180301 Year One of the Affects of BioTrumpism, and its Effects on the Ecology of the Biosphere (.pdf version)
-1. Introduction/Abstract: This follows up last years white paper of February 2017 (.pdf version) that took the opportunity of a natural experiment with the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, covering the 2016 election up to the January 20, 2017 Inauguration. As stated in that paper, 170220-1.1, the intent was to compare and contrast the social disruption of Trumpism to parademic* – defined in Read This First-1.2, changes in the biosphere that are deleterious to human life and livelihoods affect human behavior – associated with the acceleration of disasters in the biosphere – biodisasters Read This First-1.1. This was a background paper to test if the previous behavior of Trump and associates would persist in their new roles. It seemed likely that Trumpism, along with supporters and detractors in and out of government, would provide the chance to observe and collect documented examples of anthropogenic behavior that could lead to further negative parademic behavior and acceleration of biodisaster.
-*. At its beginning prior to the election campaign, and up to the inauguration, Trumpism could be described as social contagion. There were indicators it would become a parademic but not having yet implemented anything, parademic could only be considered a potential outcome. In the past year biotrumpism has become a parademic. Parademic as a concept is still being refined, but was validated during West Africa Ebola. In fact Trump, the individual, inserted himself into the parademic related to that biodisaster with fear mongering and false information that spread and fueled the mass panic of Ebolaphobia. He was a small piece of validating the concept of parademic, 170220-1.9.
-1.1. Undoubtedly for years to come there will be many deep studies of the Age of Trump, from multiple perspectives, to include apologists and true believers. This paper focus is on a year of observation of actual behavior (January 20, 2017 Inaugeration to January 30, 2018 State of the Union Address), as opposed to what was projected to be likely behavior in the first paper. For the purposes of this paper parademic behavior is labeled with the working term BioTrumpism. This isn’t considered the best term, and not a simile for parademic. It gives too much weight to a single individual, when it is clearly impossible for something like biotrumpism to exist without prior history, antecedents, special interests, agendas. Biotrumpism is closely associated with a specific political party and certain industries, and has other associations that are necessary to understand this period of cumulating biodisaster – polarization, racism, nativism, loss of trust, anti-science, obfuscation, cronyism, isolationism, protectionism, religious extremism, misogyny, terrorism, ideation, conditions of uncertainty, moral panic, geodisasters, logical fallacies, information manipulation, et cetera. These all tend to bias interpretation. For example, labeling as conservative or liberal can be prejudicial, especially if one’s personal identification is associated with one of these. The better, less value laden terms, for parademic purposes for biotrumpism duality is Dominionists -5↓ (Genesis 1:26, 3.5↓), and Mutualist.
-1.2. There are no laboratory conditions to test social science hypotheses to control skews to data, perception and interpretation (bias) -4.6↓. Ideally when doing analysis of observation of uncontrolled real life, one looks for literature of analogous circumstances, the observations of others, repetitive comparisons and contrasts to real time behavior, and let the data determine its own categories and conclusions. In a natural experiment one does not have control of variables, timing, and cannot repeat tests or observations. This makes it important to identify assumptions and other factors that can influence the perception and interpretation of the data. For the purpose of this paper the full context of biotrumpism is outside the scope of the paper, which can leave out pertinent data for context. The source of information is via media from the internet, some being reliable in terms of corresponding to fact, others notoriously based on opinion, beliefs, a priori judgments and alternative facts. This is especially influential during a period when there were frequent and daily mentions of Trumpism, though not always related to biotrumpism. This means that data was filtered through people’s perceptions. Finally, the author personally finds Trump the individual, his psychophants and those pushing their own extreme agendas, devilish. It is not as easy as one would think to constantly be on guard against biotrumpism = bad, evil, destructive, thoughtless.
-1.3. In terms of the biosphere biotrumpism is assumed to only be able to accelerate* biodisasters already in progress, delay effective response to the point of making responses too late to change outcomes, and exacerbate anthropogenic conditions. The most catastrophic of these consequences will probably not completely manifest until posthumous Trumpism. Much of the data collected is contained in Parademic Weekly Notes 160508-11 through 180204. As much of this material was repetitive or gave the larger context there is a larger separate database of collected material that is strictly biotrumpism. The Weekly Parademic Notes is limited to biotrumpism that illustrated parademic specifically. A smaller sampling of what is in Parademic Notes or the larger database are in this paper, using either the most current illustration or the most seminal. These samples are not all academically validated sources of information but more illustrations of opinion as fact. Parademic is about what is demonstrable as something that people believe is fact, whether true or not, and that they behave accordingly. This gives parademic and biotrumpism a similar relation with fact, though hopefully in parademic there is a difference between what is believed to be reality, and what is wished to be reality. Because of the limited number of illustrative examples it can be rightly claimed to be Cherry Picking its data -3.8↓. The author set a 30 day deadline to produce this paper, same as the first paper. Deep analysis is not possible in that amount of time, nor is editing to meet academic standards. At best this paper can be used as original source material, a start point for later research that is either objective with separation of time (and possibly species), or even more biased as it may be done at a not so distant time that is the consequence of biotrumpism and other anthropogenic behavior.
-*. Biodisaster is different in several ways from geosphere disasters. One is that rather than having a sudden event that quickly ends (though the aftermath can last for years), a disaster of the biosphere is a slow accumulation that is dispersed temporally and spatially, coming in waves in different places and times, until it accelerates exponentially [Chart], without a clear beginning or end, and periods of dormancy. This includes armed conflict between nations which is destructive to environment and health that have lasting impacts and toxic detritus.
