I Have Known a Few

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand
Lord, don't they help themselves, oh
But when the taxman comes to the door
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no

Credence Clearwater Revival

One time I did some business with a local contractor who was known for being a bit reluctant to pay bills upon presentation. Being paid promptly is critical for a small business since cash flow is often dependent on, well, cash flowing. Being aware of his proclivity I wrote a clause in my contract that specified payment in full within 10 days of completion. I even went so far as to define “completion.” Predictably there was some reticence to make payment and I have to admit that in my earlier days I

could get a little excited over things like that. I had to deal with an underling so I got him cornered in the hallway and excitedly pointed out the clause in the contract. Well, he had to talk to his boss but returned with a check and told me I'd never work for them again. I told him that would be no problem and not to do me any favors. Now, he could have just stubbed up and told me to sue him which would have caused havoc in my cash flow but he didn't. He was marginally more honest than our President who has reportedly allowed himself to be sued numerous times and finally settled for pennies on the dollar or just forced smaller contractors into bankruptcy.

One runs into people like this from time to time. They consider themselves entitled because they are quite aware of the power they wield. As a matter of fact, it is the power that is the ultimate goal and it is power gained by humiliating opponents and exists for no other purpose than to humiliate. There is no inclination to use that power for good or altruistic purposes. They have none of these attributes and even acts of charity are performed for self-aggrandizement.

I don't know if it's nature or nurture that causes the development of such a narcissistic and self serving view of the world but, whatever it is, the motivation for such a person is the humiliation and debasing of the opponent. We've all known someone like that. Maybe it was the kid on your block or at your school who always had a nice baseball glove or the newest toys and liked to show them off. When you displeased him in some way he would not let you play with then and would allow someone else to play with them in front of you. As is obvious, I have known a few. If you didn't display proper reverence or provoked him he could call you names to debase your standing in relation to his. If you're unfortunate enough you've had a boss like this.

Our President is this kind of person. He has aspired to the highest office of the land, not to share his discernment and largess with others but for self-aggrandizement. He has accumulated the biggest toy box in the neighborhood and now gets to say who can play and who hasn't shown the proper respect to deserve his favoritism. He went to the Kingdom of the House of Saud who showered him with gifts and adulation which he reciprocated by reaching into his toy box and allowing them to play with his military hardware. One despot to another but showing proper respect. Then, on to Europe where, forcing his way to the front, he proclaimed that the other nations of the most significant alliance on Earth were robbing his rich country blind and he was going to take his toys and go home if they didn't begin acting as though they knew a good thing when they saw it. But, these were all democrats who presumed to be on an equal footing with him. What presumptuousness! He called them some names and came home. Now we find that our democratic allies that have participated in the greatest alliance ever are losing respect for him and,consequently, for the nation he represents. More troubling is they're beginning to form alliances that cut his country out of the mix but that's OK. America First, we don't need them anyway. Now the despots in China haven't done his bidding and tied North Korea down so he'll show them. He just shares his toys with Taiwan which is like blood in the water to a shark and threatens them with import tariffs.

You recall what I told that accountant? Well, that is what any self respecting national leader would also do and they are doing that resulting in American isolation because no one can trust our beloved country to always act with the well being of its allies at heart. How long can a great nation remain great in the light of such arrogance and ignorance.

Now, in a show of egalitarianism, the President has engaged with some talk show hosts that may have been critical over twitter, a messaging service previously suitable for only teens and pre-teens who have not yet formed the ability to maintain a thought for more than 140 characters.

I don't know how long a great country can stay great doing these things but one of the things that I

find dismaying is that some 35% of the American voters say he is doing a good job. That's about the size of his base who delight in the thumb in the eye rhetoric and who say he could be really great if people would just leave him alone.

My Take is that most of you would have punched that kid in the nose or at least decided you didn't need friends like that. That's where I am.