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Thank you, Dr. Sotkiewcz, for these observations.

Trump has, as best as I can recall, beginning when I first read (probably in Barron's) comment on his behavior and choices, a personal and professional history of candidly portraying himself and does so explicitly to invite them to engaging with him, almost to making him a 'role-model'. He markets himself constantly and does so in provocative and disturbing ways in real hope that he will be liked, listened to, followed - how flattering, self-serving, indifferent to the needs and views of others,....

And, as we sometimes clearly see, flattering another is often a way to flatter oneself. Trump understands this reciprocal circus of narcissism. He uses it effectively, including manipulatively and without regard to consequences to others (he has an aversion to consequence and accountability, a preference for self-congratulation).

Why some want to be followers and, therefore, look outward for subjectively attractive leadership qualities in others is a curious behavior. It does not, at least insofar as I can make sense of it, have organic relationship to shared social experience and mutual social accountability.

As we hear from Prof Snyder quite frequently, focusing one's attention on actors, their choices, and the intended and unintended consequences of these choices provide many salient lessons of history.

How do we communicate to others our concern for thus being strung along, deceived, manipulated,..., or is there a way to effectively check ones-self? Can any of us improve such efforts at communication to at least make reasonably interesting and desirable the choice to examine consequences?

Is it a consequence of some over- or exaggerated-individuation tendency that any person might experience when a mutually desirable and socially worked toward future is (or has the appearance of having been) irredeemably substantially contracted and drained of personal influence, meaning and benefit?

In a recent post [ https://joycevance.substack.com/p/frogs-continue-to-ignore-rising-temperatures... ], Joyce Vance observes, "People believe trusted sources: their friends, coworkers, neighbors, and family. So, it’s time for you to share information with the people around you. Tell them what Trump is saying about how he will conduct himself during a second term in office and what his plans are for the country. Give them copies of material to read or read portions out loud to them. Since Trump is committed to violating so many of our democratic norms, there is something to share with everyone, whether it’s withholding funding from blue states and foreign countries, dehumanizing pregnant people, using the military to enforce his plans domestically, or anything else on the laundry list of horribles. Make sure those in your circle understand that Trump intends to transform the country from a democracy into a dictatorship... When people being polled were presented with accurate information about Trump, they understood he was out for revenge and dangerous, even dictatorial. The gains in understanding were statistically significant. It’s one thing to see it in a campaign ad, but another to discuss it with a close friend. There are many voters and potential voters around us who are not firmly wed to Trump but still need facts to be persuaded that he must not be reelected. The information about Trump’s intentions bears repetition and emphasis, and we all have an important role to play....''

I am grateful for your comment and would be grateful for other comments and questions from you.

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