Why Vote

 

Almost 90 million eligible voters did not vote in the 2024 presidential election.  This essay  provides a psychological explanation as to why low income  eligible voters did not cast a ballot.  Low income eligible voters , 42% of the US population, are defined as earning less than $50,000 per year.  Some typical explanations or factors include not  having ID's, making it hard to vote ,long waits in line and the political parties not paying attention to this group.

Recently, the "Beautiful Bill" was  passed by Congress.  There were cuts to Medicaid, Affordable Care Act subsidies and  the Nutritional Assistance Program  etc.. It’s been reported that 75 million low income Americans are going to be affected with increasing health care premiums and another 16-17 million losing their  coverage ,in part ,from having to show proof of employment. With tariffs ,and cuts to government agencies such as EPA, CDC,  health research and with additional funds for  ICE , the people's health ,is put in further jeopardy, In other words, healthcare, food, nutrition, chemicals, family disruption ,economics and the  many environmental hazards are just some of the factors that pertain to the GOP's attack on our peoples .  Their message is clear-your hunger,security, health , welfare ,protection and safety are not a priority in this administration  And , Mitch McConnell said something to the effect “They'll get over  it.”

To assess why a number of these  economically low income , without status , angry,  limited social mobility, self centered ,immature morality  eligible voters did not vote , I turn to Abraham H.  Maslow's motivational theory.  Maslow's theory is based on the importance of  low and high ego needs being gratified or not . In other words  there is a hierarchy of less to other more potent needs. With gratification of  ego needs,individuals have the ability to become more psychologically and physically  healthy .Gratification also comes from the potential “satisfying”  practice of parents ,other peoples as well as governmental policies within our culture or lack of it,..

Without a proper ratio of gratification of ego needs leads to  crippling capacities, cognitive and moral pathology, despair, cynicism, rage, revenge , less maturity ,poor health and neuroticism . It’s the  unsatisfied physiological and ego  needs that tend to dominate actions  with organization and efficiency. But  with gratification , the need becomes  submerged which allows the next higher set of needs in the hierarchy to emerge, within the structure of the personality . Simply put, the physiological and human ego needs become life’s essence ..

According to Maslow, ego need gratifications lead  only to temporary happiness, which in turn tends to be succeeded by some other pursuit .Desires, passions, goals  and neurotic tendencies can further motivate the individual .Also,  ego needs are often associated with a number of additional actions. Further,  Maslow pointed out that human nature is extremely malleable and is  far too easy for the culture  to negatively  affect one's genetic and psychological  health , welfare and potential .

To illustrate, Maslow theory begins with the physiological needs such as food , hunger ,sexual desire,and sleep as indicators of    lack or deprivations  in the body. Hunger suggests that the body is lacking some chemicals . So, the individual, that is hungry,  has the motivation to fill that physiological need first before his other needs.  If one is severely hungry, or starving, the drive for  food is  stronger than the need to watch a  beautiful sunrise or write a sonnet. The need for food can also be related to “love” or lack , being alone , anxiety, depression ,boredom and survival 

 Moreover, with the ego need  of hunger being unsatisfied, the organism can become dominated by that physiological need, so that all the other needs simply become nonexistent or pushed into the background. Take Les Miserables  as an illustration. In this story, Jean Valjean stole a loaf of bread to feed his hungry family. Valjean's mission and purpose was clear.  His behavior was centered around fulfilling that physiological need, irrespective of any other need and  he was willing to steal regardless of the consequence.  His behavior was dominated and became organized by that unsatisfied need. The fulfillment of the hunger need is powerful , second to none  as human behavior becomes psychologically blind to other realities.

 Man driven by food scarcity or starvation  becomes dangerous.  Take Geronimo for example.  This Apache tribe leader went into battle with white eyes .His hatred was because his tribe was  driven from their land and food became scarce. This Apache legend is about him being a great warrior and killing all those white eyes..When deprived of  the ability to hunt for food , Geronimo became a murderer.

Some 80 to 85 years ago, the consequences of Hitler's sadistic policies were apparent when victims were liberated from the many concentration camps.  These political prisoners, deprived of food, were gaunt, skeletal, haggard and  drawn..

When one is chronically hungry during extreme physiological deprivation.,not only is man blind , he becomes irrational and can engage in self-defeating acts. With Trump’s  continued sadistic  war , economic threat of food , and/or employment deprivation, poor individuals focus on food acquisition and not on voting in elections. It doesn't seem to matter as previous  presidents , politicians come and go as these citizens remain hungry , poor and exploited - why vote?.

Maslow's second need ,in his  hierarchy , are the safety needs-security; stability; dependency; protection; freedom from fear ;from anxiety, chaos; a need for structure;order; law; limits; and strength in the protectors  We  Homo sapiens are security seeking and  have  a great capacity for acquiring  safety tools as with all types of insurance ,warranties ,seat belts  air bags, speed limits  etc. Safety, protection and control are extremely important especially when threatened. When I encountered the lioness and her cubs on the tail run, I was threatened  and retreated .

For another  example, take the infant and its reaction when threatened or endangered . Infants  can be easily disturbed when dropped suddenly , startled by loud noises, flashing lights or other sense provoking as with rough handling or a general loss of support when in  mother's arms  On the other hand , with age, experience, and knowledge, the individual can become better able to understand the loud noise of thunder and lightning and not be afraid. Watch a dog, they can not learn  and remain afraid of loud noises .

Historically, another example  of safety disruption occurred in 1938 Germany with  the Kristallnacht Nazi pogrom.  This was the beginning of the Holocaust and thousands of Jewish families sent daughters and sons abroad to safety. And, most never saw their parents again. Some 10,000 children arrived in Britain or in a handful of other European countries.  These children, many were alone,were placed on trains  in Germany.  Their safety and belonging needs were shattered as they were sent away to be cared for by foster parents in strange  language speaking countries.  

