Violence and Homage

 

In the opening segment of 2001: A Space Odyssey, a tribe of hominid apes approach a black monolith which triggers a violent response where one ape strikes and kills another.  He uses a bone tool to dispatch his prey all to the rousing music of Richard Strauss’s “Also Sprach Zarathustra.”  This act allows one tribe to drive a rival tribe away from a water hole.  Our evolutionary predecessors had simultaneously discovered tool-making and violence.  Such apes have existed for around 25 million years with human existence beginning just 8 million years ago.

In the year 2025, violence is still a way we solve our problems and territorial disputes.  We claim that we are now “civilized” but the truth of the matter is that we are often more willing to pick up a blunt instrument and smack someone rather than having a dialogue to settle our disagreements.  Violence is readily used where there is no real dispute, and its only purpose is to acquire wealth.  Movies and video games all depict violence as a means to an end.  Movie heroes can get hit, kicked, stabbed, and shot only to rise up and vanquish their oppressors.  In first-person video games we can shoot, slice, and dice hundreds of “others,” hit pause and go down for lunch.

Is it then any wonder that a man who used violence to attempt to overthrow our democracy has been given a free pass and a lifetime get-out-of-jail-free card and allowed a second chance to complete what he started.  Yes, we hired a bull to stock the shelves in the proverbial China shop.  We now have to expect some “breakage.”  He will not disappoint those seeking excitement within the carnage.  The demolition derby has begun and the overweight blonde guy with the long red tie is driving Grave Digger, the most famous monster truck of all time.

Theodore Roosevelt said, "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."  This “big stick” diplomacy relied on four things.  Act justly toward other nations, never bluff, strike only when prepared, and allow your adversary to save face in defeat.  His idea was to negotiate peacefully but be prepared to act when necessary.

Teddy Roosevelt

The Trump philosophy seems to be, “rant loudly and use the stick to strike first.”  It is a “do unto others before they do unto you,” mentality.  His cudgel is his Sharpie.  He takes a Realpolitik approach to everything which is to say that he is emotional and reactionary to circumstances, both real and imagined, without reliance on ideological, moral, or ethical premises.  Realpolitik was a term coined by a German writer and politician, Ludwig von Rochau who believed in power politics.

Blind nationalism combined with a violent disposition is a powerful force.  It can be corrupted by the unscrupulous to advance class and religious ideologies with the attainment of wealth used to keep score.

The oligarchs have been assembled, and they are willing to pay homage and tribute to their new champion.  The richest of the rich are about to find their Cockaigne, the imaginary place of medieval folklore where food and luxury abound.  It is a land of ease, comfort, and pleasure where houses are made of cake, rivers flow with wine, and streets are paved with pastry.

The Land of Cockaigne

In our current environment motivation is simple.  As anyone who has ever followed the mystery genre knows, you should always follow the money.  Our Grifter-in-Chief is easy to understand when you follow the money.  His forays into the world of crypto and its nefarious spinoffs like blockchain assets, NFTs, smart contracts, and crypto exchanges, have the potential to bring in great wealth hidden from taxation, regulation, or scrutiny.

The cryptocurrency welcome mat is out, the IRS is being crippled, investigative agencies are being staffed with lackeys, favorable judges are being appointed, and the White House has a For Sale sign in the yard.  The Wise Men will come bearing gifts for their new messiah.  The rich will become very rich, but they will throw out the occasional small tax cut to mollify the masses.  For those peasants who have no bread, "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche."