(modified Nov. 25) Just Follow the Tracks

Views expressed are of the writer's ONLY, and not those affiliated with the same, including employers, past or present.

When we're lost and all alone, and we're not sure how to regain our ground, just follow the tracks.  Regarding the present political climate, we are trekking on some "new territory," but not on anything that hasn't been trekked on before.   Professors, scholars, learned people, teachers, they teach us that the meaning of what we read depends on the context, setting, perhaps the history of what led up to the writing of the text.  In light of this truth, American society has become prey to the biggest hoax, and gotten duped by the biggest con, that we've experienced since Chief Justice Taney, and before him, the fictitious, yet realistic character of Falstaff in the Shakespearean drama, King Henry IV, Part I.  The Percy family (Mike Pence), or those who feel they have been left out, with all of the changes and challenges that America faces today, are hurt.  They are not acting rationally, in this writer's opinion, but out of hurt. They are, in essence, given the con, Falstaff, or Trump, in this case, licensure to "rob the King's treasury."  

Yet all the clues for violence and misleading are there.  What causes us to continue to choose evil leaders, time and time again?   Richard III is an English phenomenon.  American society, unlike some of the other nations that lie on this side of the world (Cuba, Venezuela, etc.)  has been successful at self-governance, because of the lessons learned.  We have learned to be suspicious of a King, period. We abhor demagoguery, not because it is not part of our natural inclination to choose an overbearing leader, but because we have experienced this type of evil before.  We know what happens when a power hungry individual gains the reigns, particularly one, who, either knowingly or unknowingly, seems to advocate violence.  

The tracks began with Richard, perhaps earlier.  He was dethroned by the Henry Clan, eventually leading us to the lustful Henry VIII.  But Henry, with all of his pomp (another trait the America I know disdains) wasn't the one "made glorious summer by the one of York." His granddaughter, Elizabeth, was.  Yes, a woman.  I can vouch for a woman.  One gave birth to me.  There was nothing particularly appealing about Elizabeth.  But yet under her leadership, creativity, trade, and the exchange of ideas flourished. I guess we'll have to wait for the next opportunity. 

We have already experienced our "winter of discontent." We know that things that sound too good to be true, ARE.  For these reasons, we value steady leadership ("slow and steady wins the race"), thoughtful responses, and respect diverse viewpoints.  It took a long time to get here.  But it won't take long to regress should we choose to give way, pay heed, to what we know in our hearts should not be, which has already happened. Homer had it right when he intimated, through his writings, our wanderings, and our ugly side, which comes alive in those creatures that we project, and that lurk beyond the distant shores, but yet that are so, so close.

The Medici family is knocking at our door.  We have elected one Trump, so we have decided to elect them all.  We were fed the catch phrases: All of our guns will be taken away, including from those tasked with protecting presidential candidates.  "Hillary was the one who started the birther movement."  "Only I can fix it."  "American GDP will grow by at least 4%."  African Americans are at the bottom of the heap: "What the hell do you have to lose?" "They are bringing crime, drugs: they're rapists." All Muslims are viewed as potential terrorists. A "Mexican" judge is incapable of issuing an impartial ruling. "I will release my taxes, after"... (As one who claims to be a deal maker and businessman, doesn't the public have the right, especially in Trump's case, to know what the nature of those deals is, as well as the sources?).  Every misfortune represents an opportunity.  Now, only one the likes of the redoubtable Savonarola will be able to get them out, once they take possession in January, which is what the presidency is to them (property), or represents; and nothing else, from what little I know about human nature. Still, I hope I'm wrong.    

You say, "no, Trump's patriotic."  Yes, but only to the extent that he has been able to benefit from our nation's laws.  He will have shown no predisposition for self-sacrifice, like many of our patriots previous.  Absent additional facts, Trump is not for the working man.  Trump is for Trump. Absent his walking away from his businesses, for the good of the country, and clarifying many of the comments that he made previously, we have no reason to think otherwise.