-Quote: Man appears to be the missing link between anthropoid apes and human beings. – Konrad Lorenz
-2. Patterns and Predictability of Apophenia: One of the observations about Trumpism is its chaotic and disruptive nature, making it difficult to anticipate actions. Based on observations from the past year this does not seem to be the case in relation to biotrumpism, in fact in parademic terms by April 2017 there were consistent predictable repetitions. Discerning this is not based on any special ability. It’s just the nature of biodisaster and parademic information that one becomes practiced at drinking from a firehose during the sometimes surreal situations of a biodisaster, with unorganized data mixed with misinformation, blurring of categories and responsibilities, all under the stress of when lives are at stake. Though confusing and outside of normal rules of social behavior, nothing so far in biotrumpism has been near to the cacophony of multiple sources, conspiracy theory, panic, grief and despair of a biodisaster/ parademic. The following principles of biotrumpism have counterparts in Trumpism disruption of finance, economics, foreign policy, media, domestic relations, politics, business, law, national security, religion and more.
-2.1. Eugenics: The basic concept eugenics is improving a species, similar to breeding used to improve crops and animals in husbandry. This can be accomplished by selective mating for traits, and banning interactions with undesirable breeds. Biotrumpism is associated with enabling racist dogmas. It has found sympathy in white supremacy, which in turn is associated with the form of biodisasters of genocide and aryanism. Biotrumpism is more economic eugenics, a form of Social Darwinism, that the better class of people will always thrive andsurvive [Meme, Meme, Meme] disaster, no matter their responsibility for the disaster. The social barriers and elitism that protect this group can be difficult to discern, tending to be more exclusive in membership than mere misanthrope for those outside ones own group of personal identity.
-†. Eric Trump Says His Father’s Not Racist: He ‘Sees One Color: Green’. Social Darwinism Is What Truly Guides Trump. What He Said Was Basically a Form of Eugenics: A Professor on Trump’s “Shithole Countries” Remarks. [Meme] [Cartoon, Cartoon, Cartoon, Cartoon, Cartoon].
-2.2. Hereditarianism: A form of Genetic or Biological Determinism (Biodeterminism -4.1Quote↓). Closely related to the concepts of eugenics and keeping a breed or human group (race) pure, preventing contamination from outside groups. [Meme, Meme, Meme, Meme]. This is an extreme version of Nature (inheritance) being of more importance than Nurture (learning). This thinking can lead to ideas such as avoiding miscegenation through law, strict separation of races and classes of people, with buffers and barriers between the Trumpism supporters and the others. This can result in behavior designed to keep contaminated or inferior people out, such as walls and immigration policies, as well as a massive working class that supports non labor lifestyles. Despite this biodeterminism -4.1Quote↓ does not translate into stronger BioSecurity, the protection of the global health through surveillance, medical response, prophylactic measures, preventative medicine, public health, information sharing, protecting biomes, and maintaining diversity. In fact biotrumpism weakens biosecurity with lack of funds, a fallacy that one can stop and ignore health threats outside the nation’s borders, undermining basic medical ethics, denial of equal health access and not valuing diversity. This acceptance of invulnerability gives a sense of being buffered and separate from the biological risks that others are vulnerable to – meaning that resources don’t need to be directed at what will not harm them, but resources are needed to prevent those who are superior from being overwhelmed by undesirables. In addition, resources that become scarce or beyond budgets (food, water, electricity) will remain available to this elite.
-†. 200,000 Salvadorans May Be Forced to Leave the U.S. as Trump Ends Immigration Protection, Comment. [Meme]. How Many People in Haiti Have AIDS. Trump's Alleged Insult Immigrant Insult Doesn't Reflect Facts, Trump’s Vulgar Remark on Haiti, Africa Leaves Immigrants Baffled. -2.4↓. What is EthnoNationalism -3.8↓.
-2.3. Environment: Biotrumpism has an anachronous view of the environment as a source of wealth and raw material [Cartoon], not as the foundation of life, but of having no value unless exploited by people. The usual reason given by biotrumpism to justify the roll back of regulations related to environment protection is some variation that these interfere with business [Cartoon]. An additional rationale is that Federal owned and controlled land should be turned to paying for government and its services. Possibly part of the logic is that government paying for itself is more possible if the government is reduced in size and services provided. This will also increase profit to the private sector that exploits the environment. Biotrumpism becomes its own anthrome [Photo], or at least thinks it is something that is not affected by nature.
-†. A Running List of How Trump Is Changing the Environment. [Cartoon]. Why the Bonfire of Business Regulations Is a Big Business Scam. Scott Pruitt Is Slowly Strangling the EPA [Cartoon]. Per the January 30 State of the Union an apparent goal for the next year is to pass legislation for infrastructure (unknown if this includes The Wall), and to do this fast, that is without health and environmental impact studies, or other business hindering development regulations and building codes. However; it is the haphazard and unregulated building of infrastructure that has created many of the conditions that has lead to geodisasters becoming biodisasters. At the same time not maintaining infrastructure also exacerbates biodisaster. Balancing fiscal and environmental needs requires leadership between conflicting yet crucial requirements. That is not easy for an autocratic leadership style -3*↓. Soon, Trump Will Have to Handle a Real Disaster this has happened, more than once.
