After ranting about Communists in America and claiming, “Canada (a Democracy!) is a worse threat to the U.S. than China and Russia,” President Donald Trump rolled out the red carpet and hosted a State dinner for the preeminent leader of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, President Xi Jinping.
Timely
17
A leader is best
When people barely know he exists,
Not so good when people obey and acclaim him,
Worse when they despise him.
‘Fail to honor people
They fail to honor you;’
But of a good leader, who talks little,
When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,
They will all say, ‘We did this ourselves.’
The Way of Life
according to Laotzu (600+ B.C.)
Translated by Witter Bynner
Addendum
Addendum to my “Government” post:
I pointed out before that The World Population Review’s 2025 data finds the happiest nations to be Finland (1st), Denmark (2nd), Iceland (3rd) Sweden (4th), Netherlands (5th). “Socialism” aside, these nations have robust policies ensuring that every citizen have adequate heath care, education, food, and housing.
The Review found The United States of American to be 24th happiest, behind, e.g., Mexico (10th), Ireland (15th), Lithuania (16th), Canada (18th), Slovenia (19th), Czechia (20th), The United Kingdom (23rd).
Government
It’s instructive to distinguish Communism, Fascism, and Socialism.
Under Communism we all work for the government. Free enterprise is banned or stringently controlled.
Fascism is, “a populist political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by sever economic and social regimentation and by forcible suppression of opposition.” Anti-fascism, “antifa,” is, “a person or group actively opposing fascism.” (Meriam-Webster)
Socialism is free enterprise with a conscience. Given the vagaries and complexities of the human condition, Socialist society recognizes its responsibility to ensure that every citizen enjoy life’s basics: healthcare, education, food, housing.
Exemplary Behavior
For me, proper ethical and moral behavior puts financial wealth and buffoonery to shame.
Renewed Alarm
Renewed Alarm
In 2017, The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President articulated the perils inherent in our 45th, and now 47th, President’s delusions and actions. In 2019, The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 37 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President—Updated and Expanded with New Essays carried the theme. Today, The Much More Dangerous Case of Donald Trump, 50 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Professionals Warn Anew raises further alarm!
As Donald Trump‘s insanity grows increasingly flagrant my, minimally edited, earlier commentary grows increasingly poignant:
The 2019 edition concludes:
President Donald Trump is dangerously mentally ill and that he presents a clear and present danger to the nation. . . . From the trauma people have experience under the Trump administration to the cult-like characteristic of his followers, he has created unprecedented mental health consequences across our nation and beyond. It’s not in our heads. It’s in his.
These experts agree that Donald Trump exhibits classic symptoms of Malignant Narcissistic Personality Disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM5) defines Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) as, “a persistent manner of grandiosity, a continuous desire for admiration, along with a lack of empathy. It starts in early adulthood and occurs in a range of situations, as signified by the existence of any 5 of the next 9 standards,
- A grandiose logic of self-importance
- A fixation with fantasies of infinite success, control, brilliance, beauty or idyllic love
- A credence that he or she is extraordinary and exceptional and can only be understood by, or should connect with, other extraordinary or important people or institutions
- A desire for unwarranted admiration
- A sense of entitlement
- Interpersonal oppressive behavior
- No form of empathy
- Resentment of others or a conviction that others are resentful of him or her
- A display of egotistical and conceited behavior or attitudes”
That’s 9 for 9 folks: Narcissistic Personality Disorder on steroids! We don’t need the President of the America Psychiatric Association for this call!
DSM5 does not defien “Malignant.” Campbell’s Psychiatric Dictionary describes Malignant Narcissism as combining characteristics of Narcissistic and Antisocial Personality Disorders, making the patient not only delusional but potentially dangerous!
Is This Crazy or What?
While Americans are arrested for allegedly “vandalizing” scraps of liner and algae in D.C.’s Reflecting Pool, the ICE thugs who murdered Renee Goode, Alex Pretta, Lorenzi Selgado Araugo are free to kill again.
Even Darkness Must Pass
“It’s all wrong. By right we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were…But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass.”
Samwise “Sam” Gamgee
The Two Towers
J.R.R. Tolkien
Happiness in 2025
The World Population Review’s 2025 data finds that citizens of nations with more socialistic governance—Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Netherlands—are happiest.
The Review ranks The Unted States of America as the 24th happiest. Folks in 23 nations, e.g., Mexico, Slovenia, Chechnya, Lithuania, Canada, United Kingdom, are happier than Americans.
Thoughts on Mormonism
An ex-Mormon’s thoughts on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints:
