TRUMP IS BASICALLY ROTTEN

TRUMP IS BASICALLY ROTTEN

The true nature of the human condition really crystallized in my mind some years ago during a group discussion of good versus evil. After listening to this serious back and forth for about 20 minutes, I raised my hand and asked if I could speak. I said "I don't believe you can describe man as being either good or evil, I think MAN IS BASICALLY ROTTEN." The group broke out in laughter and the quote was mine!

This quote has been my working hypothesis when dealing with my species ever since

After looking in the mirror and realizing I was basically rotten, my first question was "am I alone or are other people rotten as well?". So I started observing human behavior in its raw form and what better place than in a school with a 1000 teenagers running all over the place (the middle school where I taught science for many years). What about politics, business, TV, the movies, the internet and all the places where we humans hang out? It was a revelation and as well as a relief to realize I was not alone. 

I eventually came to the conclusion that we humans are all basically rotten. The struggle to control our basic nature is life-long and never ends. It is EASY to go with the flow, think only of yourself, and allow   your wants and needs to come first. It is HARD to be honest, truthful and put others first---it takes work, courage, patience, perseverance and commitment.

My observations: If we are to survive in human society, we  need to learn to share, to give, to love, to consider the needs of others. Those who recognize and learn to control their rotten nature (selfishness) are able to make positive contributions to family, groups and societies. Some individuals unable to control their rotten nature end up sad, unhappy, bitter, unpleasant and often become isolated from other people. In extreme cases they become social outcasts and end up spending time in prison or mental hospitals, abusing chemicals, attacking and abusing other people or in the worst case---end up dead.

We have a common humanity on this planet. We find people in every society, every religion who do good deeds, share what they have and put others before themselves. And we have persons in these same societies in every country who abuse others, steal and kill. They have not, for whatever reason, learned to control their basic rotten nature.

EXHIBIT #1: DONALD J. TRUMP is basically rotten.  He appears to be devoid of positive qualities that make us human---empathy, kindness, love, wonder, compassion, etc.  He exhibits  the dark side of humanity and appears set on a path of self-destruction that he seemingly can not control.

The entire planet is experiencing the anti-human behavior of this sad, bitter old man, who is unable to experience the true human emotions we all cherish.  For us to have more peaceful societies and move toward a better future, Mr. Trump and other leaders in his mold need to be removed from power and replaced with individuals who will move humanity toward a better tomorrow. 

I am cautiously optimistic about the future.  Most people I know have found a way to cope with their own shortcomings and to develop means to survive in a multicultural, multiracial 
world that they can not really control.  The anger and fear exhibited by some of the citizens in this country is based on ignorance and lack of real life experiences; and can only be cured with education and experience.  Many of these folks are in a bubble where they live, work and worship with people just like themselves. Once we humans get to know people of other cultures, races, religions, etc. our fear of them dissipates and our tolerance increases.

Donald J. Trump will eventually melt away where evil always goes and the world will pick up the pieces and move on.  He and his supporters will be forgotten as people move forward. trying to resolve the many issues we face such as climate change, environmental pollution, over population, nuclear weapon proliferation, resource depletion, etc.  

This will require a commitment from all of us, who care about our country and our world, to get to work. No one else is going to do it for us.  

See you at the polls.

ELECTION 2020, EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

ELECTION 2020, EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

I have followed politics since I was a teenager in the 1950's.  It is very much akin to being addicted to a soap opera.  It is constantly filled with battles, drama and the outcomes are never assured.  The Presidential election of 2020 will be no exception.

This election for President would seem to be pretty straight forward---a Trump-Pence ticket against a Democratic slate yet to be determined.

I don't think so.

I believe something dramatic will happen within the next year to alter the trajectory of the 2020 election for President of the United States.  There are several possibilities:

1.  Trump is impeached (Not likely.)
2.  Trump resigns because of his criminal exposure or that of his family. (More likely.)
3.  Trump dies or is incapacitated by a stroke or heart attack which 
renders him unable to continue as President.  His unhealthy diet and unhinged behavior have to be stressing his body to the point where something may give out. (Very likely.) 
4. Trump is killed by an accident, such as a plane crash. (Slim chance.)
5. Trump is assassinated. His use of the hate-speech approach to the election has made him a lightning rod. There are a lot of people in this country who are offended by Trump's behavior and as we have seen in the past some are driven to violence. George Wallace is a good example of a candidate who used racist, hateful speech while running for President who was injured, but did not die from an assassin's attack.(Worst possible outcome.)

Donald J. Trump will definitely die at some point, we all do.  It will be really interesting to see how his "base" supporters react. If he manages to live to an old age, will his religious supporters treat him as a deity when he passes? My guess is that the Trump family will put Donald's body in a mausoleum in Trump Tower and charge the public to view his remains. 

If Donald is injured or killed  by an act of violence his white supremacy supporters, who often threaten violence themselves, are not likely to take the events lightly. If he is killed or attacked by a member of a American minority or a person from another country,  violence and bloodshed will likely result.  

Trump's recent racist rants toward women of color who serve in the U. S. Congress are incendiary and will lead to more hatred and violence. He needs to govern or resign. Since he does not know how to govern a country of more than 300 million people he would do us all a big favor if he would just shut up, resign and go back to New York.

In any event, I believe Donald J. Trump will be gone from the scene by the summer of 2020 and the scenario for the Presidential election will have changed dramatically. 

With Donald gone, Mike Pence then ascends to the Presidency and the Congress has to replace Pence as Vice-President. Mitt Romney would be the most likely Republican to be elevated to this position.  So now you would have President Mike Pence and Vice-President Mitt Romney running the country until the election.

During the run-up to the Republican National Convention Mike Pence decides he does not want to run for President. The Party elevates Romney to the Presidential Nomination and Nikki Halley is selected by the Convention to be the Vice-Presidential nominee.

A ticket of Mitt Romney and Nikki Halley would provide a formidable Republican opponent to any Democratic candidate for president.

My advice to the Democrats---Expect the unexpected.