-Quote: Reduce man to a single type and he is certain to succumb, sooner or later, to the inevitable disaster that his one type cannot cope with. – Cyril M. Kornbluth and Frederik Pohl, Search the Sky.
-2.4. Climate Change: Climate and weather disasters are part of the environment and a topic frequently in the media, either denying its existence or in defense of taking action before it is too late. The idea that people are responsible for the changing environment is philosophically at odds with biotrumism. Climate Change doesn’t seem reasonable in terms of Proportionality Bias, the idea that big events need to have big causes. How could a two degree rise in global average temperature be responsible for extreme weather events to include apparent contradictory data of record breaking low and high temperatures, droughts and floods. This leads to conspiracy theories to explain an event where the cause seems too small or simple. [Cartoon, Cartoon]. Biotrumpism seems to be unable to reconcile the improbability of Black Swan Million to One Chance of a disaster happening, with the 100% certainty that a disaster will happen and will happen repeatedly. Biotrumpism refuses to see a connection between its policies and increasing the probability of biodisasters happening more frequently with higher intensity [Chart].
-†. Climate Change Report Predicts More Extreme Hurricanes but Trump Budget Proposal Still Slashes FEMA. The Day after Withdrawing from Paris, Trump Declared a Flooding Disaster in Missouri. In 2017, Climate Change Vanished from a Ridiculous Number of Government Websites. How Steve Bannon's Whiteboard Explains Donald Trump's Climate Decision. [Cartoon]. Trump's View That Ice Caps 'Setting Records' Baffles Scientists. In the January 30 State of the Union statements were made in support of producing more air pollutants that harm both health and are a contributing factor to climate change. Trump on ‘War on Energy’, Trump’s Perennial “War on Coal” Claim.
-2.5. Health Access: Biotrumpism has affected a wide range of programs ranging from health insurance, reproductive health, women’s health care, children’s health care, funding of public health agencies and community health centers, humanitarian aid, high prices of drugs, opioid epidemic, medical research, global health. Addressing all of these is complicated.
-†. Court Battle Brewing over Work Rules for Medicaid. Here Are 7 Words That the Trump Administration Is Reportedly Banning at CDC. Pence Says That Congress Should Get Right to Try Legislation Done. Right to Try was part of the State of the Union but health care “reform” was ignored. [Cartoon]. Trump Revisits Rules Protecting Miners from Black Lung, Cancer. Did President Donald Trump Get the Flu Shot. Without CHIP Resolution, 1.7 Million Kids Could Lose Healthcare in Weeks.
-2.6. The above would not be the categories used by Trumpism. Its terms may be: reversing the Obama legacy, Moral and religious (Christian) values, American, Efficient government (run like a business), Reducing waste, (Name) reform, (Genetic) Heritage, Bringing jobs back, (Good or bad) Deal, Unnecessary restrictions. [Meme], MAGA [Meme]. -3.10↓.
-Quote: Humans are pattern seeking, story telling animals, and we are quite adept at telling stories about patterns, whether they exist or not. – Michael Shermer
-3. Foundations of Biotrumpism: Part of being able to predict and plan for parademic behavior is understanding the underlying logic and rationale for the behavior in the current situation. None of these are new or unique to biotrumpism, there already is a history of health and environmental policy like biotrumpism, and the various individuals of the administration already have behaved in ways related to hindering and reversing efforts to contain and control biodisaster 170220-1.9 before biotrumpism. The parademic database has collected a large number of parademic rationales, fallacies and beliefs that interfere with and hinder timely identification, prevention, response, containment and control of biodisaster. It was simply a matter of identifying which were being used for biotrumpism. No new parademic behaviors have been found in biotrumpism that had not been identified before the 2016 election, nor at this time has there been any biotrumpism that would be a positive, prosocial parademic behavior. None of the following are a biodisaster, but collectively these weaken capability to provide leadership* to effectively respond to a biodisaster, much less prevent, prepare for and mitigate a biodisaster before it accelerates.
-*. Five key tasks of crisis leadership: 1) Sense making of information to include what is contradictory, and formulating what further questions to ask. 2) Decision making when the “correct” choice in unclear or is in opposition to beliefs, and coordinating implementation with the confidence that decisions are based on due consideration of consequences and that the goals are achievable and desirable. 3) Having the background and objectivity to interpret the meaning of information based on what is rather than what one would like it to be. 4) Taking responsibility as the leader and being able to end a crisis, not just enduring until the current crisis is over or superseded by the next crisis. 5) Learning from the inevitable mistakes that will be made. Assessing that the biodisaster was resolved (cause of infirmity neutralized) with/without recovery (return to full health) is from the decisions and implementation, not false correlations, that the acts taken were what achieved the goal, or declaring that no matter what happens it was a success. [Tweet]. -2.4†↑.
-3.1. The Social contagious behavior of biotrumpism is a close analogue with what happens during a parademic. The creation of conditions of uncertainty, apparent randomness, inconsistency, confusion, disruption or normal activity, and breaking social norms is called the Madman Theory [Meme]. Despite the apparent impulsive, authoritarian, insulting, anger, fear mongering, pandering, narcissism, social inappropriateness, selfishness, secretive, belligerency, misuse of position, inconsistencies, and cronyism. The behaviors that lead to and stem from these is predictable if one understands biotrumpism logic [Meme], and if there is sufficient time for patterns to emerge. This is in part because the actors themselves are trapped in their own habits, applying what made them successful in the past to a different arena. The tendency is to not change behavior that is no longer getting the desired results, but to double down. In Trumpism’s case this has probably been too successful. When people believe that they are buffered from consequences of their actions [Meme], they are likely to exacerbate a behavior even when it’s clearly failing. This leads to speculation about the mental and physical health of Trumpism leadership. There was so little trust that testing didn’t ease the concerns -4.4↓. Not that dissimilar to biotrumpism spins and conspiracy theories. [Meme, Cartoon].
