TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME

 

Whenever I have some non-complimentary things to say about Donald, several of my relatives accuse me of having Trump Derangement Syndrome, that Wikipedia defines as thus:

 Trump derangement syndrome (TDS) is a pejorative term, used to describe criticism of or negative reactions to President Donald Trump that are perceived to be irrational and to have little regard for Trump's actual policy positions. The term has mainly been used by Trump supporters to discredit criticism of him, as a way of re-framing the discussion by suggesting that his opponents are incapable of accurately perceiving the world. Some journalists have used the term to call for restraint when judging Trump's statements and actions.

Despite the usage of the term syndrome suggesting a medical condition, TDS is not an official medical diagnosis. A 2021 research study found no evidence to support the existence of TDS among Trump detractors on the left, but instead found bias among his supporters.

 I would like to follow up on the last sentence, and posit the following:

    There are two distinct types of TDS, one that can be labeled TDS-RL for Trump Derangement Syndrome-Radical Left, and a second one labeled TDS-RR for Trump Derangement Syndrome-Radical Right. 

I believe that TDS-RL was a primary reason that Trump won the 2024 Presidential Election.  The Democrats bought into the idea that attacking Trump as the pernicious, narcissistic, misogynistic, felon, faux-Christian, sexual predator con-man that he is would surely convince voters to support Harris.  Obviously this failed.  Voters wanted clear statements on the border, illegal immigration, the economy, on men in women's sports, etc., and they got Harris saying that she couldn't think of anything that she would have done differently during the previous four years.

Similarly, I believe that TDS-RR was also a signficant reason that Trump won.  The avid Trump supporters, who are akin to a cult, support Trump regardless of whatever outlandish lies he tells.  The main thing that they care about is "Trump owning the libs" via his rhetoric, even though his policies are most likely going to have an adverse effect on many of his supporters [excepting of course his buddy billionaires]. Too bad these folks didn't actually read Project 2025.

AND SO IT BEGINS.....

 

Latest Measles Outbreak - Read about it here

 

Looks like we can thank our Mennonite brethren for this recent outbreak: 

"The measles case count in Texas and New Mexico likely represents a fraction of the true number of infections. Health officials suspect that between 200 and 300 people are infected but untested. The cases in West Texas appear to trace back to unvaccinated members of a Mennonite community."

 

Mennos in general are not anti-vaxx but some of the more conservative communities are similar to the Amish in their attitudes toward anything recommended or mandated by the government.  Thankfully my parents saw the need for my childhood vaccinations including smallpox and polio.

DEAR GOVERNOR POLIS

 

Governor Polis:

While I support many of your political actions, your endorsement of RFK Jr. to head the nation’s health services is ethically and scientifically reprehensible.  Our chief health officer is an antivaxxer, science-denier, and lying conspiracy advocate who is yet another example of the emergent kakistocracy of school boards, state houses, Congress, and the President and his sycophantic administration members.

Over 2000 years ago, the Chinese understood how to protect their children from the ravages of smallpox.  Over 200 years ago, Jenner described the fundamental efficacy of immunization against the virus.  Because of immunization initiatives, this deadly disease has been eradicated globally.  Many other debilitating and deadly diseases have also been controlled by immunization programs, but we now have health care leaders who have actively promoted the false and dangerous claims that vaccines are unsafe and worse than the diseases.  These misguided actions by Kennedy and like-minded, ill-informed charlatans are enabling the re-emergence of once well-controlled infectious diseases and have made our response to new diseases more difficult.

I invite you to walk with me through the small rural graveyard in my home township to ponder the large number of headstones of young people, many of whom died of now-preventable communicable diseases.  Give some thought regarding how Salk and Sabin altered the dangerous trajectory of the polio virus.  Also please read about the devastation of communities that were not immunized against such diseases, including the Samoans who listened to Kennedy’s anti-MMR vaccine crusade, and subsequently lost 83 members of their small population.

Unfortunately, you poured gasoline on the anti-vaxx fire, and many will be consumed.

Sadly,

Douglas E. Swartzendruber

Professor of Biology, Emeritus

University of Colorado – Colorado Springs

 

Denver, Colorado