Children require routine and find it difficult  when there's a lack of limits. Too much permissiveness is not good . It’s important for the parents to provide comfort, familiarity  and limits . Adults also want   a safe, orderly, predictable, lawful,and  organized world.  Trump stokes fear when he calls LA chaotic, requiring the National Guard , Marines and ICE  along with calling immigrants, rapists, thieves and gang members. His deportation to  horrid third world prisons and erecting a structure in the Florida Everglades are other examples of fear and sadism.  Its purpose is to severely scare these people ..  He believes they will deport themselves as opposed to dealing with his horror as he cannot deport 15 million in one year as boasted.. 

 Growing up in an unexpected and chaotic or dangerous situation leads one to identify with powerful parents who are protectors . Trump is no protector of America but is an emperor with no clothes. Adults  want safety, prefer the known , the familiar rather than the unknown.  With social chaos, breakdown  of authority, of democracy, loss of job, loss of spouse, etc. leads to not feeling safe but anxious and insecure .

We have enough dangers such as disease, natural catastrophes, crime,  social disorganization,, discrimination, prejudice, hate, etc. as  examples. We have a desire for safety and we purchase  all types of false and/ or self defeating products in hopes of taking away those  threats.

Trump's GOP has imposed an authoritarian structure on our democracy and he provides real threats to law and order as he acts like a dictator with his onslaught of toxic danger.  There is a need to defend oneself.  We see that action with peaceful  protest on the street and thinking about the 2026 midterms come to mind.  However, when poor individuals are struggling, in poor health , they are not very well equipped to deal with the current onslaught, it is not a surprise that there's a withdrawal from the democratic process of voting.The poor’s physiological and safety needs continue to be under constant threat.  Their motivational behavior  becomes centered around these physiological and safety needs.

Reference

Maslow, Abraham H. Motivation and Personality.

GOP Castration Complex

 

This post pertains to an article found in the June 22, 2025 edition of The New York Times.  A 29-year-old second-year law student attending the University of  Florida was awarded a "book award" which was for the best student in the class. One instructor of the seminar was taught by a Trump nominated  Federal judge who gave the award. The seminar was titled” Originalism.” Originalism is a racist idea favored  by some who erroneously interpret the Constitution and relates to Project 2025 and MAGA .

A few of the 29 year olds  racist and paranoid  hateful words were  found on  a social media platform called X which is owned by Musk. His platform allows millions of people to perpetuate the far right’s craziness on the grounds that it's  free speech.The students' words follows  !. Referring to me as a Nazi would not be manifestly wrong.  2. Jews must be abolished by any means necessary.  3. The  Constitution was written exclusively for white people. 4. Nonwhites should be stripped of voting rights and given 10 years to move to another country  5.  Rescind birthright citizenship for those because aliens are second-class   6.  Courts should challenge the constitutionality of the 14th amendment  8 If the courts did not act to ensure a white country, it should be done by the slashing of her sword. 8. Trump and Rubio  were controlled by Jews, the common enemy of humanity. 9.  illegal invaders  should be done away with by any means necessary.  10.  The self flagellatory mindset of modern-day Germans  is  their failure to revere Hitler. 

Man's motivation is varied , complex and based on a number of characteristics.. With that being said ,words have various meanings but it's the behavior that tells man’s story.. What does “We the people “ in the Preamble mean in the constitution  ? The words and behavior of  Hamilton and Jefferson are perfect examples. 

1.Hamilton was born in the British West Indies and an illegitimate son of a  common-law marriage between a poor Scottish man of aristocratic dissent and a French woman .2.  Hamilton married Elizabeth whose family was rich, and politically powerful.  They had eight children. 3. He left his private practice of law and entered public service.4.John Jay, James Madison and Hamilton wrote the Federalist papers. 5.  Federalist number 51 pertained to the balance of power in state government with principles of checks and balances..6 Hamilton advocated the emancipation of the enslaved , bought ,sold and owned slaves.7.. Hamilton died after his duel with Burr. 

1.Thomas Jefferson was born in a British Virginia colony.  2.  He was the primary draftsman of the Declaration of Independence; the nation's first Secretary of State; second vice president and third president.3. He founded the University of Virginia School of Medicine and the University of Virginia.  4. His children included Sally Hemmings ,Madison Hemmings ,Eston Hemmings and Harriet Hemmings 6. He died from chronic  diarrhea.

It's clear that the power and discrimination of the  political structure of our Republic was established, at that time, by WASP males with their contradictory ,prejudicial and irrational rhetoric .  Women ,spouses , Blacks and others were discriminated against politically.  However, these white males subjugated  white and black females .  On the other hand, these controlling males  had black females work for them, had black people take care of them, had black females care for their precious children and had conjugal and sexual relationships with black females .  With that being said, “We the people “ means an inclusion of white and black females, Black males  and others per their significant and meaningful interpersonal relationships and unions

 In 1791  freedoms in the constitution began to be spelled out in more detail with the Bill of Rights.  However, it wasn't until Lincoln, Civil War and the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution  In 1868 ,politically granted citizenship with civil and federal protection to” all “ Americans . This amendment  forbids the states depriving any person of” life ,liberty or property without due process of law." " At this juncture, we have 27 amendments to the Constitution and hopefully more will be enacted to eliminate more of the injustices facing our Republic..

It's obvious that this 29-year-old racist law student is retelling the same old  story based on lies, misinformation, and distorting reality based on his insecurity and paranoid hate.  If immigrants are a  problem, does that mean that Hamilton  was a problem ? Immigrants are not the problem. Are Blacks a problem as well?  The MVP's in this year's Super Bowl and NBA championship were both black superstars.  Thomas Jefferson had black children. Are Jews a threat to humanity?  Moses, Jesus, Spinoza ,Einstein , Freud,  Oppenheimer,and Chomsky  are Jews that have extraordinary stories . And, Polish born American Jew Haym Solomon was the prime financier for the Continental Congress and financed Washington's revolutionary army.  Jesus was not a threat to humanity but this 29-year-old bigot  and other hateful people are .

I would have no trouble going back and reestablishing Washington as our president.  He never wanted to be king and retired after two terms as president.  However, I do not want to go back to muskets, carrier pigeons , thinking and treating my black friends as 3/5 human, travelling by carriage,  fighting and killing the English and  Indians.  Instead, I prefer making love with Linda, practicing psychology , pumping iron ,writing books & essays, ,watching Steph Curry shoot threes, enjoying Michigan football and basketball ,chatting with Thom Darden , sister Bev ,Tony, Lee  , family and  so many others.Hanging out with Dave, Joyce, Pat, Mike, Pat ,Ken , smoothies, Ride & Tie, Tevis   watching movies  and telling  many stories of past and current  with dear friends that have come and gone.