-Quote : The consequences of confusing fact and guess are severe. – Stephen J Gould, An Urchin in the Storm: Essays about Books and Ideas, Chapter 2, Cardboard Darwinism, Page 29.
-†. Would the Air Force Let Airman Trump near a Nuclear Weapon. What Donald Trump's Mental Health Exam Doesn't Tell Us. [Cartoon].Psychiatry Group Tells Members They Can Defy ‘Goldwater Rule’ and Comment on Trump’s Mental Health, 'Goldwater Rule' Still in Place Barring Many Psychiatrists from Commenting on Trump. WH Calls Trump Mental Health Talk Disgraceful Despite Trump Questioning Obama’s in 2014.
-3.2. Biotrumpism worldview is the fallacy of the Zero Sum Game, the belief that success and winning can only benefit one party, while the loser suffers a loss in equal proportion. In some cases this requires visual clues of being in some manner larger to show that one is superior to others. This requires constant maintenance to remain on top and keeping others below. Over time this has less impact and needs to increasingly exaggerate and overstate these cues and symbols of superiority. Not infrequently this means physical violence.
-3.3. For biotrumpism the quantity of monetary value is more important than the quality of humane principles. This can take the form of providing jobs, albeit low paying ones that have health and safety risks. It is likely that such jobs also feed the bottom line of those who benefit from biotrumpism and support it for that reason. These are not the same people who supported biotrumpism expecting a better quality of life. One of the disingenuous ways to show one is fiscally responsible is to save taxpayers money, despite the fact that this undermines the services that protect society and individuals from harm via food, water, air, disease and contamination. Part of this is accomplished by under funding programs that some people don’t like (specifically Trumpism supporters), and social safety nets, with increased costs to individuals and decreased efficacy. This strategy works fine as long as no disasters happen as they did during 2017. In general an unprepared for disaster is more costly in lives and money to respond to the disaster from scratch, rather than if society was prepared – estimated being four to six times more expensive. The sharing of wealth with the whole of society versus only benefitting a few has been a driver of much of human history, especially when there is pronounced difference in access to wealth/ health. Biotrumpism tends to favor creation of more sources of wealth than preservation of health, justified in part with a concept that wealth always benefits all, with platitudes such as a rising tide lifts all boats (or yachts), which takes on different meaning in a world with rising sea levels [Chart]. Overall the biotrumpism default is to remove obstacles to: profit [Cartoon], saving money, making money, create more low paid labor; and do it quickly before it can be blocked.
-3.4. A range of Defense Mechanisms are displayed by biotrumpism. These are the strategies to protect individual perceptions of themselves, their worldview, agendas, and beliefs of personal identity, [Montage]. The most prominent of these for biotrumpism are:
-A. Projection. Not in the sense of putting ones negative feelings onto others, but in the sense of attributing ones own thoughts, feelings, and motives onto other people. That everyone would do and believe the same as they do, without being able to grasp these may be different from one’s own. This gives justification for actions as others would do the same. This implies a self serving lack of empathy, for instance if a person is xenophobic, they are likely to believe that other people hate them for the same reasons. In the case of biotrumpism they could be correct.
-B. Displacement is the redirection of an impulse onto a powerless substitute target, which can be a person or object that is a symbolic. Also known as scapegoating, witch hunts and Thanks Obama, [Meme].
-C. Avoiding contrary information, hiding it, or claiming it is false is called Denial. In biodisaster this can be very dangerous, not just to individuals who deny information, but to whole populations and ecological systems, as is the case with Climate Change. For biotrumpism this is accomplished with obfuscation, reversing statements, getting rid of opposition, and a tendency toward secrecy and quick resolution without discussion. [Montage].
-D. Certainty without Doubt -3.4↓ is a desire for predictability in an uncertain world, to maintain the status quo, an unhealthy desire for complete control. This sometimes includes regression back to what is believed to be a better past time, possibly as extreme as having what would be labeled a tantrum, or establishing control of the situation by creating fear of what one will do if people don’t comply. This is especially worrisome when the individual may have control of nuclear devices and options, [Cartoon, Cartoon]. This relates to biotrumpism denial and fear of science. The products and conclusions of science are not predictable, and it is frustratingly difficult to get a scientist to state that something is absolutely certain (maybe). Rather than risk what can weaken ones position, even though there is the equal possibility it may strengthen a position, the default is to do nothing, or disrupt what could cause change. Another paradox is that science can be the end of all things, of the savior of all things. Biotrumpism tends to favor the idea that the destruction of the world is inevitable, which science would otherwise prevent or hasten, but not in accordance with Revelations, -G↓.
