it. For Dooley, that was happiness.

In these happiness illustrations, there are a few things to note. For example, happiness entailed pursuing an emotionally and cognitive satisfying activity like farming or hunting. It was physical, in nature, using intelligence, being goal oriented, and having some control. Also included was a personal evaluation with a sense of accomplishment with meaning and purpose. This physical activity could be done alone or with others. The activity was also more primitive than the typical hustle and bustle of needless and sometimes senseless non- personal employment of daily activity. Having a sense of accomplishment and purpose provided a positive emotional state which are necessary for happiness. Note, happiness is behavioral, cognitive, perceptual and emotional. Further, it’s what we do and how we think and evaluate about what we do. Remember, defense mechanisms, drugs and other altering states get away and distort everyday reality because happiness is difficult to achieve.

Another example was aging and mortality. The ability to do and be active without an interfering sickness or illness was important during the aging process. However, the writer noted that he has been married 35 years and his wife had stage III bowel cancer.

 Personally, I am not happy  that I am neither  able to run as fast, nor have the endurance that I did 10 years ago, but I’m happy and pleased that I  still run. Therefore, I entered the Jed Smith half marathon which is shorter than previous endurance runs. This upcoming event is scheduled for tomorrow. My friend Tony plans to be my pacer. Once again, being physically active along with an emotional sense of accomplishment, purpose, future and goalsetting results in a positive sense of being. I’ll be happy when I have completed the run. Then as a tradition {future}, we stop at Baskin - Robbins for the real reward. Ice cream happily continues to be my favorite food. Tony stated “We will be able to get ice cream earlier this year.”

Loneliness Is a Health Problem

This essay was based on the article “Is There a Cure for Loneliness? found in the December 2019/January 2020 AARP.  The following are past writings pertaining to loneliness: 1. Existentialists have identified one of the painful truths of mankind - he is lost based upon the self-awareness of his existence 2. Sociologist Emile Durkheim in his classic study  “Suicide ,”explored the breakdown of social connections 3.Erich Fromm described,  in depth, the trend to withdraw from the world because of  automation and conformity in  his  insightful” Escape from Freedom” 4. Sociologist David Riesman in” The Lonely Crowd “analyzed the impact of the “other directed” individual as he related it to   interpersonal connections in society 5. Psychologist Henry Murray and others have identified psychological needs of Affiliation, Achievement, Aggression, Power and Possession and how these needs interact and interfere with human relationships thereby contributing to the concept of loneliness.  

The added cost to Medicare is almost $7 billion a year resulting from people living in isolation. Loneliness shortens lifespan, kills more than heart disease, contributes to Alzheimer’s, and affects high blood pressure, suicide and even the common cold. It’s been said that it’s more dangerous than obesity and the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

We do not have a restricted definition of loneliness. For example, findings from over 70 studies on loneliness that followed 3.4 million participants for an average of seven years were divided into three groups. The three groups included the following: 1. Those lacking from sufficient social connection or being socially isolated from other people-behavioral 2. Those that described themselves as very lonely-[emotional and/or psychological testing] 3. Those that lived alone-behavioral. The researcher found that the definition didn’t matter nor whether these participants were healthy at the time the study. All three these groups statistically had an early death.

Essentially, the statistics on loneliness were based on feelings; physical isolation; marital status; number of close friends and family members; the amount of television watched; declining marriage rates; and increasing rates of childlessness. The definition doesn’t seem to matter as it included perception, psychological testing and behavioral descriptions.  Loneliness was also related to unsatisfactory interpersonal relationships. Other loneliness  symptoms included: alcohol, drug and food addiction; wars; nationalism; hate groups; divorce; online shopping; electronic devices; social network; physical and mental illness. In other words, the concept of loneliness is complex, prevalent, long explored, with many tangled components.

There was another complication or component of loneliness. According to the DSM, the bible of mental health diagnoses, some of the descriptions of symptoms -feelings and behavior pertaining to loneliness can be found in the diagnostic category of depression which is an Affective Disorder. However, loneliness as a diagnosis, was not found in the DSM.

