The Eternal Return

“All things are subject to interpretation; whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

A human being recently said, “You might not like him, but Trump is your president” to me. I responded, “You are correct in that I do not like him. But you are wrong about him being 'my president.' Granted, he is 'the president,' but he is definitely not mine.” That person could not distinguish the difference between power and truth.

It's curious how some people can be intelligent in some areas, but simple enough to believe Trump is doing an “incredible” job fighting the corona virus. Why? Because “he holds press conferences daily, explaining what he's done.” Clearly, it would require a concrete example to illustrate why Trump is not “my president.” I noted that my ancestors in Ireland did not recognize a woman in England as “their queen.” He saw no connection.

There are a good many similarly disconnected people in the United States, who plan to proudly vote for Trump this November. While they are not the majority of the population – including the voting population – we do well to remember that there were enough of them to win electoral vote by a wide margin, despite the popular vote.

I do believe in the concept of one person, one vote. I accept the fact that the most ignorant, uninformed and misinformed Trump supporter's vote is equal to my own. I know that there are more of us than there are of them. There is no justifiable reason for the November presidential election to not be an overwhelming rejection of Trump and his ilk.




“In individuals, insanity is rare, but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

I had a phone call from a man who suffers from a severe and persistent mental illness. His first comment, sans greeting, was, “Cuomo Trump.” After he repeated this several times, I was able to get him to expand on this. Earlier in the day – at 3 am – he had called the local State Troopers barracks, to discuss his anxieties regarding the failure of the community to stop the corona virus. A news report that a senior housing complex a block away from his apartment had four cases upset him.

However, he told the Trooper that he was Robo-Cop, armed with a hand gun, ready to patrol the streets to insure public safety. The Trooper kept him on the line, telling him that Governor Cuomo and Donald Trump were doing everything possible to keep people safe. As they were talking, another State Trooper arrived at his door. This man did not have a gun, and so the Trooper simply talked to him, trying to reassure him that he was safe.

In our conversation, I said that I think Governor Cuomo is doing an outstanding job. I know that for decades, he has operated under the delusion that he is an under-cover sheriff's deputy, including during a few periods of incarceration in the county jail.

At the same time, I've read a number of conspiracy theories by republicans not deemed insane, who have been convinced that the current crisis was manufactured by the “deep state” to damage Trump's reputation among voters. That is, of course, no more reality-based than Robo-Cop. The difference is that they do have guns.



“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze too long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

Thank goodness for Andrew Cuomo. I've known of him since his father served as Lt. Governor from 1979 to 1982, when Mario earned the respect and trust of the traditional Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy's leadership. As the governor of our state, Mario Cuomo was definitely one of my very favorite politicians.

I knew Andrew was very capable – the word “shrewd” comes to mind – but he was not among my favorite Democrats. Still, of course, I have always voted for him, because one does not always, or perhaps often, get the opportunity to vote for their personal choice for governor or president. Real life does not allow for that very often in general elections.

Yet today, without question, Andrew Cuomo is providing the highest level of leadership that people desperately need during this crisis. It is important to appreciate that in the most difficult of times, that ability is essential. More, Cuomo has assisted other government officials to really step up at a time when the Trump administration not only fails to be helpful, but the president is the greatest stumbling block that gets in the way of meaningful action.

I saw high lights of Trump's melt-down at yesterday's press conference. It was easy to predict that he'd have a brat attack after Governor Cuomo's two press conferences. It should be enough to make all rational people – no matter who they may have favored in the primaries – to recognize the absolute need to vote for our party's nominee in November.

Still, in a variety of settings, I've seen how bitterness has infected many people's thinking. This includes some of the supporters of both Sanders and Biden. I'm confident that everyone else has seen the ignorant and self-righteous comments of people on the internet attacking both men and their supporters. In general, this isn't a surprise after a hard-fought primary. But it needs to stop.

Yesterday, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders made it clear that they are united in purpose. Both men recognize that it both essential and urgent that people at the grass roots join together. We are confronted with dual crises right now – the corona virus and Donald Trump. You aren't too pure to vote for Biden, and you are a damned fool if you think Biden can win without Sanders's supporters. Do your part in arresting the spread of such dangerous infections.