-E. The Rationalization of biotrumpism includes the invention and distortion of facts. This is frequent, habitual and credible indicating that is is something that has been practiced for decades and an automatic response. Rationalizations are associated with logical fallacies [Cartoon]. There is no comprehensive list of all fallacies, not to mention the various names that each has, and it appears no known logical fallacies haven’t been applied to justify biotrumpism positions. This is especially possible when one intentionally does not have expert advisors. It appears that each individual tends to favor a few defense mechanisms, rhetorical devices and logical fallacies, not using all of them. If the readers have not noted it yet this paper uses rhetorical devices, but not the same as used in Trumpism, but for evidence based observations.
-G. Trumpism has from its start had low polling numbers and been maligned. This leads to feelings of paranoia, mistrust, being persecuted, acquiring what is largely known as bunker mentality, which may not be an unfamiliar state for those who are biotrumpism supporters familiar with being buffered from the general public, self isolating out of choice, and having an exclusive lifestyle, or otherwise hold unpopular beliefs outside their social group. Some may even consider this an a badge of honor, if not Christ like. This often results in the backfire effect -5.4↓, where people become more entrenched in a belief the more it is attacked and faces contradictory evidence.
-3.5. Trumpism uses Moral Framing (Fear Mongering, Moral Panic 170220-7.2) in its rhetoric concerning health and environment issues: Refugees/Immigrants, Health Insurance, Reproductive Health, Opioid Addiction, Medicare, Federal Land, Relaxing regulations to promote jobs. Using overly simplistic direct causation to frame complex and complicated phenomena, and proscriptive focus [Chart], gives the veneer of being highly moral. This in turn makes it more difficult to argue against biotrumpism agendas with people who are absolute moralists. If one disagrees one is automatically resisting social imperatives. A bad person is subject to punishment under the same moral panic. The focus on morality can divert attention and resources from pressing problems where lives are at risk, though that may be the intent [Cartoon, Cartoon]. This is exacerbated with biotrumpism’s association with Mesozoic evangelical beliefs, which in turn are associated with eschatology, apocalypse, afterlife of reward, even willingness to hasten Armageddon and culture war with its propensity of advocating banishing and killing those who believe differently, -3.4D↑. It also has negative interpretations about poverty, an oft ignored reservoir of biodisaster, that is until it accelerates. This worldview isn’t motivational to improve health and environment for others 1.1↑. Evangelical support is not because of sharing morals but that the goals correspond to theirs. [Cartoon, Cartoon]. -4.6↓.
-3.6. There have been frequent observations of Trumpism exhibiting magical thinking, practicing forms of sympathetic magic [Cartoon, Cartoon], conspiracy theory [Cartoon], pseudoscience [Tweet], and it being anti-science [Cartoon]. The intent appears to be to avoid anything that would contradict a priori opinions [Tweet] as fact. That the causes that are linked to effects are neither the cause or its effect that is desired to support its agendas. Biotrumpism takes a further step to replace science with biotrumpism being the source of information, not based on evidence, data and testing, in fact makes efforts to hide these. State of the Union only statement about science was “Americans ... push the bounds of science and discovery”.
-Quote: The elegant simplicities of campaign rhetoric, or the brutal simplicities, never align with the ugly and complex reality of governing. – Jonathan Chait, who is not a Trumpism supporter.
-3.7. Teleology is the a priori explanation that everything happens for a reason. This a Linear Thinking interpretation of Newton's First Law, that “anything at rest or in motion will remain at rest or motion”. What is forgotten is that rest and in motion are both relative to their context. That what appears to be at rest, may only be at rest in a local context, but in motion when viewed from outside that context [Chart]. There is another part to the first law, “unless acted upon by another force”. The biosphere and socialsphere are filled with the synergy of numerous unseen forces. Not surprisingly there is no simple answer for what is the opposite of linear thinking. It is circular, fragmentary, non-linear, vertical, intuitive, eureka, everything at once holism – not the same as holistic medicine. This is sometimes confused with tautology logic with the weakness of unexamined assumptions being considered consistent with other fact, the same as found with conspiracy theory.
-3.8. Biotrumpism is the Dunning-Kruger effect and self deception -3.4D↑, the inability to assess oneself, see how others assess oneself, to feel empathy and express appropriate sympathy. This is one reason why selection of sources tended to be negative about biotrumpism 1.3↑. Sources of information that covered behavior in the context of biodisaster tended to have a anti-biotrumpism slant. Citing rebuttals from Inside the Mind of a Trump Apologist were more likely to add emphasis to the negative interpretation of biotrumpism, flaming more anti-Trumpism – -2.2†↑ is an example. For those who support biotrumpism nothing will sway perspectives formed already, and items that support or justify the biotrumpism perspective would be interpreted as totally negating crucial points made that could lead to correction. Both interpretations are valid as the result outcome is likely to be the same in terms of destruction.
-†. Harvey Exposes Trump's Empathy Deficit, Trump's Lack of Empathy about Puerto Rico Is Staggering. The Enormous Emotional Toll of Trumpism. Trump Fatigue Syndrome: A Diagnosis. The Dangerous Psychology of Trumpism. Donald Trump Is Missing this Key Ingredient to Being a Successful President, Trump Winery Not Owned by President, Not One of Nation's Largest Wineries. The Dunning-Kruger Presidency. Why I Have Given Up on Trumpism.
-3.9. The Blame Game. If one has worked in medical, emergency management, disaster relief and as a first responder, one quickly becomes aware that blame after an event is typical, a part of the job. A disaster going as planned, being done efficiently with no waste, with no mistakes, within budget, and zero harm is an oxymoron. Even so the ethic is to not blame the victim, or divert blame to a group unable to defend and protect itself. Biotrumpism is unique that it not only blames the victims, but issues threats of punishment. This sets up a situation that if a biodisaster accelerates the administration will not accept its responsibility for the situation, but place the blame on the victims, both sides of a conflict, and previous administrations. To complain is to invite retribution.