Project 2025 and MAGA represents  male WASP authoritarianism, discrimination, prejudice, exploitation  based on old cultural norms while rationalizing and  compensating for their fragileness while  benefiting  from the power and control of the few and subjugating the rest.

Psychologically, this  male WASP Project 2025 ( shrinking GOP destroying bureaucratic government with male WASP rule)  returning to an earlier time suggests symbolically regression and fixation.  Regression psychodynamically is a partial or symbolic return to an infantile pattern of reacting and is manifested in a wide variety of circumstances and associated with many mental disorders. 

 This "political" regression is related to the Oedipus Complex ( rivalry and possession of the mother) as a result of  GOP’s  fear, insecurity, frustration, stress and conflict.  With this invested energy,  symptoms reflect an impulse which, whose expression is greatly feared in the Oedipal dynamics which is fear of castration.and partly loss of love . Briefly, the little boy is always in fear and fearful .That threat could result from somewhere like  male adults ,females and/or  other children. The possession of the male  penis is highly prized, precious and so very important .

 This castration fear is deeply embedded during the phallic stage so it's practically unavoidable and “universal.”  During a fantasy  process ,the male child identifies unconsciously with the father in an attempt to overcome and inhibit the danger associated with the loss of penis. 

The child Identifies with the authoritarian  father and enjoys  the  powerful masculine role both physically and sexually.  In essence, he solves his  castration  and Oedipus Complex problem by incorporating controlling, dominating   might  and superior power of the parental attitude and being of his authoritarian god like father who gives or withhold punishment at his will ( Super Ego  development and conscience) . Now,in fantasy ,he is the  powerful king of the castle,  master and ruler of his world ,has eliminated his rivals along with his irrational violence..In essence, the project 2025 playbook is  both fixated and has regressed to  that Oedipal and SuperEgo drama.These charlatan GOP masters of domination are compensating, a pseudo sense of masculine actions  , for their fears and  inadequacies.

Reference

Monroe,Ruth L. School of Psychoanalytic Thought.

Essence of Success

 This essay is a critique of an  article in the June 15, 2025 edition of the New York Times. The book is a story about sibling job success.  The children identified were the Brontë sisters; Murguia brother and sister; the Chen children; the Paulus family and the Polgar sisters 

According to the reviewer, this book attempted to elucidate commonalities among families that had more than one high achieving child. A few of the points made pertaining to success were the following: 1.  Unlike helicopter parents who remove obstacles and challenges,the author concluded that parents should not intervene  but instead should emphasize resourcefulness and self-sufficiency.  2.  These parents tended to avoid effusive praise  and employed a  withholding approach. This approach  leads a child to state  “that whatever we do ,we always feel like it's not enough ."  3.  These children  competed , friendly and supportive of each other.  4.  Some of the parents were enterprising and went to great lengths to expose their children to the theatre, museums with  most important mentors. 5. Mothers in particular ended up sacrificing a great deal 6.  A neuroscientist explained that excellence in chess was  based on one child's innate long-term memory and higher level processing speeds . She also had a father that  pushed her  to devote  her young  life  to chess, which further developed this special brain circuitry. 7. The conclusion - expose  children to enrichment opportunities, socializing them and  reading to them. 

To begin, there is a plethora of research studies related to high achievement .And it's one of our  ego needs. Some research was related to parental parenting styles, birth order, family illness ,conflicts, tragedies and many other variables It’s unfortunate that these findings were omitted.

Years ago in "It Has Nothing to Do That With Age" I told the stories of 7  successful athletes who were 65 years of age and older who  competed in extraordinary sports.  First of all, these men and women were intelligent, driven, passionate, and excelled in their sports. All  overcame various degrees of crisis ,conflict ,setbacks and  compensated for their  fear of failure with exceptional training . Jim Steere, DVM, and Fulbright scholar for example, as a young teen rode alone for some 100 trail miles  on horseback, from his father's house in rural California  to his mother's house in Los Angeles..  Both parents were extraordinary identification models .  They  both reinforced self-sufficiency taking responsibility and caring  for self ,animals and others.The words patriot and friend come to mind.  

Later in "Bo’s Warriors    Bo Schembechler and the Transformation of Michigan Football" The stories of 9  successful  mentally tough individuals were told.  These exceptional athletes were part of the University of Michigan's historic victory over Ohio State in 1969 as they overcame great odds..  Once again, success was significant . All were intelligent.  Their  unequalled victory was a  team victory composed of black and white young men.  All these individuals were driven and passionate  about their sport and recognized that the  team was an integral part of their success. The team ,the team  was drilled into their head by  Coach Bo Schembechler. 

Thom Darden, All American, first round draft pick and  one of the Cleveland Browns greatest players provided just one example. To overcome his fear of failure ,Thom intelligently studied the game with his coaches and excelled at training.  He overcame and dealt with racial discrimination,from  other athletes and coaches, notoriety, and season ending physical injuries. Furthermore, he also had parents that were terrific  models  that taught him respect, fair play,  responsibility, treating others with dignity ,spirituality, independence in thought and action.

Another way to think more broadly  about success  is from a humanistic psychology viewpoint  provided by Albert Maslow.  Maslow's framework provided characteristics:enabling  an individual to find his way of life in terms of what is true , what is important to him and his own self realization or self actualization.

Existential philosophers, psychologists and psychiatrists have also written about  self-actualization  or what  is potentially best in   humans . Some ideas relate to perception , cognition , reality , productivity, societal welfare, self-realization and interpersonal relationships. 

 Maslow researched successful individuals such as Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln, Einstein,Elenor Rosevelt, Jane Adams, William James,Schweitzer,,Aldous Huxley, and Spinoza .. Other potentials included Eugene V. Debs , Goethe,  Pablo Casals, Martin Buber, John Keats , Adlai Stevenson, Sholom Aleichem, Harriet Tubman, George Washington,  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Benjamin Franklin, Walt Whitman to name a few..