 Furthermore, with the body or physical side, researchers had identified in subjects who were lonely, activity in white blood cells suggesting a state of alert. It’s as if, white blood cells were responding to a bacterial infection or inflammation. Hans Selye’s research on the stress or the general adaption syndrome came to mind with the increase of cortisol that disrupted equilibrium resulting in an attack to one’s immune system. It’s our body’s production of antibodies that make us more vulnerable to diseases.  There are two psychometric measures of stress- The External Stress Index and The Internal Stress Index .These two instruments provide numerical values for levels of stress. Of course included in these indices are life events, thoughts and emotions that correspond to states of loneliness. In other words loneliness was a prime example of the body- mind connection. It demonstrated the power, significance and interplay between the two.

Treatment for the causes of loneliness are limited to say the least. Treatment could be a  dose of naproxen  [Aleve] to reduce the bodies inflammatory responses; a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor [SSRI] to reduce  a sense of social threat that underlies long-term loneliness; or cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT] to personalize and teach individual coping and engaging strategies.

Loneliness is a significant health, social and economic problem in our country and called an epidemic in Great Britain. With that being said, let’s hypothesize that an individual presented to the psychotherapist the following as a presenting problem for treatment “I’m lonely and I need tools, based upon my personality, to help me.” If the person was willing to pay out-of-pocket fees that would be acceptable. However, if the person-patient expected that his health insurance company would pay the therapist, for treatment, he would be wrong. It’s the collusion between the health insurance companies that decide what presenting problem or diagnosis are going to be reimbursed. Obviously, their decision has nothing to do with health. And we call them health insurance companies? We should rename them exploitive companies. Their primary goal has nothing to do with health but only with collecting premiums to reinforce their profits. They know how to exclude and have developed sophisticated strategies to deny third-party payment for service. And, why do you want to keep your health insurance company? Expose the fraudulent behavior, contact your representatives. Demand that these companies provide real health insurance based on health and wellbeing.

Discrimination in the Republic

This essay incorporates five articles pertaining to discrimination between people. The references were found in the New York Times: October 8, 2017 “It’s Not Easy to Prove Racism. This Study Does;” January 3, 2019 “An Ancient and Abiding Hatred;” April 28, 2019 “Prejudice Is Blind;” “December 8, 2019 “Science Class Defies Racism with Genetics;” and December 29, 2019 “Outsiders Influence.”

There were roughly 20,000 emails sent to local government employees in nearly every county in our country. These emails were identical except that half came from either De Shawn Jackson or Tyrone Washington-group 1. The other half of the emails came from either Greg Walsh or Jake Mueller-group 2. According to the researchers, the emails sent to each local officeholder were determined by chance. Were there differences between the two groups? If so, which group of emails were more likely to be answered? If you guessed that group 1 were 13% more likely to go unanswered you were correct.

In a second experiment, the same 20,000 emails were sent to the same recipients. The researchers added real estate agent to the names. Did adding real estate agent change the reply pattern between the two groups? In counties that had a greater proportion of whites, group 2 emails were more likely to be returned. The authors concluded that in local government offices, the recipients were less responsive to those with African-American names compared to white sounding names.

Another researcher found that people’s brains were more active when they were viewing faces from someone with their own physical likeness. In another study, Police officers were asked to look at a computer screen.    They were either exposed to crime related words like apprehend and capture -group 1 or words not related to crime-group 2. The officers then saw two faces side-by-side one black and one white. The officers who looked at group 1 words spent more time looking at the blackface compared to the Whiteface. Analyzing data from the New York Police Department, the researcher found that black men were more likely than white men to have been stopped for engaging in what’s called furtive movement-suspicious behavior like fidgeting with something at your waistline.

