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H2O Man

(79,308 posts)
32. Recommended.
Tue May 19, 2026, 09:32 PM
May 19

That puts you among a heck of a lot of people. What is happening to or country is terrible. Now, this president is not the first politician in this nation's history that has a significant number of the features common to psychopaths/sociopaths/ malignant narcissists. There are lots of them in corporations, too. But what stands out is that this guy is evil, in the psychological sense that Gary Brucato speaks of in his 2019 classic, "The New Evil."

More, he compares with those that Erich Fromm wrote about in his "The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness." There are a few historic examples of what Fromm termed a malignant narcissist leading a nation. When it is a relatively small nation, that leader might be as rabid as was Idi Amin, but they become largely forgotten as the decades role on. It is only in the those in still somewhat crumbling empires that make the short list of the worst ever. More, as Fromm noted, they have what seems a gravitational pull, bringing anti-social personality disorder individuals in around them. These people feel they have license to engage in their most criminal -- often cruel -- fantasies.

Now, we know that all of organic life on this living Earth exists in a mechanical fashion: they either grow or decay. That includes everything from a single cell to a human empire. Now, I am not prone to panic, but from what I have witnessed in life, I'd say this combination of a sociopath in power in a crumbling empire is where we are at. And if we really understand that today is a direct result of yesterday, and tomorrow from today, we see that we cannot stay the same. Nor can we go back in time, for it is always "Now," always has been, always will be.

Yet by changing today, we can change tomorrow. Have you ever watched the movie "Thunderheart"? Where agent Ray Levoi is told by Grandpa to run, run to the safe place? That is the same today ..... go to higher ground. Operate from that very real place within you. And take care of yourself. I just got off the phone with an old associate, and reminded him that even the greatest heavyweight champion ever, Muhammad Ali, took advantage of the minute's rest between rounds. And that young man defeated Uncle Same after a long and difficult struggle.

I know my sanity -- thin as it is! -- depends upon me taking time out in my gardens.

Recommendations

5 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

It feels like getting suckerpunched every day. Same with all the harm done by the AI industry, which is highplainsdem May 19 #1
It is VERY much like... some_of_us_are_sane May 19 #4
You really can't believe pictures anymore. They're too easy to manipulate. COL Mustard May 19 #21
All the techbros at the peoples house was evidence of the plan Evolve Dammit May 19 #25
This! 👆👆👆👆👆👆 SheltieLover May 19 #26
The midterms won't solve it. They might only give us a check on the vile psychopath.. CousinIT May 19 #2
You get it gab13by13 May 19 #7
For sure he's not leaving. That's why the nuclear blast proof ball room and everything that's going underground OGBuzz May 19 #9
"I just hope America wakes up by then..." OldBaldy1701E May 19 #24
Oh, he's leaving. orangecrush May 19 #35
Hoping your right but I'm skeptical. OGBuzz May 19 #37
If you think these elections won't have Elon's taint on it you are delusional. sellitman May 20 #57
If you think people are going to take this laying down orangecrush May 20 #63
Well, that's one way to deal with someone who won't leave. wnylib May 19 #38
It worked in Chernobyl. OGBuzz May 20 #61
Go to your county DEM Headquarters, ask what you can do to help promote candidates and get out policy information Attilatheblond May 19 #3
This EdmondDantes_ May 19 #5
I have found over and over that the best antidotes for depression and despair are community and action. Amaryllis May 19 #16
My local Indivisible group is small but so helpful. Highly recommend each of us find our local and dig in. Attilatheblond May 20 #49
Thanks, I'm already a member of indivisible. choie May 20 #54
We tried that a few years ago. They sent us away. Told us to go to our local town HQ. Silver Gaia May 19 #39
Don't give up. If there isn't a group that works, START ONE that actually takes action, be it protests, LTTE, Attilatheblond May 20 #50
Thanks. We are members of Indivisible. Silver Gaia May 20 #66
If your Indivisible group is on social media, maybe you can help by sharing information the group posts? Attilatheblond May 20 #67
Thank you. Silver Gaia May 20 #68
You are most welcome Attilatheblond May 21 #69
... Silver Gaia May 21 #71
Terrific question and analogy. We are a choir! mahina May 20 #44
Physical exertion (as one is able) really does help. The body gears up for a fight if the brain/nervous system stresses Attilatheblond May 20 #48
At this point I am seriously wondering IF there Hey Joe May 19 #6
You are correct to do so. GoodRaisin May 20 #65
There will be a time when their defenses are down. harumph May 19 #8
Pretty sure Just Jerome May 19 #10
i have replaced a bunch of compasses Tetrachloride May 19 #11
Well said, chole Grim Chieftain May 19 #12
Until now, I rarely used the word "evil" PatSeg May 19 #13
This message was self-deleted by its author PatSeg May 19 #14
Yep. Our government is under complete control of an evil tyrant. And this could have been prevented. dalton99a May 19 #15
A lack of actionable, REAL change after November will be catastrophic. Moostache May 19 #17
Tech get the red out May 20 #47
He's funding his own personal police force to disrupt the midterms. CrispyQ May 19 #18
Never thought this idea would occur to me, but wnylib May 19 #40
I don't think it's hyperbole Laurelin May 20 #55
I feel the same way, choie. HeartsCanHope May 19 #19
Where's the goddamned justice for the Epstein criminals? Blue Owl May 19 #20
yup.. me too markie May 19 #22
I feel same way-- you are not alone! Together we are stronger and we will beat these mofos LymphocyteLover May 19 #23
I just made another post saying my outrage receptors are overloaded. We are only human. Walleye May 19 #27
I think that's a good way of verbalizing it. hamsterjill May 19 #28
Yes, we desperately need relief from this madness Walleye May 19 #30
If you've made it this far dweller May 19 #29
We were operating blubunyip May 19 #31
Recommended. H2O Man May 19 #32
I always appreciate your posts, sir. love_katz May 20 #45
Thank you! H2O Man May 20 #62
Thank you for your very thoughtful reply. love_katz May 20 #64
Same. Waiting for the midterms doesn't feel like enough. "Vote harder" doesn't feel like enough. In It to Win It May 19 #33
Well, that's why we have DU. calimary May 19 #34
Midterms won't help. It takes 67 votes in the Senate for an impeachment conviction. phxjurist May 19 #36
Action helps. And connecting with people. summer_in_TX May 19 #41
I guess I'm the only one on this thread who doesn't let trump get to them NJCher May 19 #42
If enough people reach their limit . . . Aussie105 May 20 #43
When I feel overwhelmed I look for even small things that can chip away GreatGazoo May 20 #46
it's like you read my mind. barbtries May 20 #51
We're all doing our best to maintain and relate in the face of the pure depravity and venality of the Trump regime. Martin68 May 20 #52
If any consulation MaineNative May 20 #53
These are desperate times. The Grand Illuminist May 20 #56
Message auto-removed Name removed May 20 #58
I have seen evil, although nothing like the Trumpers annielion May 20 #59
Same. I don't know how much more I can take. Betty Boom May 20 #60
That's EXACTLY how they want you to feel. GoCubsGo May 21 #70
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