WILL HE GO OR WILL HE STAY?

WILL HE GO OR WILL HE STAY?

Chaos reins in the White House and across the country---Donald and Steve could not be happier. Throughout history people have demonstrated that they prefer stability over chaos even if it means installing a leadership that is authoritarian  or dictatorial. Steve Bannon, the chief advisor to the President has done a "mind-meld" with Mr Trump; and they appear to be working from the same "playbook".

Donald Trump lives in the "Me, Myself and I" world where only he knows the "truth" and only he can "fix it". I am not sure if he considers himself to be God or simply Emperor Trump. In my opinion Donald is mentally handicapped, suffers from ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVE DISORDER (ADHD) and is easily manipulated by others. Steve Bannon is a brilliant tactician and he is trying to use the fears expressed  by Donald to move the country toward a "white nationalist society". Bannon thinks that if he can manipulate Trump to continue creating chaos and fear mongering to the point that violence breaks out or there are terrorist incidents, he could move the government toward a more authoritarian rule.  Unfortunately our president does not appear to understand our constitutional democracy and might actually welcome complete control.

I keep hoping, like all of you, that President Trump will do the right thing and move the country forward toward a better future. However his thin skin and bullying behavior (part of his ADHD condition) continue to destroy the effects of the positive things he is doing.


Donald's aggressive behavior has worked for him all his life.  When he does not get his way, he throws a temper tantrum creating a scene and chaos that people around him try desperately to calm down. He probably learned that this tactic worked with his parents when he was growing up and certainly is working in the White House.  Press secretary Sean Spicer and advisor Kellyanne Conway often look like scared rabbits expecting to be torn apart by an attacking hawk. 

Donald J. Trump can not be an effective President until he  agrees to full transparency concerning his relations with Putin and Russia, his tax returns and his business empire. 

Also Donald is becoming a sideshow to some people.  Even some who support him, are treating him like a joke. If you are handicapped, the last thing you want, is to be a joke or be ridiculed for your shortcomings.  This has to hurt and may be behind his constant urge to lash out.  When his colleagues say "Donald will be Donald"  in response to a Tweet or comment, it is not a complement.

The President continues his habit of using Twitter. This form of communication may have worked for him in the past, but as president his use of it has been a disaster. He is using this medium to insult, attack, degrade people and events that he doesn't like, to a point that after something happens, people dread what he will say next. It is negative, diminishes the stature of the presidency and limits his success.  He should  stop using Twitter, but seems blissfully ignorant to  the chaos he creates with his behavior and no one seems to have the courage to really confront him for fear they will hear those famous words "YOU ARE FIRED".

I do not believe Donald J. Trump will complete his first term.
He is 70 years old and his doctor failed to tell the truth about Donald's health.  Donald is a very bright person but is definitely handicapped in his social and educational skills.
Also his father died of Alzheimers disease, so memory loss has to be a concern for him going forward.  He is already showing the stress of the office and he has been  president for only a few weeks.  I believe deteriorating mental and physical  health will be the most likely causes for Donald to not finish his term.

The other causes for an early exit for Trump are all related to Russia and his finances.  His lack of transparency and honesty about these issues sets him up for all kinds of potential charges.

So if Donald J. Trump leaves the presidency,  we get President Mike Pence. Mr Pence is an Evangelical Christian and he is probably more polarizing than Mr Trump; but he appears to be sane and he has governing experience.  His politics and religious views are a concern for me, but I have come to the conclusion that I would prefer to have a President who is sane and speaks to God, rather than a person who thinks he is God. 
  

  

    

MY CHRISTIAN JOURNEY

Jesus would be hard pressed to recognize the movement he started more than 2000 years ago. The problem with all religions is that human nature gets tangled up in its activities and implementation.
The inspiration that spawns the spiritual or even the concrete events that draw people to a religion or a religious figure is often blurred by the behaviors of followers and leaders  trying to explain or interpret what has happened.

I grew up in the Christian religion as a member of the Presbyterian Church.  I felt comfortable with this Protestant denomination's approach to Christianity and was  inspired as a teenager to consider a career as a clergyman.  When I read my Bible, I felt Jesus was speaking to me  and I thought his teachings really spoke to the problems people face; and I wanted to go out into the world and spread  "the good news".  I loved his simple, uncomplicated approach in dealing with his fellow man.  When I went off to college  at age 18, I was optimistic about the world and its future.  I wanted to be a scientist and "save the world".

In college I attended the Presbyterian church in town, but it was not until my Junior year that I started to think seriously about a religious vocation.  Midway through that year I moved from a dorm room to Koinonia.  Koinonia was a religious boarding house for young men who were interested in furthering their knowledge of religion.  The house was established by the Protestant churches in the area and was staffed by non resident Presbyterian minister who lead the regular religious discussions.
My roommates included a Mexican, an African-American, a fellow from India and included about a dozen or so students at any one time.  We had  a lady who cooked lunch and dinner, but we had to cook breakfast which we did on a rotating basis.  It was a great experience for me.

My learning curve. One day I opened the refrigerator and found bottles of beer and I was horrified.
When I brought it up, no one saw any problem with having alcohol in the house. I had grown up in a house where my mother was a member of Women's Temperance Union (WTU) and believed that just smelling the cork would make you drunk.

It was about this time I decided to visit seminaries.  I first visited Princeton Theological Seminary for a day tour, but my most memorable visit was to New York City and Union Theological Seminary in Manhattan. I stayed the weekend and was able to hook  up with other students, one of whom lived in New York.  We visited the Empire Sate Building, ate pizza at an Italian place and got to hear a speech by theologian Paul Tillich. We also visited the churches in  East Harlem Protestant Parrish. This was an outreach ministry to the poorest section of the city, spearheaded by students and faculty of the seminary.  It was a really neat experience.

Later I applied to three seminaries but was only accepted at Pittsburgh Theological.. I knew  being a minister would not be easy, but an early experience  cemented  my view  that the politics  of a church could be a problem.  I got a first hand glimpse of the issue when I traveled to a church meeting with 3 ministers.  During the trip these guys started telling jokes and stories. That was not unusual, but these stories were raunchy, filled with "filthy"language  and definitely not did not reflect what I had come to expect from members of the clergy.  I was shocked. Later, I spoke to one of the ministers and he said that time together was the only time they could be "normal".  While doing church work, ministers and their families are under strong pressure to conform, so getting away is often a welcome change.  By the time I graduated from Penn State I had decided I did not want to deal with church politics, so I no longer felt "the call".  Since I had been accepted, I borrowed money from an aunt and decided to go to seminary for the experience; I am glad I did.





    

OUR PRESIDENT SUFFERS FROM ADHD

OUR PRESIDENT SUFFERS FROM ADHD

I believe President  Donald J. Trump suffers form ATTENTION DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER, better known as ADHD. This condition is often diagnosed in young children who are having trouble learning in school; and has often been treated with drugs such as Ritalin. I taught science in the  public schools for more than 30 years; and I worked with students who were afflicted with ADHD.

If you doubt my observations, I suggest you GOOGLE  ADHD and look at the list of characteristics of children and adults, mostly men, who suffer with this very traumatic problem; and then look at the way Trump has behaved over the last several years. I believe Donald has suffered with this his whole life and has survived because of his family and his wealth. There is no cure and people do not "grow out of it". Some adults with this condition compensate for their limitations and can complete a successful life. However if they live in poor communities that lack support services, they often succumb to a life of antisocial or criminal behavior.  If Donald were black or poor, he would most likely be in prison right now.

The following are my observations of President Donald J. Trump over the past several years that I believe support my contention that the President suffers from ADHD:

1. He lacks empathy for those he hurts, attacks or criticizes and never apologizes or says he is sorry for anything. 

2. He can't handle criticism or dissent and bullies those who disagree with him.  

3. He cares more about himself than anyone else. When he does actually attempt to show affection toward others, it does not appear to be genuine.

4. He acts impulsively forward women, makes degrading comments about them and seems to grade them on a sexual attractiveness scale. 

5. He is very vulnerable to being manipulated by people who recognize his weaknesses–––Putin and Bannon are both doing this beautifully. His dismissal of Putin's murderous rule and of CIA evidence on Russian hacking of Democratic documents are evidence of the Russian's  power over him. 

6. He throws temper tantrums and uses threat and fear to get his way. It may work in a corporation, but not so well in our constitutional democracy. 

7. He seems to have no real sense of what is right and wrong, so he lies, exaggerates and dismisses facts without any thought of the consequences. He seems  unable to separate fact from fiction, so we get "alternative  facts" as a result..

8. He is unable to laugh at himself or his outlandish behavior. 

9. He can not handle being ignored. He craves constant attention and must be the center of everything. He loves the crowds of people at his rallies who cheer him on and feed his need for adoration.

10. When he delivers speeches or gives interviews "off the cuff" he often speaks in a helter-skelter fashion with no organized logic to his thoughts or ideas. He does not seem to have the ability to convey logical thoughts verbally, so he uses short sentences and slogans like "It will be fantastic"; or "Everyone will love it". Even when he gives a speech from a teleprompter he seems "wooden" and out of his element.