 According to Maslow,  a humanistic  society should be rooted in brotherliness and solidarity , not blood and soil  which gives man the possibility of transcending nature by creating rather than destroying; a sense of self experience  which opens the subject s powers  rather than  conformity in which a system of orientation and devotion exists without needing to destroy,to distort reality or worship idols.

Briefly , a few of Maslow’s characteristics of self actualization follow: 1.Efficient perception of reality 2. Acceptance of self and others;3. Spontaneity 4. Solving problems  outside  of self 5.Need for privacy 6.  Autonomy 7. Appreciation of nature  8. Mystic experiences 9. Feelings of identification, sympathy, and affection 10. Significant relationships with a few 11. Respect;of people from all walks of life 12 Able to differentiate means from ends 13. Sense of humor  14..Creativeness 15.Resistance to enculturation .

Years ago, Ed Budde hosted a book signing event for my first book titled  “It Has Nothing To Do  With Age” in Kansas City.  Ed invited his friend Connie  Dobler to join us.  Conrad just completed his book titled "Pride and Perseverance  , A Story of Courage, Hope and Redemption ‘ with a  forward to his book  written by Dan Deardorff, a Michigan All American and teammate.  Conrad was called , at one time ,  "NFL's Dirtiest Player."  Conrad wrote about his successes and failures  over  his lifetime .  Unfortunately, Connie , now a caretaker, is dealing with a freak accident that paralyzed his wife Amy. Also on the back cover is a memorable and personal quote.  by golf pro Phil  Mickelson.

In summation, a capitalistic viewpoint  of success can be described economically, job attainment, retirement, number of toys ,dream home , vacations , things  etc..  Success can also  be measured from a phenomenological point of view and/or a psychological perspective. Significant points to consider include  a point in time as a measurement as opposed to that of the human lifecycle . In measuring success as a point in time is like thinking about Sisyphus’s punishment.. He continued to exert force and was driven to reach the top of the mountain, over and over again during his ordeal. However, in reality ,reaching the top  might be temporary or maybe there are other goals ,asirations ,expectations or mountains to reach. Importantly, I agree with Aunt Eva when she talked about the importance and treasure of health. Therefore, in addition to Maslow’s self actualizing  model,as  a successful human, I add  the striving for health :1. Education- understanding   Einstein said, Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. Epictetus  said  Only the educated are free.  2”Keep moving” was mentioned by Ed Budde, All-American number one NFL draft pick  Super Bowl Champion- aerobics 3.  Strength training or pumping iron.  4.  Nutritional diet.

PS

Musk and  Gates are successful from an economic point of view.  However, one  exhibits severe , less healthy,neurotic character  flaws while the other has become a mensch with his “meaningful “  social welfare contributions. Having the most doesn’t bring happiness and contentment. From a successful , self actualizing, growth,  higher level  of human nature,  viewpoint, most human’s  fall short; some are like Sisyphus In that they come very  close  while only a small ratio reach that pinnacle.

Reference 

Maslow, Abraham H.  Motivation And Personality.

Democracy

 

This essay has to do with three articles found in the June 8, 2025 edition of The New York Times.  The articles are titled "Money Problems"; "On the Right Side of a Vast Gap, It Pays to Be the Boss.";  and "Long-Term Care Questions?  Here's What to Know."  The themes of these articles are about today’s democracy.

In the first article, a fact "The central indictment of capitalism has remained remarkably consistent that it is soulless, exploitative ,inequitable, unstable and destructive, yet also all conquering and overwhelming."  That quote suggests that capitalism aside from being dominant has been a major and significant  problem for man  as well.  The article pointed out that capitalism is always in crisis and requires the state to step in and save the capitalistic system from dissent and disintegration.

Another quote by an economic anthropologist  "Free markets were such a stark utopia that they required a strong state to lay the ground rules.  They are also so disruptive that societies spontaneously try to reassert some order in response.’And,  John Maynard.  Keynes maintained that the state could get an economy out of a slump by spending money to stimulate demand. And finally, a 19th century Scottish essayist thought that democracy was hopeless and evinced utter contempt for the multitude.

Adam Smith and Jefferson  both feared democracy because of  the ability of the masses to make decisions that would be counterproductive. of the wealthy.  In essence they were afraid of majority rule affecting  WASP wealth.  I agree , in the sense that  the majority is not always right as in the 2024 presidential election.  Today’s democracy is associated with alienation,discrimination, exploitation, sadism and  ineptitude.  

Trump was right when he said the system was rigged and there's a swamp in Washington.  However, he's an  excellent example of the problem.  This second article provided an example of the compensation filings for CEOs and how they pertain to employee wages.  For example, Alex Karp, the CEO of Palantir Technologies or a firm that has been in the news for helping the Trump administration collect and compile personal information on millions of Americans. The company disclosed that Karp received $6.8 billion in actual  compensation  paid in 2024.  CEO compensation actually paid is one of the two major ways of accounting for chief executive pay required under the Dodd -Frank Wall Street Reform and consumer protection act of 2010.

Government regulators required that compensation actually paid be included universally in corporate filings and that rule is likely to be slashed by the Trump administration and overturned .  Another example of overvalued compensation was paid to Peter Gassner of Veeva Systems. Peter had a total compensation of $172.4 million, nearly all from stock options and awards.  The median employee at that company earned $137,866.  In essence, it would take a worker at that company 1251 years to earn what that CEO did in 2024. Actually that CEOs salary was $475,000 but his take-home pay was in the millions ..

Of course, major  companies would like to hide the actual compensation paid to their CEOs from their employees.  Back in the 80s, Peter F.  Drucker said it felt right. when CEOs received 10 to 12 times what their workers earned.  Gassner’s  pay ratio was 1251.  CEO’s  compensation is  disgusting and it's not a surprise that so many in this country are pissed off and alienated with their stagnant compensation and desire for change . Trump’s not the remedy .

