Understanding Trump One Step at a Time

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by Bill Formby

One of my doctoral degree requirements was to become proficient in a research technique. I chose to use Network Systems Analysis for my research requirement. Although it sounded simpler than one of the statistical or various research specialties I was not entirely correct. But, once in it, I actually liked the complex manner in which it was actually simple. Looking at a flow chart is much like looking at an electrical schematic and I had gotten pretty good at those in the Marines and the systems charts are very similar.

The main thing about systems analysis is that at first blush a project can overwhelm one because there seems to be so many twists and turns. Therein lies the simplicity of the entire thing. A system is actually made up of many small or mini systems. So the trick is to not look at the entire system at once but to look at the mini systems and how they interact with each other. It is sort of like someone gives three dozen balls to juggle, but tells you can juggle them one at a time. Most people get lost somewhere in the middle of the first dozen and become frustrated.

I was thinking about this while listening to Trump during one of his recent rallies. His message has not changed since the campaign. He keeps his supporters well fed on very basic stuff: Build the wall, Mexico pays for it:  Hillary is a crook and needs to go to jail:  Only I can straighten out the problems this country has: Immigrants are bad for the country. Must keep them out:  He has since added two others. Fake news; and The Russian story is fake and is only sour grapes because they could not beat me.

I have to give him credit for reading at least about a third of the people correctly. Basically a lot of people in this country are simple minded and really do not want to think beyond step one. Anything past that is too complex and they become frustrated and immediately fall back to what is familiar to them. I had one person tell me the other day that the conservatives did not resist or try to obstruct President Obama. When I reminded him about the various ways that they had obstructed the entire process, like shutting down the government over the budget ceiling and the seven votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act the response was, well he had a Democratic congress for two years. Well, yeah, I guess.

They forget, or push aside the last six years of his presidency when no matter what he proposed it was going to die and not even make it to committee. They do not remember him being chastised for using executive orders to accomplish things because Congress would not. The only legislation that has gotten passed under Trump has been congresses sanctions on Russia bill because the Congress does not trust the President to do the right thing where Russia is concern. But, his supporters remind me of the subject of a poem I wrote here several years ago entitled Pawns. … You really must forgive them, for they are only pawns.

It really does not take a specialty in systems analysis to follow the path to Trump’s wrongdoings. One can simply listen to him and compare his statements to reality. I am not the first to say or imply that Donald Trump is a pathological liar. I am coming to believe that he really cannot help himself. It is in his DNA and he really cannot stop himself. Donald Trump could walk toward a polygraph instrument and it would literally blow up out of the fear of having to work so hard. It may even be that he actually believes the shit he is shoveling, and that, in his own word is “sad”.

I think the question is, how can we get the Trump supporters to stop looking at the big picture and getting confused and frustrated and take one little piece at a time? Right now he is such an enormous cluster f*ck that the average working person simply cannot comprehend what is happening. Try to explain it to then and be the second sentence they are glassy eyed. Everything beyond that point sounds like Charlie Brown’s mother talking to him. My dog Rascal understands more of what I am saying about this than the average Trump supporter. Of course, Rascal is of superior intellect compared to them. He knows when someone is piling shit on him and knows to move out of the way. They just stand there and ask for more.

So, dear hearts, if we are to help those poor confused people who are still walking around saying that Trump is going to Make America Great Again (MAGA), we need to remember, baby steps. We need to take one small thing at a time. Take just one incident at a time and get them to understand that he was wrong, or screwed up and focus on it. You will know they have it because you will see their head lighting up because they have no brain. Then quickly move on to the next small thing. OK, got it, Great. I wish you luck because I’ve given up.

About Post Author

Bill Formby

Bill Formby, aka William A. Formby, PhD, aka Lazersedge is a former Marine and a former police officer. He is a retired University Educator who considers himself a moderate pragmatic progressive liberal, meaning that he thinks practically liberal, acts practically liberal, and he is not going to change in the near future. But, if he does he will be sure to let you know.
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Bill Formby
6 years ago

Well, if you follow the path it is fairly clear that trump would prefer to be a king or some type of tyrant and he is a bit upset that the presidency does not work that way. He is pretty much like a spoiled child and reminds me a lot of Prince John of the Robin Hood tales who, being left in charge of England while Richard was away fighting the Crusades, is never respected as the true leader of England by the people. Richard’s constant drain on the Treasury left John with little of the wealth to which he felt entitled. He constantly harassed the people and the nobles for tax money to build the treasury. The displeasure at his lack of leadership finally boiled over into almost outright rebellion by the nobles and they forced him into signing the Magna Carta in 1215. This is much the same that is happening with Trump. He has such low regard for the people or the system that the Senate finally smacked his hand hand on the Russian sanctions to let him know that he is not a king. Trust me, he has not gotten the message yet. The courts have had to reign him in a bit but he still believes he can become king. I believe that the next smack down will occur when the courts rule on two items. One they are going to tell him that he can’t hold back money on the sanctuary cities, and Session is going to get his hand smack for trying to interfere with state’s rights on marijuana. By that time the 2018 elections will be held and I think the Democrats will take back one of the congressional chambers which will create even more of a grid lock for Trump and the Republicans. I don’t know who will run for president in 2020 for the Democrats but I am sure that the Republicans will be stuck with Trump and I don’t see him getting elected again. Of course, I could not see him getting elected the first time.

Neil Bamforth
6 years ago

I wouldn’t understand Trump half a step at a time!

6 years ago

He did read his crazies well, and is still doing it with every campaign rally he holds.

6 years ago

No one can understand Trump, no one, except maybe his kids. He’s a monstrous human being made up off the bad things people do.

Martha Genz
6 years ago

Now this is a good article even though I’m not a yank. Don’t know how you in the US elected a man like this. He’s messing everything up.

Bill Formby
Reply to  Martha Genz
6 years ago

It is something called the Electoral College Martha. It has happened, counting this time, twice in in recent history, that the person with the most votes, lost. Boy aren’t we smart.

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