-†. Donald Trump Blames Puerto Ricans for Not Being Able to Get Their Workers to Help After Hurricane Maria, Trump Attacks Puerto Rico, Threatens to Pull Emergency Responders, Puerto Rico Gov: GOP Tax Bill Unconscionable Punishment for Struggling Island, Trump Administration: Puerto Rico Has Enough Money and Doesn't Need More Aid. Trump Says Texas Church Mass Shooting Not a Guns Situation, Blames Mental Health.
-3.10. As with -2.6↑ it is unlikely that biotrumpism would describe itself in the same terms. The terms that have been used include alternative facts, hollowing government, America First policy, Fake News, Supporting the Trump base for 2018 and 2020 elections, the Best. Largely the above can be found in media as ad hominems, not so different from the stigmatization and name calling that biotrumpism indulges in. It is important to keep in mind that not all people who are associated with biotrumpism fully support it. There is a spectrum ranging from blindly following to condoning (willingness to be part of the administration to achieve a common goal), desire to contain and control the worst excesses of biotrumpism, just happenstance that someone was already in position, and the process of normalization.
-Quote: The human brain is a complex organ with the wonderful power of enabling man to find reasons for continuing to believe whatever it is that he wants to believe. – François-Marie Arouet.
-4. Speculations That Were Not Made: To the author’s surprise the speculations of the first paper -1↑ were accurate. These were not intended to be predictions but informed speculations that may be in the vicinity of what would happen 170220-2.5. This current paper is about the heuristics that guide biotrumpism logic and the likely consequences of actions, decisions and policies. There were speculations that were left out of the first paper as they were thought to be too ridiculous or would take more time before they became likely. In general, biotrumpism influences are still potentials, not necessarily reversing or accelerating existing biodisaster processes. What is known is that any statement or reasoning under the current administration will require fact checking, and likewise anti-trump statements will also need to be verified. In any case finding errors and outright fabrications are unlikely to change policy, decisions and opinions.
-4.1. Though touched upon and implied throughout the first paper, there should have been a separate section on regulation. This would have covered law, health related taxes and prices, health and biosecurity funding, health and safety of workers, and environmental protection. There were several prodromal warning signs given the prior behaviors, history of people associated with biotrumpism and nominees for key positions related to health and environment, 170220-3. There were sufficient indicators of what the first legislative actions would be, but it was assumed that there would be a stronger foundation prepared before taking action to prevent failure and appearing unprepared, -4.2↓. This would have taken time. Instead strategy was not well thought out and fiat was resorted to, which makes most of what was done easier to overturn at a later date, especially if there was violation of federal ethics and law related. If nothing else campaign promises would have provided insight and should not have been dismissed as the pandering of a candidate to win an election, not recognizing the biotrumpism worldview wouldconsider slogans as sufficient forethought and planning. From the biotrumpism perspective the validity of its positions are self evident, with a long history and belief among what is apparently 35-45% of the American population. From a biodisaster perspective the promises appear undeveloped in terms of consequences, identifying false assumptions, accepted norms and precedent. The perseveration and lack of thoughtful reflection before taking action was not fully anticipated even with the capricious intensity and impulsiveness that Trumpism exhibited in the first paper, 170220-1, 170312-4.2.1.
-Quote: The true political problem with socially relevant science is that the grave consequences of error enforce higher standards of evidence. In the case of pop(ular) social biology -2.2↑ commonly accepted standards are ignored. – Philip Kitcher, An Urchin in the Storm: Essays about Books and Ideas, Chapter 2, Cardboard Darwinism, Page 29.
-4.2. Rewriting/ Reinterpretation/ Reframing: It was not anticipated that Big Lie techniques would continue to be used, while at the same time being secretive of intent and actions. The rationale was that there would be a slow approach to reframe so the biotrumpism narratives would be gradually accepted -4.1↑. There is a risk that moving too quickly or deviating too much from norms will result in resistance. Initially, due to shock and possibly denial, the desire to allow normal (if slow) democratic and legal processes to work, anti-biotrumpism was ineffective despite indicators it was a majority view. This was probably the motivation of biotrumpism to move quickly on actions, to change or hide data, cut research funding, repeal laws, roll back regulations, use of fiat, and purging of agencies. Part of reframing for changing perception and interpretation is language change and linguistic relativity, 171217-9.3 -B. This was noted 170220-5.4, but not the extent its Orwellian and Dog Whistle nature.
-†. Trump Administration Opposing Bid for Syphilis Study Museum. Trump and the Rewriting of History. Donald Trump Is Going to Say 2,000 Things That Aren't True in His 1st Year in Office. 1984 Is 2017’s Surprise Best Seller. It’s a Good Fit for the Trump Era, but Not Perfect, [Cartoon].
-4.3. With the GOP: Hillary Clinton’s Health and Age Are ‘Fair Game’ (2014), the stage was set for health to be a political tool and bargaining chip. This did not change when the GOP candidate for president was two years older than the Democrat one.