A pertinent example of  discrimination ,inequality,and exploitation is associated with the third article . It dealt with a major health and wellness problem affecting millions of  Americans currently and in the years ahead.  The demand for long-term care assistance  is rising while the worker  supply is decreasing.  On the demand-side we have an aging population, which suggests that those turning 80 have greater odds of needing care.  The US Census Bureau forecasts that the number of people 85 and older will nearly double by 2035 to 11.8 million people and nearly triple by 2062 to 19 million.

There's a shortage of workers in the field.  Those working have a median wage of about $16.72 per hour.  Also, immigrants make up 28% of the long-term care workforce.  And Trump is deporting these workers. 

The price of some long-term care services rose as much as 10% more than triple the 2.9% general rate of inflation in 2024.  Long-term care refers to help with daily living for people who are frail or disabled- bathing, dressing, using the toilet, preparing meals, shopping, walking and taking medications.  Unfortunately, 23% of all adults and 45% of those age 65 or older incorrectly believe that Medicare will cover their time in a nursing home if they have a long-term illness or disability.

According to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, concluded that about 1/5 of retirees will require no long-term care support; 20% are likely to experience a severe need ; 25% will have low and 37% will have moderate needs.  The monthly  median cost for assisted living communities nationally was $5900 per month; in-homemaker services cost $6292 per month and a private nursing home  annual cost  of $10,646. The cost of assisted living , nursing home care and homemaker services all jumped roughly 10% in 2024

The administration's crackdown of immigrant workers is likely to accelerate costs further and harm the quality of care.

Demand for workers is expected to be strong in the years ahead and residential care providers are expected to have 817,000 new jobs by 2032 for direct roles.  According to federal employment projections, this is the most new positions of any job category across the US economy.  It stated that we simply were not going to have enough people to take care of everyone.

Trump’s Congress is also planning funding cuts for Medicaid, which covers 61% of all long-term care.  There is also confusion over what Medicare and Medicaid cover  Medicare generally covers up to hundred days after hospitalization in the skilled nursing facility.  Medicaid covers long-term care services over a longer period of time either in an institutional or home setting, but only for people with very low income and assets.  Medicaid is the primary payer for long-term care . It covers nursing home service and care in homes .  Insurance companies had been selling long-term care insurance policies since the early 1980s. 35 years ago there were more than 125 insurance companies to choose from.but now there might be a dozen options.

Insurance companies require the customers to pass a medical exam to qualify for the commercial policies.  Horrible news for older consumers who are likely to have disqualifying conditions.  Self-funding or how much money to set aside is another issue.  In essence, most people turn to informal care from family members or friends.  64% of caregiving hours are provided by children, spouses , relatives or non-relatives, but that also has financial consequences for the caregiver. 56  percent of people who provide  for someone's long-term care cut back on spending, food, clothing or other basic needs. one third have trouble paying the rent or utility bills. Time away from work translates with lower career earnings ,fewer Social Security benefits and lower levels of savings.

Are  Trump voters just stupid or happy with his support for a CEO to receive billions in one year ; collect your personal information; cut Medicaid aid and round up immigrants' that provide health care aid ? The stress  from Trump and his sycophants are toxic and are consequential to our republic’s mental and physical illness ..

PS

 Not a surprise as there is a pause in deportation  for farms, hotels and eateries but not for health . Capitalism prevails

Democracy

This essay has to do with three articles found in the June 8, 2025 edition of The New York Times.  The articles are titled "Money Problems"; "On the Right Side of a Vast Gap, It Pays to Be the Boss.";  and "Long-Term Care Questions?  Here's What to Know."  The themes of these articles are about today’s democracy.

In the first article, a fact "The central indictment of capitalism has remained remarkably consistent that it is soulless, exploitative ,inequitable, unstable and destructive, yet also all conquering and overwhelming."  That quote suggests that capitalism aside from being dominant has been a major and significant  problem for man  as well.  The article pointed out that capitalism is always in crisis and requires the state to step in and save the capitalistic system from dissent and disintegration.

Another quote by an economic anthropologist  "Free markets were such a stark utopia that they required a strong state to lay the ground rules.  They are also so disruptive that societies spontaneously try to reassert some order in response.’And,  John Maynard.  Keynes maintained that the state could get an economy out of a slump by spending money to stimulate demand. And finally, a 19th century Scottish essayist thought that democracy was hopeless and evinced utter contempt for the multitude.

Adam Smith and Jefferson  both feared democracy because of  the ability of the masses to make decisions that would be counterproductive. of the wealthy.  In essence they were afraid of majority rule affecting  WASP wealth.  I agree , in the sense that  the majority is not always right as in the 2024 presidential election.  Today’s democracy is associated with alienation,discrimination, exploitation, sadism and  ineptitude.  

Trump was right when he said the system was rigged and there's a swamp in Washington.  However, he's an  excellent example of the problem.  This second article provided an example of the compensation filings for CEOs and how they pertain to employee wages.  For example, Alex Karp, the CEO of Palantir Technologies or a firm that has been in the news for helping the Trump administration collect and compile personal information on millions of Americans. The company disclosed that Karp received $6.8 billion in actual  compensation  paid in 2024.  CEO compensation actually paid is one of the two major ways of accounting for chief executive pay required under the Dodd -Frank Wall Street Reform and consumer protection act of 2010.

Government regulators required that compensation actually paid be included universally in corporate filings and that rule is likely to be slashed by the Trump administration and overturned .  Another example of overvalued compensation was paid to Peter Gassner of Veeva Systems. Peter had a total compensation of $172.4 million, nearly all from stock options and awards.  The median employee at that company earned $137,866.  In essence, it would take a worker at that company 1251 years to earn what that CEO did in 2024. Actually that CEOs salary was $475,000 but his take-home pay was in the millions ..

Of course, major  companies would like to hide the actual compensation paid to their CEOs from their employees.  Back in the 80s, Peter F.  Drucker said it felt right. when CEOs received 10 to 12 times what their workers earned.  Gassner’s  pay ratio was 1251.  CEO’s  compensation is  disgusting and it's not a surprise that so many in this country are pissed off and alienated with their stagnant compensation and desire for change . Trump’s not the remedy .

