"The Golden Ass"

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I’m reading a book titled, The Power of Myth, an interview of Joseph Campbell by Bill Moyers.  On page 223, of the paperback version, Campbell mentions one of the oldest presently read novels, The Golden Ass, a Greek/Roman mythology, written in the late 2^nd century, by the author, Apuleius.  In the novel, a magician converts the hero, because of his lust and greed, into a golden ass.

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We in America now live in the era of The Golden Ass.  An age of mythology.  Our hero, The Golden Ass, is faithfully supported by his legions.  “In their hearts, they know he’s white” and wealthy.  Little attention is paid to the ass’s history or how he became golden.  His meager beginnings of millions were inherited as a slum lord.  He moved on to the casino world.  The casinos were his temples.  His faithful attended, each with a dollar in hand.  The temples produced nothing … but wealth.  When a hundred faithful each donated a dollar some gullible attendee got back ten dollars, with much fanfare.  The lucky winner didn’t have the ten dollars for very long.  They brought it back to the casino on another day and our Golden Ass walked away with the other ninety dollars each time the transaction was repeated.

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The foundation of the belief in the Golden Ass is that if he can build all of this wealth for himself, that he will build wealth for the Nation and that some of this wealth will trickle down to the faithful.  This theory is best refuted by The Ass himself, when he affirmed that: Perhaps some of my personally held corporations have gone bankrupt, but I, personally, have never gone bankrupt.  Or, I’ll screw everyone, but I’m OK.

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The Golden Ass has said some very asinine things, both in speeches and in his tweets.  He shows little sign of having a well-functioning adult mind.  His followers pay no attention to this, they are faithfully waiting for their pay day.

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In the end, the myth has The Golden Ass transformed into a benevolent being, by the Goddess Isis (don’t you think the name of the goddess is a little ironic?)  I don’t know if all of this bodes well for The Nation or for The Golden Ass, its President.  The Power of Myth, perhaps to be feared.

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Cheers, Old Buz

"Leader of The Free World"

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Recently a TV news commentator said that he believed that our President Trump, in his decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement, was lessoning world confidence in him and jeopardizing the long held American President’s position of “Leader of The Free World.”  Seems we have never had a President who less fits this title.

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Truth is, the title has never been valid.  Our President has always been the political leader of our nation and our nation only.  I am ashamed to admit that it required the present man/child being President to make this clear to me.  Why is something seemingly obvious and unimportant so important?  Because it is an indicator of how our nation and its leaders view the world.  We see the world as being there to serve our purposes.  If a nation chooses to fight a war alongside of us or trade nicely with us, we see them as good and if they choose not to go along with us, we see them as evil or non-caring.  In either case, each nation of the world acts in its own best interest.  Today, that is both how it is and how it should be.  If humans get a chance to evolve, their interest will be in the welfare of the planet.  The Paris Agreement was a step in that direction and President Trump opted out.

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Presently the leader of North Korea is trying to irritate President Trump.  It is like a toy poodle yapping at a bull mastiff.  I am not comparing the stature of the men involved, but am comparing their military might.  Their personal stature is about the same.  A self-assured mastiff will just walk by and perhaps give a dismissive snort to the yapping little poodle.  An insecure mastiff will engage with the little yapper, as Trump has.  We might as well accept that North Korea will someday have ICBMs capable of circling the globe, but to what end would they engage the U.S.?  Well … to their own end and perhaps the world’s end.  Let North Korea have their nukes.  They are but one of nine nations presently with such weapons.  There will soon be more, but nuclear weapons can no longer be employed without ending civilization.  Hopefully, not even Donald or Kim would do that.  Donald would miss his opulent resorts and his golfing.  Kim would miss his colorful parades.

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Cheers, Old Buz  

Humpty Dumpty Built A Great Wall

Yes, President Dumpty will have a great fall and he will do it during the next six months.   Just as FBI Director Comey gave him the office, he will take it away.  The novelty of having a buffoon as POTUS is starting to wear a little thin.  Comey will prove the coordination between the Dumpty campaign and the Russian election interference.  There is so much smoke there, that you don’t need a fire.  You will have one anyway.  The problem with this amazing great fall, is that he may take US with him.  

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The Tripod that supports him is very strong and unbending.  Trump will squeal “fake news” and “the investigation is rigged” as the evidence mounts and the Tripod will applaud and shout “fake news” and “it’s rigged” right along with him, but our Congress will pretty much listen to the evidence.  The vote to impeach will come from the honest Republicans (there are some) and all of the Democrats (a rubber stamp).  Trump will then be tried and found guilty, unless he resigns as Nixon did.  Will the Tripod let Humpty go quietly into history, as did Nixon?  No, no, no.  They will not.  They will be throwing monkey wrenches into the gears of governance for a long time to come.  Trump will continue cheating and lying, as he has all of his life.  No jail time folks.  He will find another wife and will have bankrupted the nation, but he will not personally go bankrupt.

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Who is this Tripod, which will give their undying support?  The strongest leg is the Gullibles, his true believers.  They are the not too bright, wishful thinkers.   They intend to win the lottery.  The second leg is what PAC Woman (Hillary Clinton) tagged as “Deplorables”.  I have trouble with this term.  It is too nebulous.  PAC Woman had a little difficulty with truth, herself, and I would put this charge in that area of her patter.  To me, deplorable, is a value judgement and belongs to the accuser, not to the accused.  The third leg is that of the Prejudiced.  They are a smaller leg, but strong just the same.  With wisdom and time their numbers will shrink.

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It was a great ride, having Trump as president, some interesting cable news shows, but I don’t believe it will be one that the nation will soon repeat.  One buffoon, is one too many.

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Cheers, Old Buz (feel free to comment)