11. He does not appear to study or research problems before acting on them with an "executive order" or a 
"tweet". The recent ban on travel from 7 Muslim countries is a good example of how his lack of planning and foresight leads to a disaster.

  
12. He perseverates. This is a common condition of people with learning disorders. Meaning he keeps bringing up the same "slight", disagreement, idea or concern time after time for no apparent rational reason. Whatever it is, this item just sits and "stews" in his brain and he has to keep bringing it up, much to everyone's annoyance. The crowd size at his inauguration and the fact that Clinton won the popular vote and he didn't,  are good examples.


He may look like an adult and he obviously can act like one in business or social settings; but he is NOT a normal adult and therein lies America's crisis in leadership.

Some have suggested his position on any given issue depends on whom he has spoken to last.  Steve Bannon, his chief advisor in the White House, has recognized this situation for some time and is using his influence to twist Donald into the kind of "white nationalist " leader that he (Bannon) thinks the country needs.  

Many of Trump's supporters applaud what he is doing  and want him to do more to "shake things up". These people are not comfortable with a progressive democracy where blacks, gays and other minorities have the same civil rights that they enjoy.  They are very uncomfortable with the court rulings on social issues that run contrary to their religious beliefs; and some of them seem to like the idea of a "christian nation" vs our current government that is basically secular.  Trump has been making promises that give these folk reasons  to believe that he agrees with them.

Our President needs a minder with him at all times.  So far Jared Kershner and Kellyanne Conway who have signed on as advisors at the White House, seem to be doing a very poor job. In the early days of  of the administration, Mr. Bannon seems to be in charge and that is not good for the health of America. Donald needs someone who has the country's interests in mind, watching and listening to his every move. He needs help so he can make intelligent decisions. If he goes off on his own without supervision the whole planet may be in peril.

NOTE,
I hope you take what I say seriously---all of our lives are in the hands of a man who suffers from Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and he has the power to destroy us all.

Understanding who he is will help us learn how  to deal with him and his actions as President of the United States.


 

DONALD'S WALL IN BIG BEND

hi folks,

In 1979 We spent 11 days in Big Bend National Park.  We visited the area along the Rio Grand River several times.  The following two photos taken from the US side show canyons the river traverses  We crossed the river in a flat bottomed boat paddled by a local, who charged us a couple dollars and our kids rode donkeys up to the village.  It was a neat experience.The third photo is the cafe where we had some local food and cokes (we did not drink the water).

This is where Donald wants to build his WALL. This tiny village of 200 or so residents is about 160 miles from the nearest town. To say this place is isolated is not an exaggeration.  On the US side it takes 2 hours by dirt road to get here.  A WALL here would cost an enormous amount of money and is totally unnecessary. The only people crossing the border here are tourists and few locals.

RIO GRANDE RIVER, SANTA ELENA CANYON, BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TEXAS  

RIO GRANDE, BOCQUILLAS  CANYON,  BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK

CAFE, BOQUILLAS del CARMEN,  MEXICO, 

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, MOSTLY DESERT

The following link takes you to CNN and an in depth article about the Wall In Texas.

Building Trump's wall: For Texans, it's complicated
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/23/politics/border-series-texas/index.html

WHAT DID THE ELECTION SURVEY TELL US?

WHAT DID THE ELECTION SURVEY TELL US?

After the general election I did a survey of citizens to find out how they felt about the results. I surveyed 76 individuals. The population was 60% male and 40% female, 77% had some college education with 4 of them having earned PhDs; about half were retired; only a few were unemployed. The participants ranged in age from 14 to 94 and included voters and non voters.

It was a politically diverse group with 51% liberal/Progressive/Democrat, 37% Conservative/Republican and the rest registering as Independents, Libertarians or Greens. 

When asked about being religious, 85% indicated that they were. They included Quakers. Unitarians and those who considered themselves as Spiritual.

Of those with some college education, 64% voted for Clinton,
30% voted for Trump, there were 3 votes for Stein (The Green candidate) and one vote for Johnson (The Libertarian candidate). Of those who had a high school education or less, 63% supported Trump. with 37% choosing Clinton. 

In the survey, those who voted for Clinton 54% were male 46% were female. Of those who supported Trump 71% were male and 29% were female. Among women supporters Clinton won 73% of the vote with Trump getting 27%.
This shows that Trump received more of the female vote than expected.