A pertinent example of  discrimination ,inequality,and exploitation is associated with the third article . It dealt with a major health and wellness problem affecting millions of  Americans currently and in the years ahead.  The demand for long-term care assistance  is rising while the worker  supply is decreasing.  On the demand-side we have an aging population, which suggests that those turning 80 have greater odds of needing care.  The US Census Bureau forecasts that the number of people 85 and older will nearly double by 2035 to 11.8 million people and nearly triple by 2062 to 19 million.

There's a shortage of workers in the field.  Those working have a median wage of about $16.72 per hour.  Also, immigrants make up 28% of the long-term care workforce.  And Trump is deporting these workers. 

The price of some long-term care services rose as much as 10% more than triple the 2.9% general rate of inflation in 2024.  Long-term care refers to help with daily living for people who are frail or disabled- bathing, dressing, using the toilet, preparing meals, shopping, walking and taking medications.  Unfortunately, 23% of all adults and 45% of those age 65 or older incorrectly believe that Medicare will cover their time in a nursing home if they have a long-term illness or disability.

According to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, concluded that about 1/5 of retirees will require no long-term care support; 20% are likely to experience a severe need ; 25% will have low and 37% will have moderate needs.  The monthly  median cost for assisted living communities nationally was $5900 per month; in-homemaker services cost $6292 per month and a private nursing home  annual cost  of $10,646. The cost of assisted living , nursing home care and homemaker services all jumped roughly 10% in 2024

The administration's crackdown of immigrant workers is likely to accelerate costs further and harm the quality of care.

Demand for workers is expected to be strong in the years ahead and residential care providers are expected to have 817,000 new jobs by 2032 for direct roles.  According to federal employment projections, this is the most new positions of any job category across the US economy.  It stated that we simply were not going to have enough people to take care of everyone.

Trump’s Congress is also planning funding cuts for Medicaid, which covers 61% of all long-term care.  There is also confusion over what Medicare and Medicaid cover  Medicare generally covers up to hundred days after hospitalization in the skilled nursing facility.  Medicaid covers long-term care services over a longer period of time either in an institutional or home setting, but only for people with very low income and assets.  Medicaid is the primary payer for long-term care . It covers nursing home service and care in homes .  Insurance companies had been selling long-term care insurance policies since the early 1980s. 35 years ago there were more than 125 insurance companies to choose from.but now there might be a dozen options.

Insurance companies require the customers to pass a medical exam to qualify for the commercial policies.  Horrible news for older consumers who are likely to have disqualifying conditions.  Self-funding or how much money to set aside is another issue.  In essence, most people turn to informal care from family members or friends.  64% of caregiving hours are provided by children, spouses , relatives or non-relatives, but that also has financial consequences for the caregiver. 56  percent of people who provide  for someone's long-term care cut back on spending, food, clothing or other basic needs. one third have trouble paying the rent or utility bills. Time away from work translates with lower career earnings ,fewer Social Security benefits and lower levels of savings.

Are  Trump voters just stupid or happy with his support for a CEO to receive billions in one year ; collect your personal information; cut Medicaid aid and round up immigrants' that provide health care aid ? The stress  from Trump and his sycophants are toxic and are consequential to our republic’s mental and physical illness ..

PS

 Not a surprise as there is a pause in deportation  for farms, hotels and eateries but not for health . Capitalism prevails

Anxiety 2

 

Last week's essay began with Heidegger's quote that anxiety is the source of everything plus a few examples of fear and anxiety present in our civilization. This essay addresses the consequences of anxiety as it relates to hostility . Anxiety is defined as a feeling of worry, nervousness or unease . Typically, it’s about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.  A similar term tension is defined as a mind that is affected by stress or tension, cannot think as clearly and is a synonym for  anxiety.  

Dealing with the ongoing presence of  anxiety affects everyone. Anxiety ,tension and/or fear acts as a motivating force.  And anxiety results in the individual enacting defenses against that  unpleasantness. Nature with its  hurricanes, floods , fire etc.  provide  conditions that give rise to fear and anxiety and it’s an external danger. Also,  individual concerns and social relationships relating to suppression, exploitation, abuse ,frustration also cause fear and anxiety. And lastly, with society, the dangers of religion, economics, politics also occur . 

A brief  description of anxiety follows  If an individual has a weapon like a gun or avoided running on the trails because of possibly interacting with a mountain lion or rattlesnake that would be an example of anxiety. And it is subjective . However, on one trail running  occasion,I encountered a lioness and her two cubs.  I immediately froze because I was fearful. I had a water bottle but no gun . In other words,  my fears were objective and "real" 

On the other hand, anxiety can be reacting to an imaginary danger , a particular person or participating in a certain activity or if undertaking that certain action becomes a strain , fatigue and/or exhaustion  interferes with performance. For instance , when an athlete chokes by not making that basket it’s anxiety related. That choking example  spoils the pleasure one would've had if he had made the basket.

Anxiety can also be hidden behind feelings of physical discomfort, rational and / or irrational fears.  Many examples are when individuals abuse alcohol, drugs, and food, essentially submerging  themselves to avoid feelings of unpleasantness.  Also, people engage  in many distractions  or social activities because of fear of being alone. And, also when people compulsively engage in work, doing mindless repetition activities, puzzles, cards, sports, etc.for a defense ,a distraction , are ways to consciously or unconsciously  cope, deny or “avoid” anxiety. 

Other defenses associated with escaping anxiety are an inordinate need for sleep, sexual activities which serve as a safety valve  attempting to cope with uneasiness,restlessness and irritability especially if there's no chance for sexual satisfaction.  Further, people also avoid situations which might arouse anxiety and/or they can procrastinate.  I recently suggested to a cousin of mine to get a medical  evaluation because of his posture.  He told me he didn't want to do it because he was afraid of the answer he would receive.  Also, people pretend not to like a certain activity which really means they want to avoid that anxiety provoking situation.

Most people have difficulty in understanding the importance of anxiety in their life. The dreaded feeling of anxiety can be tormenting ,unbearable that underlies a feeling of helplessness.  Sometimes that helplessness is countered by one exhibiting drive to overcome that helplessness through acts of power, being a master, being in control which are essentially means evoked to escape that anxiety.  In essence those who have a tendency to control are compensating for their feelings of insecurity and helplessness that was established long ago.