In an article about hatred and prejudice, columnist Bret Stephens, stated “that most Jews nevertheless can be said to stand for certain ideals and attitudes. A particular concept of morality. A reverence for law founded on the idea of truth. A penchant for asking nettlesome questions. Skepticism toward would-be saviors. A liberal passion for freedom.” He went on to say that “anti-Semites tend to have the opposite set of views for reasons that may be repugnant but are perfectly rational. The fundamental truth about anti-Semitism isn’t that it’s necessarily crazy. It’s that it’s inevitably brutish.” Merriam-Webster defines brutish “showing little intelligence or sensibility.”

These articles, although not exhaustive on the subject of discrimination, illustrate biases and prejudices .In an attempt to add knowledge about Homo sapiens, research and training curriculum for secondary biology teachers had been initiated in our country. This program will measure attitudes of students before the course and after course completion. The focus, for the first time, pertain to the science of genetics explaining the similarities and differences between people.  Because of the sensitivity of the subject matter, not all school districts wanted to take part in the curriculum program.

This curriculum attempts to counter such attitudes and beliefs as “members of one racial group are more ambitious than members of another racial group because of genetics; genetics are causes of racial inequality; genes cause racial groups to have distinct skills, and abilities.” It’s clear that racial categories –census have been used to justify and discriminate governmental policies in our country. Can this curriculum-program change not only discriminatory thinking but behavior?

A few facts: 1. Genes are the basic units of heredity and are located on chromosomes 2. Chromosomes consist of threadlike strands of DNA molecules in the genes consistent of small segments of DNA. 3. Collectively, genes may number around 25,000 and are referred to as a human genome. 4. Psychological traits likely depend on multiple genes with each one accounting for just a small part of the variance among people 5. A few innate human characteristics: infant reflexes, interest in novelty, desire to explore and manipulate objects, impulse to play and fool around and basic cognitive skills 6. Some diseases like Huntington’s are caused by a single gene.  Genes and many environmental factors influence traits.

Our Census Bureau defines race [a social construct-not based on biology of genetics as a person’s self-identification with one or more social groups] as European, African, Asian, Oceana and Natural American. This census classification is usually based on physical features like skin color, height, color of eyes and hair. There is no evidence that these groups have distinctly unifying genetic identities .There are areas of ample variation within these categories. We also share 99.9 percent of our DNA with each other. And, our DNA provides clues as to our ancestry and our human diversity from geographical areas. Don’t forget that mental and physical health diagnosis like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia etc. do not discriminate census bureau differences. Psychology; personality theory; learning theory; motivational theory etc. employ scientific principles and do not divide people into arbitrary social construct groups.

For example, there have been much discussion about intellectual IQ differences between blacks and whites. Current thinking is that research on intelligence do not suggest that differences are permanent among cultural, ethnic or national groups; are genetically determined; or signs of a group’s innate superiority. Current research suggests that we should make sure all children grow up with the best possible environmental circumstances.  The following are influences that reduce mental ability: 1. Prenatal care 2. Malnutrition 3. Exposure to toxins 4. Stressful family circumstances. Furthermore, genes influence our experiences and that our experiences affect our genes as result of stress, emotions, hormonal etc. In other words, heredity and environment interact to produce psychological traits and abilities.

Our brains program us for survival. As young as six months of age, the newborn can experience stranger anxiety. This means that a baby is likely to cry when exposed to an unfamiliar person or face. Therefore, words, perception and emotional responses occur very early in life. Other senses, like hearing, taste and touch are also clues for survival. Furthermore, psychologically competition in a capitalistic society increases the capacity for getting ahead; aggression; hostility; dominance etc. between and among others. Coming in second place is not rewarded. Being the best is rewarded and valued.

Just think of various words, titles, names, descriptions, and concepts that have an emotional component without any apparent or current danger to oneself. These words, psychologically are discriminatory and are associated with hatred, dislike, bad, aberrant and abusive behavior: 1. Liberal-Conservative 2. Democrat-Republican 3. Socialism 4. Communism 5. White- Black- Brown-Yellow 6. Asian-Iranian 7. Protestant-Catholic-Jew-Muslim 8. LG BT-Abortion-White Nationalist 9. Homeless -Welfare 10. Immigrant- Gun Control- Climate Change 11. Einstein, Freud, Marx, Mendelssohn, Mahler, Bernhardt, Kafka, Obama and Trump to name a few.

