In Gavin De Becker’s 1997 book “The Gift of Fear,” the author describes seven techniques that human predators use to get access to their prospective victims. One of these is called “forced teaming.” This describes when a stranger presents themselves as being in the same boat as someone they hardly know in order to take advantage of them in some way. When successful, (in the eyes of the predator) a projection of shared purpose convinces the subject that they are in a situation where they will help each other. This manipulation of trust has several hallmarks including inclusive language. The terms “we” and “us” are used to establish a bond and nurture a sense of familiarity. With their guard lowered, the unsuspecting victim becomes available to advance the agenda of the predator independent of what may be in their own best interest.
To witness this deception in action observe almost any speech or written post by President Donald Trump on any day or hour. POTUS describes almost any situation in terms including “we,” “us,” and “our.” In his 2020 State of the Union address alone, he used these terms more than 180 times. At this point it is worth looking at how “we” are doing. Since his second inauguration POTUS and family have increased their personal wealth by more than $4 billion dollars. The president has exerted control over the Justice Department in order to protect himself, family and friends from any consequences resulting from past, present or future crimes. He has been directing that same department to pursue and punish anyone he perceives to be an enemy or threat whether or not they have broken any laws.
The president has pardoned fellow criminals and fraudsters regardless of the impact on their victims. Trump has also spent countless hours on self aggrandizement often in the form of splashing his name everywhere from public buildings to currency to passports. If Donald Trump could, like a normal person, feel and express gratitude, he would thank the millions of American voters that supported him and the ones that still do. They do this despite the fact that Trump shows no indication of any plans that will make life better for anyone but himself and the ultra wealthy.
These supporters will endure higher costs for food, energy, housing and medical care. They will breathe and drink increasingly polluted air and water and experience reduced services from almost all government agencies. They will watch while countries we had allied with for decades become confused and alienated by an administration that is petty, resentful, self-serving and unreliable. They will cheer wildly at rallies as their country falls behind other nations in areas of science and technology.
The only domestic manufacturing that has increased is in production of new excuses to try to explain the unexplainable. Trump supporters will find ways to defend spending billions of dollars every day to bomb Persian school children because a country thousands of miles away, in the course of less than a year, went from (in Trump’s words) having its nuclear program “obliterated” to being considered an “imminent threat.” Extrajudicial executions of “drug traffickers” on the high seas is now routine. Shoot first, ask questions never.
And finally, the most difficult sacrifice made by the increasingly lonely Trump supporter: alienation from many of their neighbors, friends, coworkers and even family members who are left astonished and confused at how otherwise reasonable people could become so lost.
Edward Dowd lives in Greenfield.