Individuals also often rationalize by attempting to turn their anxiety into a rational fear.  For example, one might be afraid to counter a Trump policy or executive order which is really based upon some other fear or insecurity. However, that individual uses that excuse that they can't criticize because Trump will be angry and retaliate.

Our society ,because it's composed of people, generates a great deal of anxiety.  However, despite the prevalence of experiencing anxiety.many people deny it by excluding it from consciousness.  Yet, the following often occurs, such as shivering, sweating, accelerated heartbeat, choking sensations, frequent urges to urinate, diarrhea , vomiting, and restlessness which are associated with being anxious.

In essence, anxiety is related to helplessness ,danger, feeling defenseless and not being in control.  This helplessness has been magnified by intrapsychic factors  that occurred a long time ago such as  but not limited to the birth trauma ,separation anxiety and Oedipal issues .

One motivating  component of anxiety are impulses which have the power to provoke the anxiety. That impulse could be sexual and/or aggressive which can attack or hurt another human or animal.  However,  many situations in which impulses or behavior to  hurt or harm  occur and when they are not  overtly expressed are called  repression. 

Repressing a hostile impulse means that one is pretending that everything is alright and  avoiding  the fight when ,instead,one ought to  stand up and express the displeasure .Not only that ,the person is not consciously aware of his hostility especially those of a pre oedipal nature  .Often  hostility  in effect,  becomes  expressed explosively and  the disruption occurs at various  situations with another individual but  not necessarily early on with the parent or caretaker. Those disruptions become intensified from outside sources and is one way for the person to get rid of that dangerous effect from within.

When one's  repressed  unconscious hostile impulses are directed toward another that is called projection.  Projecting that  hostile impulse to the outside world means that the other person or persons become endowed with the same ruthlessness, anger, hate, hostility, bitterness of that individual. This projection serves as a self-justification.  It is not himself who wants to cheat ,steal, exploit, humiliate, but it's the other who wants to do such things to him. 

Recently there were two Israeli murders in Washington DC and 15  Jewish peaceful demonstrators attacked in Colorado.  Incorporating man's nature of helplessness and anxiety with  hate, jealousy, paranoia, hostility,repression and projection provides an understanding of the motivation  attributed  to those two perpetrators . 

Initially, man is born helpless and dependent. Man’s helplessness is exacerbated by anxiety from a whole host of biological and society situations and events.  

A brief supposition follows. More than likely, these two individuals were reared with a heavy  ratio of negative events -anxiety producing situations affecting their development.  On the  one hand,they  repressed their anger and hostility ,as in temper tantrums ,toward the caretakers yet on the other hand, the caretakers reinforced that hostility when it was expressed toward an infidel or enemy.  This suggests , psychologically, they had an inordinate amount of anger  repression during their childhood. Their repressed  hostility is associated with feelings of low self-esteem, helplessness, insecurity, dependency, inadequacy, anger and self hatred . This dynamic  of a heavy ratio of unfulfilled needs and reinforced expression of hate and hostility toward an enemy results in the development of mistrust and permission to hate. It was also reinforced by an identification and orientation within their group membership with its primitive supernatural beliefs and superstitions.. 

During their  development, additional factors within this complex of hate contributed to developing delusions of persecution , jealousy and irrational thinking that formed their attitude and beliefs.  They believed they understood, they knew , even when they did not, but used logical reasoning to justify their irrational crazy thinking.and behavior.  Delusional beliefs persisted even though factual social reality contradicted it.  This belief did not depend upon objective evidence, but group identification and justification.

With the buildup of anxiety , hostility, rage and hate , resulted in a discharge when those impulses could no longer be repressed regardless of eventual punishment.  These individuals carried  an  emotional  hypersensitivity as related to others within an emotional  atmosphere of misunderstanding,distrust ,suspiciousness, uneasiness and resentment .

Being angry, hateful ,resentful and suspicious , they lived with the expectation that someone  would sadistically belittle or attack them just as they felt belittled and attacked while in their own childhood.  With their hateful, hostile aggression.,these individuals appear to be both angry and innocent,and all that is evil and contemptible is denied and projected. To others they seemed normal.

With that being said, those feelings were  projected onto those peaceful and innocent Jews . They believed that those Jews  harbored despicable, aggressive feelings toward them. Their horrible act was not revenge . These  Jews, in no way attacked or wished harm  on these two individuals. In reality , these Jews were innocent individuals in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were Jewish victims of hate.They were scapegoated. These despicable acts were not revenge but simply an irrational projection and acting out of  hostile paranoid and destructive impulses  Likely , these two perpetrators have an expectation of receiving some reward in the here and now, and/or their  after life.

 

Reference

Cameron, Norman .  Personality Development and Psychopathology  .  A Dynamic Approach

Horney, Karen.  The Neurotic Personality of Our Time

Anxiety 1

 

Heidegger believed that "anxiety" was at the source of everything.  Freud ,Horney and others have explored the relationship, the association and the significance of anxiety as related to mental illness. Furthermore, individual experiences, societal conditions and nature are all associated with both fear and anxiety. In other words ,fear and anxiety are constantly experienced . The following articles of the May 18, 2025 The New York Times provide few examples of anxiety and fear conditions affecting Homo sapiens.

Charles Darwin wrote about the survival of the fittest However, I suggest that Homo sapiens survival is significantly related to how  effectively man deals and addresses anxiety and fear  For starters, Freud and Rank described the trauma occurring at birth.  That fetus developed, for the most part, in the comfort and bliss within the womb, but that was severed with  an overwhelming amount of stimuli that occurred during the birth separation . The initial response of the newborn is crying, not smiling . This birth is a unique experience causing tremendous homeostasis  disruption. In fact, Freud called this event the prototype of  all anxiety.  And of course, throughout rearing that newborn has a multitude of positive and negative disruptions affecting his psychological state.  Hopefully, tranquility without anxiety or tension can occur in the safety of the caretaker while the baby is held, fed, diapered, rocked,  sang to  and during  bladder and bowel movements . In other words, the pleasure -pain ratio of well-being and comfort to anxiety and tension can be positive, neutral or negative.