Yes, our brains program us for survival and we are easily mislead. Our government effectively uses economic and political propaganda- race to discriminate, dislike, hate, like or to love another. Unfortunately, our interpersonal history centers on competition, aggression, power, dominance, Irrationality, impulsivity, ignorance, lies, misinformation, propaganda etc. Man against man includes our government. Our Republic employs a social construct of race which is discriminatory, nonobjective and nonscientific. This tool obviously gets in the way of humanism and brotherhood. Sorry Jefferson, the myth “that all men are created equal” is just a myth. Our Republic would be better served “to have all men treated equally” and to eliminate the word “race.”

Jim Harbaugh's Challenge

 Jim Harbaugh, the University of Michigan’s football coach, has a problem. Coach Harbaugh was hired by the Wolverines at the end of 2014. He was expected to be the Savior and return the University’s football team to glory- beat OSU. References include Bo’s Warriors - Bo Schembechler and the Transformation of Michigan Football; and personal communication with coach Harbaugh and significant others. A few facts: 1. 21 Wolverines have been drafted by the NFL under coach Harbaugh from 2016-2019. However, coach Harbaugh did not recruit all these players 2. From 2016 -2019, the Wolverines had 4 NFL round 1 draft picks selected 3. Jim Harbaugh was selected by the NFL in round 1 in 1987 4. From 2016-2019 the Ohio State Buckeyes had 35 players drafted by the NFL 5. From 2016-2019, the Buckeyes had 12 NFL round 1 players selected.

Jim Harbaugh was born December 23, 1963 in Toledo, Ohio the second of two boys. At that time, his father Jack was an assistant football coach at a nearby high school. Having a father as a football coach, resulted in a number of relocations. In 1973, the family moved to Ann Arbor when Jack was hired by Coach Bo Schembechler to become a defensive backfield coach. Young Jim was seen being on the Wolverine football field chasing footballs, being around the coaches and their players, and learned firsthand about the illustrious, successful and dominant Wolverines.

It’s not hard to imagine that Jim’s competitiveness was reinforced by his father and older brother John. More than likely, Jim’s fantasies, imagination, dreams, wishes and ideal was related to sports, being a hero, and competing in the macho sport of football. With competitiveness, the fear of failure emerges. For example, one competitor stated “the first loser is coming in second place.”

Briefly, Jim attained All-American honors as a University of Michigan football quarterback under coach Schembechler; came in third in the Heisman trophy voting ; quarterbacked in the NFL from 1987 through 2001; achieved  numerous NFL honors; won awards as a head football college coach; and was one of the most celebrated San Francisco 49ers head coaches. In essence, Jim was a most successful and competitive football player at all levels as well as a most successful football coach at all levels. In other words, his childhood fantasies, dreams, wishes and ideals were realized.

Coach Harbaugh was expected by all to be successful against the Wolverines number one rival the Ohio State Buckeyes. Unfortunately, these expectations are enormous as the Buckeyes were coached by one of the most respected and winningest college coaches of all time-Urban Meyer. Coach Meyer attained 3 national championships. His Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was a Heisman trophy winner in 2007.

Not only has coach Harbaugh  not beaten his number one rival Ohio State , his San Francisco 49ers team was beaten on February 3, 2013 by his older brother John’s team -the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl. Furthermore, John’s Baltimore Ravens have the best odds of winning this year’s Super Bowl. Remember, Jim was there during 10 year war between Woody and Bo; and again as player for Bo; and now as the Wolverines head coach. Again, Jim has come in second, this time to his older brother John.

