There’s a Criminal in Your House
What’s Your Response?
With a difficult problem, sometimes it’s good to step back and review the relevant fundamentals. In that spirit, I begin with a question: At a basic level, what do people want? Is it money? Influence? To be loved?
Since many would be content with some combination of those three, consider them a little closer, starting with the last.
What do you get when a person loves you? Isn’t it having someone who looks out for you, supports your well-being and growth, and helps you overcome life’s challenges? Think of a child with loving parents or newlyweds beginning their life together. Being loved means we have an assistant in navigating life’s journey and someone who helps us maintain control when we lose traction.
What about influence? Having it allows us to nudge people’s actions in directions we see as beneficial. The level of influence may range from tenuous (editorial writer) to solid (mob boss), but any level provides a measure of control over the behavior of others.
Now what about money? Why is it so desired? Money enables us to obtain nearly everything we need — food, clothing, shelter, transportation, education, and healthcare, to name the big ones. With enough, it can also provide influence. We want money because it is the world’s currency of control.
The common denominator of our common wants is that control. We strive for control over what I call “the world in which we live” — that portion of the greater world where we spend our time and energy. To illuminate by contrast, think of being imprisoned, being physically or mentally abused, or being trapped in a world where we are obliged to comply with the demands of others. Those are all assaults on our autonomy, our desire for control.
As one who finds the current Republican regime revolting beyond words, the above clarifies why. My disgust arrives through empathy with those being assaulted. I think of the federal workers whose jobs are either gone or in jeopardy, I think of all who will no longer get service from those workers, I think of those here and abroad whose nutrition and health care will suffer, I think of the Ukrainians now trapped between invaders and an extortionist, I think of those who must deal with the burden of a life that falls outside the white mainstream, and I think of all the immigrants whose lives have been thrown into uncertainty or chaos.
Assault. What an appropriate term to associate with the Republican figurehead. He assaults norms, laws, and even the Constitution. He assaults the truth pretty much every time he opens his mouth. He physically assaults women. He verbally assaults fallen soldiers, immigrants, political opponents, judges, other countries, and anyone who disagrees with or challenges him. He stiffs workers and mocks the disabled (assault in different forms).
When he can’t personally assault, he uses proxies. He sent his supporters to assault the Capitol. He had the Justice Department fire or demote those who investigated him or prosecuted the January 6 rioters. He cut off arms and intelligence to Ukraine, thereby encouraging the Russian assault.
The narcissist in the White House wants absolute control, he wants to be the world’s alpha male. The thing is, he knows he’s not. How do we know? Because with the autocrats of the world, particularly Putin, he acts like a submissive cow.
So what is the best way to deal with a serial assaulter to whom the Supreme Court has given virtually total immunity from prosecution? How can we stymie his lust for control? The courts are the avenue for serious defense against unlawful orders, but we can do more. We can speak to and about him in a language he might understand — mocking and derision. Let’s amplify that little voice in his head that tells him he’s no Putin. Let’s drive the bully mad by flooding his environment with mocking messages that Putin would never tolerate.
Millions have risked or sacrificed their lives to defend our Constitution. That document tells us that our elected officials work for us and we are free to criticize their performance. So call, write, and protest; and know that every such action is also a small salute to those who did so much more.
Putin uses open windows to showcase his power. Use the First Amendment to showcase yours.
p.s. For anyone who can sketch, I think Republicans would really appreciate a cartoon of Putin leading around a Trumpian cow (i.e., one with Trump’s face) on a short leash.