-†. Clinton Diagnosed with Pneumonia. Trump Uses Americans’ Health Care as Bargaining Chip. Why Millions of Children Could Lose Their Health Insurance in 2018. With Government Shutdown Looming, Trump Uses Healthcare as Bargaining Chip to Fund Border Wall. Undocumented Immigrants Putting ‘Health on Hold’ out of Fear, Anxiety in Uncertain Times. Time to Stop Using 9 Million Children as a Bargaining CHIP. Trump Lashes Out, Threatens to Cut Health Care Subsidies for Poor and Lawmakers. Is Trump Using ‘Health Attacks’ on US Diplomats in Havana as an Excuse to Punish Cuba. President Trump’s Response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico Confirms Second Class Citizenship, [Cartoon].
-4.4. One parademic concern was that opposition to biotrumpism would start using the same tactics in the belief they actually work long term, such as questioning Trump’s mental status -3.1↑, and using the same devices such as false statements, creating crisis of minor issues and self inflicted crisis [Chart]. These largely have been avoided, or corrected quickly. The focus of attention on biotrumpism dramatic anti-science, anti-environmental, anti-Obama, are unproductive in the long run as it can divert attention from more insidious issues that are mundane. Especially damaging will be if physical acts target biotrumpism infrastructure building, a return to ecoterrorism that did more harm than persuasion. These acts could cause environmental damage and harm health by attacking commercialized areas on formerly protected land for mines and drilling, coal and nuclear power plants, roads and bridges, wall, oil drilling off the coast and pipelines, and shipping bottled raw water to biotrumpism leaders. Damage and destruction of these can be as dangerous as unregulated construction, and would justify more direct action against American citizens and government employees.
-4.5. An emphasis on Bio Lab Safety was predicted to become an issue, 170220-8.11, but did not happen, at least not the way anticipated, 170702-11.1. This issue is likely to raise its ugly cephalic in 2019 as part of infrastructure policy and HHS and biosecurity defunding. The speculation was that it would have been something that could be spun by biotrumpism to point out flaws of previous administrations, and seed doubt that government regulation and oversight is effective, as part of undoing of Obama Legacies and regulation. However, this would have given more attention for the need of science, there was limited benefit in persecuting as former administrative officials would not be jeopardized, and would bring up issues that could be detrimental to the biotrumpism agenda of defunding programs to finance its own agendas that are draconian (and unnecessary) measures that harm US health care. In addition this was probably not considered an issue as part of the biotrumpism worldview is that bad things don’t happen. Instead of bio lab safety there were policies that resulted in NIH Lifts Funding Pause on Gain of Function Research at the same time as Trump’s Proposed Budget Cuts Trouble Bioterrorism Experts. Conflicting policies and statements are characteristic of biotrumpism.
-4.6. The political catering to Christian Fundamentalism and Prosperity Theology was completely missed in the first paper. The anti-vaccine, anti-science, anti-medical ethics, anti-abortion <ADDED 171210-171105-6.2¶‡> and moral panic -3.5↑ were anticipated, but not as a unified theme. None of these are biodisaster, but are expressions of negative parademic that are indicative of attitudes and a priori decisions about biodisaster. A world (possibly universe) made for humans would not risk the well being of the chosen, unless they sin against God and those anointed. Overall this leads to weakening being prepared to respond to an accelerated biodisaster. This was likely missed as biotrumpism does not appear to be Christian, but used values to get votes. In addition the author did not identify a bias -1.2↑ about people with strong beliefs that are contrary to demonstrated facts, dismissing as not worth attention as they tend to repeat misinformed arguments over and over again and are a minority that disrupt but rarely influence a whole community*. The intent of parademic is to learn what people believe, not to sway their opinions. It is possible to get desired behavior in terms of response to biodisaster, without people having to believe exactly the same as current science. This cultural competence to accomplish health goals isn’t acceptable to biotrumpism as it requires acceptance and tolerance of diversity and differences. The rationale of biotrumpism will continue to be permeated with interpretations of Christianity that lend infallible authority to its actions, as well as diverting blame from the actions of specific people.
-*. There are exceptions. With modern communication acerbates the impact of social networks, anti-social movement. As an example as anti-vaccine has resulted in reemergence of vaccine preventable diseases, prevented the eradication of polio, sowed more mistrust, and created another issue for nefarious politicians to advocate. [Meme].
-Quote: Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. – Philip K. Dick
-5. Conclusion: It is too soon for the affects and effects of biotrumpism to have toxic bodisaster acceleration. One year is sufficient time to identify links between biotrumpism and a trumpocalypse, but insufficient for a biodisaster to accelerate that was not already near its liminal tipping point. If already about to accelerate, crashing a population, these would have happened whether or not there was biotrumpism. The probable consequences of damage from biotrumpism will not cascade until after the associated individuals are long gone from office, and in several cases life, but the momentum of biotrumpism will likely continue and have future dominionist adherents -1.1↑. The current trends of dismantling “impediments” of economic growth, cronyism, us vs them mentality, will continue in 2018 as a preexisting and chronic condition. Current antagonistic relationships will probably increase, as well as continued turmoil of the executive branch, that will jeopardize biotrumpism agendas. Biotrumpism will continue more or less in concert with other Trumpism policies, though given the overall incoherence, dual standards and undeveloped nature there will be inconsistencies. Efforts will be made to maintain an ideal of an American [Montage], and a segment of the American population will continue to be favored over the global population or other (not real) Americans. Barriers will continue to be established to protect this static stereotype ideal, even though it cannot be sustained in dynamic reality. Health will continue to be viewed as an extravagance that not all should have access to. Attempts to exploit the environment for profit will begin in earnest in 2018.