Being competitive with the fear of failure has been a reality for Coach Jim Harbaugh. As a result of failure, the existence of the need for counteraction has been inferred. His failure has not gone unnoticed as far as the Wolverine faithful are concerned, as well as the attention of all the “sports experts” in media and social media alike. There are some that call for his removal as Michigan’s head coach.

With that being said, let’s look at just a few of coach Harbaugh’s actions. In doing so, Dr. Henry Murray provides one model.  Murray hypothesized a number of hypothetical constructs which stand for a force or forces and which organize behavior.  Dr. Murray listed 20 needs. Of the 20, one such need has been called “Counteraction.” Murray’s brief definition “To master or make up for a failure by restriving. To obliterate a humiliation by resumed action. To search for obstacles and difficulties to overcome. To maintain self-respect and pride on a high level.”

A few of Harbaugh’s countractions.  Jim hired Josh Gattis as offensive coordinator in 2019. Coach Gattis was expected to implement the Run Pass Option [RPO] in order to make the offense more productive;   Shaun Nua was hired in 2019 as defensive line coach; Anthony Campanile was hired as defensive assistant in 2019; and eight off the field analysts joined the staff in 2019.  In 2018 the previous year, Jim Harbaugh’s counteractions included hiring Ben McDaniels as quarterbacks coach; Sherrone Moore as tight ends coach; and Ed Warnner as offensive line coach. It’s safe to say that all these recent coaching hires were made as a result of Harbaugh’s need for counteraction in order to make the Wolverines better.

Unfortunately, all these coaching additions have not changed the outcome against the Buckeyes. This is not to say that Harbaugh has not implemented change in his Michigan football program. Perhaps: 1. He lacks effective coaching consistency 2. He lacks outstanding football recruits 3. He lacks an overall philosophy and systematic organization from the athletic department all the way down.

No doubt that with increased anxiety and failure fears, coach Harbaugh’s confidence and self-esteem have been tested, affected and shaken. Can the current high achieving athlete Sisyphus like coach master his personality crisis and expectations or ….?

Make America Healthy

The December 8, 2019 edition of the New York Times titled “Finland Is Our Capitalist Paradise,” and the December 15, 2019 edition of the New York Times article titled “The Decade in Retirement Security” were the main references for this essay. This essay addressed a previous recession, its ripple effect and suggested that we should implement healthy ideas from Finland’s capitalistic system.

In spite of the current gains made in employment numbers, the recession prior to 2010 continued to be a burden for older Americans ages 55 to 64. During that recession, many either lost their main employment and/or have been faced with limited wage growth. However, employment and wages for higher income level employees have not suffered. Unemployment numbers have soared from 3.1% in the first quarter of 2007 to 7.1% in the third quarter of 2010. Also higher are the numbers of underemployment as well as people who’d given up looking for jobs. Despite gains in the reduced time of looking for employment, median weekly earnings for full-time workers have not risen measurably. For example, the number was $861 in the third quarter of 2008 compared to $872 during the third quarter of 2019 according to Census Bureau. So finding a job might not have helped nor increased earning power.

In addition from suffering from limited employment and wages, loss in retirement savings have also affected older Americans. In essence, older Americans have not recovered. Just 52% of American households owned retirement accounts in 2018 compared to 50% in 2010. Among households that had workplace retirement plans, the average account balances jumped 22% from 2006 to 2018. Once again, those continuously employed especially with access to retirement plans, benefited the most.

Workers who lost their jobs and then their retirement plans also lost their health insurance, and faced the nightmare of pre-existing conditions, higher premiums with higher deductibles. The Affordable Care Act tremendously helped those individuals who lost their health insurance. However, the growth of Medicare Advantage Plans had been a surprise despite the findings of federal investigators. They found a pattern of inappropriate denials of patient claims and also the quality of care has been diminished.

Without income it’s difficult to pay down or pay off one’s mortgage. Home ownership rates for older Americans had fallen sharply since the recession according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. It’s believed that homeowners enjoy greater housing security and more predictable housing cost than do renters. Older households are also carrying greater mortgage debts and are more burdened by their housing costs.