MY OBSERVATIONS---

The comments from those of you who completed the survey tell me that Hillary Clinton lost the election because she was not the right candidate to go up against the juggernaut of Donald Trump. She used traditional tactics to oppose an individual who used the media and "school yard" behavior to his advantage. Her campaign ignored advice to visit the areas of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin that went for Trump.  Someone noted that if they had done a survey like this during the campaign and responded to it, it  might have altered the outcome of the election. We will never know.

The most popular candidate in this survey was Bernie Sanders.  He won the most votes in the primary and even some Republicans indicated they might have voted for him in the General Election, if he had been a choice.

Neither Clinton nor Trump had a lot of enthusiastic support in the survey.  Many who voted for Clinton qualified their decision to vote for her. "A vote against Trump, not for Clinton". Didn't want Trump". "No time for Trump".  "Not an idiot" Others did cite "experience", more competent", "is intelligent" "cares about kids", "values women's rights" as reasons to support her.

Most participants who supported Trump actually were voting against the establishment and the status quo.  They did not really vote for his policies or programs, they voted "for change", to "shake things up", against a "liberal agenda"and "Clinton's policies".  I had the feeling that some of the people who supported Trump were already having second thoughts about their decision after the election.

I believe religion played a bigger role in the results of the election than some have postulated. In the survey 92% of Trump voters indicated they considered themselves to be religious.  That dropped to 61% of Clinton's supporters who indicated that they were religious. I grew up in a rural area of central Pennsylvania and the vast majority of the folks who live there are conservative Christians and Republican.  Trump won these areas by huge margins. In one small municipality close to where I grew up, he won by a 10 to 1 margin. This is evidence for an on going trend.  The Republicans have become  the "religious party" and the Democrats are increasingly the "secular party".  This will need to be factored into all future elections if candidates plan to be successful.

The comments participants produced in the survey speak for themselves and I do not plan to do any analysis of them.  NOTE:  The main report which includes comments on the various questions was sent out before the holidays.

This has been an interesting experience for me and has given me something to do in cold weather.

Thanks to all who participated.  I would appreciate any comments, questions, suggestions you might have.

Thanks,

Dick Brown   

    

DONALD IS THIRTEEN

DONALD IS THIRTEEN

I believe Donald Trump is an impulsive thirteen year old with a learning disability/personality disorder living in a 70 year old man's body.   I taught 13 year old students in public schools for more than 30 years, and believe me, I know one when I see one. I had students in my classroom who are just like Donald.

Evidence for my hypothesis---
1.  Lacks empathy for those he hurts, attacks or criticizes.
2.  Never apologizes or says he is sorry for anything.
3.  Very short attention span, gets bored easily---Ignoring "DAILY BRIEFING".
4.  Bullies those who disagree with him.
5.  Can't handle criticism---has to get "even".
6.  Has no real core values of what is right and wrong.
7.  Lies, exaggerates, dismisses facts without any thought of the consequences.
8.  Acts impulsively to perceived slights or attacks---"Such a nasty woman"
9.  Makes degrading comments toward women.
10. Has acted impulsively toward women---touching or kissing without permission. (Sexual assault)
11. Needs constant attention, must be the center of attention, needs adulation of crowds such as at his shows (rallies). Can't handle being ignored.  His TWEETS he is using to "stir the pot"are the most obvious need he has for adoration.
12. Very vulnerable to be manipulated by people who recognize his weaknesses---Putin has done this beautifully. His dismissal of  CIA evidence on Russian hacking of  Democratic documents is a very disturbing development.
13.  Not capable of learning a lot of information in a short time---"one page memos".
14.  Does not study or research  problems before reacting to them with an "order" or a "Tweet".
15,  Demonstrates no ability to formulate problem solving policies.
16.  Cares more about himself than the wide variety of people who  make up our nation.
17.  Unable to laugh at himself or his outlandish behavior.
18.  Speaks in a helter-skelter fashion with no organized logic to his thoughts or ideas that he is trying to convey to listeners.
19.  Talks using short sentences that are more slogans than real thought.
20.  Uses threat and fear to try get his way, which works in a corporation where he is the CEO, but does not work in  OUR CONSTITUTIONAL  DEMOCRACY.  

Some have suggested his position on any given issue depends on whom he has spoken to last.

He may look like an adult and he obviously can act like an adult in business or social settings;  but he is NOT a normal adult and therein lies America's crisis in leadership.

We have just  elevated a very rich dysfunctional child to be the leader of the free world.

Donald needs  a minder with him at all times after he takes the oath of office. I was happy that Jared Kershner and Kellyanne Conway have signed on as advisors at the White House, because Donald needs someone watching and listening to his every move.  He needs help in making intelligent decisions and if he goes off on his own without supervision the whole planet may be in peril.