-5.1. For biosecurity there will be continued self sabotage in capabilities to preempt, respond to, and mitigate accelerated biosphere crisis. So far the responses to hurricanes, the flu epidemic, opioids, nuclear war brinkmanship [Tweet], not having advisors with requisite backgrounds, much less appointed key positions with skills and knowledge for the positions, and handling of non disaster crises, aftermath of mass shootings, don’t bode well. Again, except for war that will have severe health and environment consequences, none of these are pending existential biodisasters, but Megadisasters Devastated America this Year. They’re Going to Get Worse. Biodisaster will increase the instability of biotrumpism and its supporting organization.
-5.2. This paper is a limited picture. There are obvious tie ins with politics, government, economics, religion, world trade, and more, but these are outside the scope of the paper. Parademic overlaps with these topics in the areas of: bioeconomics, biopolitics (possibly necropolitics), illness and medical belief systems, grief and health crisis communications. Overall biotrumpism is not important on the human level in the big scheme of things [Photo]. Most current biodisasters are unnoticed mundane everyday experiences, shortening life expectancy, usually unnoticed until a biodisaster accelerates to a scale and pace that people perceive a clear and present immediate danger [Meme]. There cannot be parademic unless a threat is perceived, usually too late to motivate action to prevent, and it does not matter if the threat is real or fear mongering.
-5.3. Except for demonstrating that there is sufficient information available to develop analogue templates of causal chains of what is likely to happen with biotrumpism, there is nothing in this paper that proves anything. This is still anecdotal (a device frequently used in biotrumpism) and an unrefined model, one that will hopefully become more informed and applicable with repeated observations. Even if it were to stop completely in the next few days there is no possibility of reversing biotrumpism, it will take years to replace the organization, brain drain, lost trust, misinformation, and damaged relationships. This is a Heisenberg principle of being able to say with absolute confidence who, how and why there will be accelerated synergizing biodisasters, but complete uncertainty of when, where and what type of biodisasters. Parademic is not a laboratory science of testing hypothesis to discard it or how closely it represents fact. It is social science observing the interactions of people with global one health and environment of micro and macro biospheres. Moreover parademic is not about confirmed and validated fact. It is based on the fact that belief trumps reality. If someone believes something is true, they will behave as if it is true. Unfortunately that is risky when biology, chemistry, physics are involved as those realities will enforce themselves no matter how strong the faith of those who believe these are not true, or that they are an exception to nature.
-5.4. 2018 will repeat 2017 with increasing pushback, backlash and backfire 3.4G↑, of inelegant lunge and reposte (tweet storms, flame wars, vindictive legislation), not unlike accelerating biodisaster with spreading contagion and contamination. These parademic social impacts can potentially add to the harm to health and environment 4.4↑, of biodisaster. These include civil war and/or constitutional crisis. Like social, geo and biodiaster the longer the root problems are ignored or suppressed, the worse the lethality and physical damage when they finally break through. Biotrumpism rational and foundation will remain unchanged, in fact will become more strident and irrational just as fear driven agendas tend to become more extreme over time. Stability and unity will not be achieved, in part because that is not a desirable state for Trumpism, and in part because Trumpism destabilizes itself. Economic unintended consequences will start to appear in 2018 – the financial losses to the Trump Organization are outside the scope of this paper. Unequal access and polarization will likely increase fissuring of the government(s) and citizens. There will also be more emergent behavior as needs are not met. One piece of legislation to watch is the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act Reauthorization. At this time it will probably have the same history as the ACA, CHIP, and Medicare [Cartoon].
-NOTE: The author is aware that some of the observations of this paper have occurred by the time this is posted, but the cut off point of information was January 30.
-5.5. Biotrumpism is an attempt to return to an imagined past that a segment of the population considers normal or the good old days. In the field of disaster management returning to normalcy is a goal, but one that is informed by avoiding recreation of the circumstances that lead to the disaster. Biodisaster is the same way. People don’t necessarily see the causal links between what was done in the past, as linking events appear unrelated, and the cumulating consequences will not clearly manifest for years, and even then will not be immediately responded to. Eventually the failure and consequences of biotrumpism will become too severe and it will break down. When paradigms are forced to change it is unknown what nature the conflict between the different worldviews will take, or if it will be too late and too little to avoid mass extinction. [Cartoon, Cartoon]. At this time there is no expectation that biotrumpism will abdicate its current positions of power, nor will be forced out of office due to accelerated biodisaster. More likely that if biotrumpism collapses, it will be due to a syndemic of other issues and scandal. The trend is largely that biotrumpism will become increasingly irrelevant at the local, state, national and international levels. An unintended consequence of biotrumpism to the intent to hollow the federal government, will be to at first temporarily give unscrupulous businesses opportunity for exploitation, but will also be further erosion of its power. The federal government will not have the expertise and funds to influence biodisaster and parademic issues, its power enacting and implement law will continue to weaken, and though use of force is an option, that is unlikely to be supported by those who command that force. Furthermore; biotrumpism’s continuing confusion of what is fake and isn’t fake, intensifies deeper bunker mentality, and otherwise isolating further in a hall of mirrors of echo chambers, increasing its disconnection with the larger society. [Cartoon].
-Quote: It is not the strongest of the species that survives but the most adaptable. – Attributed to Charles Darwin.
Comments