During development that baby interacts with a variety of actors in a multitude of settings within the family.  Then the life space expands to school, neighborhood and so forth.  Depending upon the occurrence of congenital conditions, parental stress, socioeconomic , political issues and conflicts and/or  the ravages of nature affect bliss or anxiety in every individual.  In other words, one's body, cultural conditions and ravages of nature affect homeostasis within the body, resulting in fear which is real or anxiety which is subjective based on one’s perception and reinforcement history.

The occurrence of anxiety and fear events in society are as follows: The first article was titled War Filled Indian Media With Fevered Falsehoods.  The article exposed the preposterous attacks on Pakistan that didn't occur.  For example, news reports suggested that the Indian military  had struck a Pakistan nuclear base, downed two Pakistani fighter jets and blasted part of Pakistan's Karachi port, the country's oil and trade lifeline.  Although this information was very specific, none of it was true.  This information, falsehoods, half-truths, misleading video footage and speeches were manipulated by artificial intelligence  and were part of social media.  In fact, some of the  fearful and anxiety  producing falsehoods made their way into mainstream media as well .

These lying  news reports reported there were radiation leaks, detailed maps where the strike had been, and  the Indian Navy attacking was circulated.  However, none of this occurred.  In fact, one example of devastation had been visuals from Gaza..All this breaking news and manipulation results in fear, and anxiety within the Indian  country , Pakistan and India have nuclear weapons.  The presumption of subjective experience of anxiety is easy to manipulate which suggests that credible and reliable  news information is under attack.

The second article titled Russian Soldiers Want to Press on, Lest All  the Sacrifices Be in Vain.  In this article Russian soldiers were interviewed  from different units in various areas . They spoke with deep bitterness about their country's officials and civilians.  They accused these people of benefiting from the war while ignoring front line hardships.  In fact, one person from a paramilitary unit stated .  "A million angry killers is a pretty serious problem if they will view our rulers as men who were not on their side."  In fact, some of the soldiers accused their country's military command and businessmen of opposing a peace deal because they are benefiting from the wartime public spending boom.  We know that with  repressed emotion  like anger , anxiety and fear can be found.  A million angry, anxious individuals with guns sounds scary and terrifying.

The third article was titled Introducing Malcolm X to a New Generation.  This article was about the KKK and the Black Legion terrifying the  Malcolm X family  in Omaha  with his  pregnant mother . At that time his parents were followers of the Jamaican activist.  Marcus Garvey The family continued to be hounded by the Ku Klux Klan.  A quote … leave the bathroom light on all night  as that can deter would-be burglars.  Another example  of fear and anxiety was when  Malcolm's foster parents  spoke horribly about black people in front of  Malcolm. They used the “ N” word in his presence. In other words, these are just a few examples pertaining to anxiety and fear in one's life cycle in our society.  

The Science Friction article was related to the ideology of a technological salvation.  Elon Musk predicted that millions of earthlings will be living on Mars in 20 years. “We must preserve the light of consciousness by becoming a space faring civilization and extending life to other planets.’

Will AI save us or will it result in destruction ?  Will AI allow us to eliminate poverty and disease and  allow us to live as long as we want?  Will AI reduce the complex problems of the world by its  technology?  Will AI save humanity from a threat that doesn't exist aiming at a utopia that will never come?

A few problems related to living on the red planet and surviving are as follows: 1. Toxic dust exposure to Martian air will boil the saliva off your tongue before affixation  2  Transporting astronauts and construction materials there 3.  People living in bunkers would have to be pretty small and  require regular shipments of food and water from Earth.4.  Even the air.on Mars cost money.  How does that sound and who would benefit?

Will the AI alignment.and the prospect of these machines taking our jobs  be good?  Sam Altman, the CEO of Open I, proposed that the company capture the wealth created by AI and ameliorate the socioeconomic fallout by redistributing part of the wealth to the public.  Sounds like trickle down economics  to me.. Musk called empathy a threat to humanity.  Well we all know who's going to benefit from AI and not likely the masses . Does AI increase anxiety and fear or reduce it? 

The fourth story called Chips Ahoy relates to the CEO.  Jensen Huang of Nvidia. Huang’s company makes microchips that power AI systems like Chat GPT.  At one time ,his company was the hottest investment on Wall Street and then a competitor rose to the scene. 

This man immigrated to the United States from Thailand at the age of 10.  His management style is raging,and yelling, however his friends, from his personal life, said they  never witnessed any blowups. In any event, technical achievements by him and his gang have now  pulled ahead of the competition.  When asked about how AI will change humanity  and will AI lift us up or destroy us ?  He replied I feel like you're interviewing Elon right now and I'm just not that guy.  In other words, no one knows whether or not he's an opposite to Musk or a lesser kinder, less evil version.  However, don't forget he does have a financial interest in Ai and certainly knows personally about fear and anxiety especially when his company took a hit in the stock market.

Last article  was titled For Trump, Adulation And No Risk of Protests pertained to his Middle East trip.  There, he received standing ovations  announcing the lifting of Syrian  sanctions, while taking home, investment, pledges of billions of dollars in American goods and services as he was awarded in ,one country, their highest civilian honor.

According to Trump "The last four days have been really amazing.” and then added, looking ruefully.  "Probably going back to Washington DC tomorrow."  “  The respect shown to our country was incredible, nobody’s treated like that . Nobody’s treated well like that. “ He had escorts of fighter jets, extravagant welcoming ceremonies, red  and lavender carpets, horses, chandler's, camels, sword dancers as well as an image of the American flag- all for him.  Yet, in spite of this Trump spoke to his insecurity about receiving status- self esteem  as he added ,”Whoever becomes president after him would get credit for the deals once they reach fruition. "I will be sitting home, who the hell knows where I’ll be and  say I did that .Somebody's going to be taking credit for this.  You remember.., this guy did it."  In essence, we see Trump experience pleasure on one hand and the anxiety and tension that he carries around with him in spite of being the most powerful person on the planet."

In summary, the prevalence  of anxiety in our civilization  is inordinate and which it’s impossible to escape. Next week’s  post will follow and will address the implications of anxiety pertaining to all humans .