NOTE,
I HOPE YOU TAKE WHAT I SAY SERIOUSLY---ALL OUR LIVES ARE IN THE HANDS OF AN ADULT WHO IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT A LEARNING DISABLED  CHILD ACTS LIKE AFTER HE GROWS UP.

UNDERSTANDING HIM WILL HELP ALL OF US LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH HIM AND THE VARIOUS THINGS HE DOES.


   

ELECTION SURVEY----GENERAL COMMENTS

GENERAL COMMENTS---

I’ve noticed that the several-party system in my host country, Germany, seems to be somewhat healthier than the U.S. two-party system at the moment (though I am very worried about the rise of the AfD party here, not to mention the Front National and others in Europe). Here, if I could vote, I would lean towards the Green party but would feel I could pick and choose my candidates among several parties as well. The Republican party seems to need to split into the new thoughtful conservatives vs. the tea party, while the Dems could probably benefit from a healthy green party and maybe a socialist party to their left.  But of course, this works in a parliamentary system where a coalition elects a prime minister, but the U.S. direct presidential elections don’t seem to allow more than two parties.  I don’t think we can change our democratic system that fundamentally -- at least, this wouldn’t be the right moment to try; still, it is frustrating that we try to force the enormous variety of views and experience in this country into a two-party straightjacket election after election. (#6)

This was an ugly election of rejection.  Obviously there were millions like me who couldn't/wouldn't admit to ever wanting to vote for an apparent buffoon.  But the choice seemed clear that the power and corruption of the Clintons was much more distasteful.  The movie "Hillary's America" helped me to focus on what was happening.  I so want Trump to surprise us all.  I'm afraid of the anarchists that are trying to take advantage of the post-election anger and despair and disbelief.  Saul Alinsky (deceased) and George Soros very much wanted/want our country to implode. I agree that women could do a better job.  I believe that we should have a woman President.  I went to bed Tuesday night honestly believing that we would have a woman President, just not the right woman. (#18)

My Facebook feed is full of comments from people who are sickened by this man becoming our President. It's so hard to believe that half of our fellow citizens can accept his behavior. Even scarier are the ones that think they have the right to openly play out their bigotry now that he has been elected. (#19)

As someone with training in nuclear, biological, and chemical defense I am very worried about a president who said if we have nuclear weapons why can't I use them. Someone who can be provoked by a perceived slight in a twitter message with access to weapons of mass destruction is a danger to the world.(#12) 

Stay tuned for some real needed changes and improvements in our system of government, i.e. lower taxes for businesses and others, trade agreement changes that place our economy first, more jobs which is a big change, lower term limits for elected officials, stronger defense, etc. Thanks for putting this survey together. God Bless America. United We Stand Divided We Fall.(#4)

I am going to wear a safety pin.(#11)

I think folks like us need to be lovingly vigilant and involved.  Take care.  Peace be with you.(#13)

This has been the most appalling election cycle in my experience since 1968.(#21)

Disgusted that 2 days after the election, NPR is now discussing how each candidate approached issues like trade, health care, environment etc. and little of this was discussed before ...the press dropped the ball and let Trump set the agenda for what got news time. (#10)

The silver lining in all of this is that complacency among Liberal Democrats when out the window.(#32)

There must be a resistance to Donald Trump.(#34)

I am trying at least to be civil.(#37)

Proud to live in a great country. Thankful.(#44)

Everybody get over it, move on for the good of the country and the people in general.(#45)

I can't believe that people can set aside his faults and bad character to send a message or look for better economics for themselves.(#14)

Believe in opportunity for all based on their abilities and character.  There has been too much division with catering to the differences between us and not the commonality of community.(#65)

The United States was not ready for a woman to be president. Two old white men with little substance or experience were America's choice.  God help America. (#74)

Trump captured the hearts, not the minds of his voters.(# 25)

I am intrigued by the role of the church (Christian) in this election. Highlighted are issues of anti-intellectualism in the church. The church's identity crisis as laws change to reflect the will of the majority. Political activism versus 1 to 1 relational behavior. What would Jesus do–a deep divide that is at the crux of how the Christian vote fell this year.(#33)

Hope new president appoints good people under him and that he listens to them.(#77)

It is my opinion that Donald Trump is an impulsive  thirteen year old with a learning disability/personality disorder living in a 70 year old man.  He is does not have the temperament or the experience to be president of the United States.
We have just elevated a dysfunctional child to be leader of the free world. (#3)