Drawing on over five decades combined mental health practice and research psychiatrists Nanette Gartrell and Dee Mosbacher, “call on Congress to act now within (provisions of The 25th Amendment) to create an independent impartial panel of investigators to evaluate Mr. Trump’s fitness to fulfill the duties of the presidency. We urge congress to pass legislation to ensure that future presidential and vice-presidential candidates are evaluate by this professional panel before the general election, and that the sitting president and vice president be assessed on an annual basis.” (The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump, p. 348)
While this call may seem ballsy, naieve and politically absurd, pleased consider:
Within the United States Government:
The Bureau of Consumer Protection, “stops unfair, deceptive and fraudulent business practices by collecting complaints and conducting investigation, suing companies and people that break the law, developing rules to maintain a fair market place, and educating consumers and businesses about their right and responsibilities.”
The U. S. Food and Drug Administration, “is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nations food supply, cosmetic and products that emit radiation.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “works 24/7 to protect America from health safety and security threats . . . fights disease and support communities and citizens to do the same.”
The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, “seeks to promote the safety of consumer products by addressing “reasonable risk” of injury though [sic] coordinating recalls, evaluating products that are the subject of consumer complaints or industry reports, etc. ”
The National Highway Safety Administration, “(supports) the development of automobile vehicle safety technologies because of their potential to save lives”
The Federal Aviation Administration, “(works to) provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.”
In the private sectior:
Consumer Reports, “is an independent nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create fairer, safer, and healthier world testing and evaluating services and product from charities to baby mattresses and portable generators.”
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “(works to reduce) the losses–deaths, injuries and property damage–from motor vehicle crashes, crashing brand new, $40,000 SUVs into a concrete barrier.”
While Mothers Against Drunk Driving, “(works) to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking.”
Closer to home, consider buying a car. After minimal research, I shake hands with “Fairly Honest John,” a dealer in “Pre-Owned Vehicles.” Despite being a decent enough fellow, friend John is, in the end, a used car salesman. Between a wife, six, nine, and thirteen-year-old to equip and feed and a $1295 mortgage payment due, Fairly Honest John is compelled to sell this “Low Mileage Beauty” under the balloons and banners today(!) never divulging that the transmission whines above fifty-miles-an-hour and the brakes are shot. Now a wise buyer–as I’ve proven time and again not to be–would ask brother-in-law, Jake-the-mechanic, to tag along, fiddle under the hood, take ‘er for a spin, and hopefully smile–or frown.
Leaders generally gain power by one of three means. Emperors and kings ascend to the throne by the luck of heredity. Alexander the Great, Genghis Kahn, Vladimir Lenin, Adolf Hitler, and Mao Zedong amassed minions and money to wrest control over the lives of millions with minimal or no consent of the governed. In a Representative Democracy, leaders are elected by a, not necessarily “popular,” vote. That’s where the selling come in.
Like his cousin Fairly Honest John, candidate Rarely Honest Don and his acolytes are salesmen. It’s about getting the guy elected. It’s about balloons, banners, speeches, and slogans. Above all, getting elected is about burying the facts that candidate Don is a misogynist, spouse abuser, and embezzler with motives and vales wholly at odds with his constituents’ needs, wishes and expectations.
As wise buyers, it’s time to gave as much thought to hiring The President of the United States of America as to buying an ’09 Hyundai. Is Rarely Honest Don the “OLD RELIABLE” underneath the banners or a nineteen-thirties VW whose steering could come unhinged in a sharp curve at the brink of a cliff? That’s where Jake and Jane, mechanics of human thought and behavior, come in.
Over the past century and a half science has discovered more about the mechanics of human thought, emotion and behavior than in all of history before. Over the past few decades electromagnetic imaging has exposed the human brain as previously unimagined. Like a wise car buyer, why on earth would we not ask the experts to check on political candidates’ and office holders’ mental status? Common sense dictates that when it comes to electing of our leaders, ask mechanics of human behavior, Jake and Jane, to pop the hood, kick the tires and smile–or scowl.
In The United States of America a majority of adults may own a gun, breed offspring, and vote. The vast majority of us exercised these privileges with little or no appreciation for the duties and responsibilities attached thereto. With agencies and organizations investigating, testing and advising us on products from lipstick to locomotives, arguably the most powerful person on earth takes office on the basis of balloons, banners, and slogans–if not balled-faced lies. Some Jerk with a gang and big money can become President of the United States of America with the interests and lives of not only Americans but life on planet Earth at the whim of an irrational Nuclear trigger finger.
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Arguing politics is like teaching a pig to sing. It’s a waste of time and it annoys the pig. Still, considering the current state of the Oval Office I feel compelled to speak. Please consider sharing this and read The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump.