MEGALOMANIA

SNIPPETT: REPUBLICANS ARE A SPIRITUAL TRAGEDY LIVING IN A WASTELAND OF DENIAL. – FW

Ms. Cheney has just been relieved of her official duties in the House of Representatives. One more nail in the coffin of the former principals of the Republican Party. One step closer to removing all who disagree with Trump. One wonders whether this might stop at the Party level or will all Americans be included.

The issue has nothing to do with policy or even political philosophy. It is about Trump’s inner mind. By his own admission he was, as a child, indoctrinated with the idea that to give up was failure. For young minds, fear of failure can be equated with the same feeling of dying. For Trump, it has become the most manic part of his persona. He will never admit defeat and actually wants revenge on America for the threat to his being. He will spend his life defying America in order to win. By continuing the Big Lie, he has indeed not lost. The vision of a triumphal return to Washington in 2024 would vindicate his notions. Would Trump, given the obsessive child inside, ever give up the White House again if he achieved victory? Probably not. Would there be retribution for any and all who stood in his way? Probably so.  How much of the government system would be politicized for his end game?

Megalomania is described as: “A psychopathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of power, relevance, omnipotence, and by inflated self-esteem.” Paranoia is also an additional symptom. Former megalomaniacs, Adolph Hitler and Josef Stalin had no ability to empathize and had no feeling for the value of another person’s life. In fact, they found reason in the destruction of segments of the human race to advance their objectives. Intimidation, revenge, and punishment were the by words of the day. The German National Socialist Party (NAZI) and the Russian Communist Party were radicalized to the point of only serving their masters. Punishment was meted out to those who did not consent to their distorted form of reality. Both authoritarian regimes rose from democratic forms of government during the Hindenburg period in the 1920’s for Germany and the Kerensky period after the Russian revolution in 1916.

Donald Trump exhibits characteristics of Megalomania. Fixing blame for America’s problems on black and minority citizens with hate speech. Intimidating all who dissent. Seeking revenge on those who actively dispute his alternative reality. Defying the facts and those who report them while exhibiting a sense of persecution from his objectors. Hiring sycophants and cronies to manage government offices. Benefitting financially from holding office. Controlling all aspects of governing from the top down. Separating immigrant families without consideration for reuniting them.

The most conspicuous example of Trumps character occurred however, when he downplayed the Pandemic out of fear that he would lose his re-election bid. Some estimates of the unnecessary deaths caused by his negligence run into the tens of thousands. Trump did not have the emotional capability to tackle the Pandemic because it was outside of his fictional reality. True to the personality, there was not a moment of emotion or guilt for his actions. 

Trump as of today keeps control of the Republican Party members by the use of threats and intimidation. Elected officials statewide and nationally fear his wrath if they object or question the Big Lie. One must believe in his false reality or face the consequences. Every effort is ongoing at this point to circumvent the law and constitution to suppress votes and dilute power of elected officials to manage national elections. Gerrymandering is a further threat to minority voters. The Republican Party is determined to undermine democracy and promote white supremacy on a continuous basis. The remarkable fact is that the members of the Party seem to be blind to Trumps real ambition, which is to win at all costs. There is really nothing in it for anyone else but his need to win for all become dispensable in pursuit of that goal.

The consequences for other formerly democratic nations have been dire when faced by megalomaniacs. Democracy is a fragile philosophy, as it permits dissent and survives on a level of confidence that the law of the land will be observed by all who seek to seek office. January 6, 2021 illustrates the initial efforts at establishing an authoritarian administration by Republicans. The Trump speech that morning defined his role in the plan when he states; “let’s march down to the capitol”. Inciting the mob by leading it, then leaving the scene before the violence began is the act, not only of a coward, but also the action of an authoritarian who will sacrifice all others for his benefit. Trumps jubilance while watching the assault on television at the White House further confirms his fantasy wishes of power. Sadly, the aftermath of the confirmation vote for Biden, when most Republicans voted to not to confirm, illustrates the depth of Trumps authoritarian control over the Party.

History has recorded the efforts of many national leaders with delusions of grandeur and the grey area between benevolent dictatorships and regimes founded by megalomaniacs is not significant when measured against democracy. Attempted rule by the minority over the majority has usually ended in disaster for the country involved. Revolts, violent protests or revolutions destroy the fabric of civility as populations make the effort to survive.

Americans must recognize and not deny the existing potential for the destruction of its democratic form of government. That form includes the two party system that operates on the same bandwidth, and allows dissent and constructive dialogue that benefits all citizens.

 FW 5/13/21