Also affected by the consequences of  the recession, have been Social Security recipients  .Benefit changes enacted in 1983 are gradually pushing up the programs for retirement age for those born in 1960 or later. Social Security had been the main source of income for most Americans 10 years after the crash. Social Security benefits are shrinking as Medicare Part B premiums have increased resulting in lower net paid benefits.

In 2019, we’ve had a government shutdown; a trade war or tax to Americans; a so-called Border Wall crisis; income tax reduction for the top 1%; an increase in Defense spending; and an impeachment. These policies have not made America great but more ill with increased anxiety, fear, frustration, expectation and anger levels for those older white workers.  In the present, they are filled with failure, humiliation, and loss of control while their future looks like a doom and gloom scenario. Wait, let’s take a look at Finland. They do have the highest level of happiness or life satisfaction in the world. Perhaps we can learn from this prosperous capitalistic country.

1. They have universal taxpayer-funded healthcare that equals our US quality without confusing paperwork or haggling over huge bills 2. They have diverse public day care centers with enrichment activities staffed by professionals. About $300 a month is the maximum for public day care 3. They have one of the world’s best K-12 education systems at no cost regardless of the neighborhood. Colleges are also tuition free 4. They have paid parental leave for nearly a year 5.  They have paid annual vacations for six weeks which is also the norm 6. They have become one of the world’s wealthiest societies 7. They are the home to many highly successful global companies-the largest mobile phone company in the world. It’s  more business friendly than in the US .Also, it is better on key free market indices including greater protection of private property, less impact on competition from government controls and more openness to trade and capital flows according to the World Bank. 8. They have a higher level of economic mobility across generations than the children the United States 9. They have higher levels of personal political freedom and more secure political rights than citizens of the United States. Employees get paid decent wages and are supported by high-quality democratically accounted public services that enable everyone to live healthy with dignified lives and enjoy real equity for themselves and children. These are just a few of the statistics regarding Finland.

Politicians and greedy capitalists have created a disservice, a non-objective, a biased assault with erroneous assumptions and  a hateful mythology .In so doing the word” socialism” or” socialist’  has a negative, emotional or toxic meaning. Yet, greed and wealth, for the few, are considered good despite not being available for the masses.  Why not adjust our capitalistic economy to work in cooperation with the state or government? This means incorporating and adding a limited socialistic philosophy that is based on self-respect. We know that economics affects man’s needs. This means that our economics and political system must work together to reduce man’s anxiety, fears, frustration, anger and alienation. Then, we can make America healthier.  We can do this by: 1. Providing free child care and a free college education. This will enable most everyone to raise their skill level for a more meaningful with more employment opportunities.2.Providing better health care like Medicare. 3. Providing private healthcare a chance to compete with Medicare, if they can. 4. Providing higher wages for a living wage.

Enormous or excess profits to the few, employing low wages, poor working conditions, limited advancement etc.  Are not moral nor healthy.  We should not abolish capitalism, billionaires or profit. On the contrary, we can admire billionaires and unrig the current narcissistic, greedy and deceptive economic and political system. Per Warren Buffett, change the tax code and make it fair and be sure to include corporations. Raising taxes- a flat rate without loopholes is fair, not a bad thing and doesn’t limit economic incentive nor growth. Let’s improve our capitalism by incorporating more humanistic thinking, ideas and implementation.

Reduce the anxiety, fear, discomfort and stress around wages and unemployment so that retirement, health insurance, wage gains, housing and social security benefits can be positives and benefit all. Provide additional social or socialist humanistic programs not just Social Security, Medicare, and bailouts to farmers- especially during the tax- trade war debacle. A single-payer health care system and free college tuition are just two steps in the right direction even though our Finnish friends see these two basic ideas as just the norm. Perhaps one day, we might compete with the Finns in having a higher level of happiness and life satisfaction.

PS

Berea College is located in Kentucky, private, diversified, liberal arts, tuition free for low income students that work 10 hours per week on campus and provides room and board assistance.