THE BERNHARD PERSPECTIVE
5/23
With his announcement of a new round of tariffs against the European Union, it has become increasingly obvious that this T**** tariff business is not about the tariffs themselves at all. In this case it’s because the EU won’t play ball with him, but the way he slaps tariffs on then rips them off has rendered them all but meaningless.
I think T**** admitted what the real reason was when he bragged that countries were lining up and sending “top men” to come make deals with him. He once claimed that he had made deals with more countries than there are countries to make deals with.
No, it’s not about the tariffs. As usual, it’s all about him. It’s about showing who’s the boss, and that he has the power to disrupt the world economic order with a wave of his hand. It’s about feeding his fragile, narcissistic ego by having the rest of the world’s leaders approach and kiss his ring.
The thing is that when narcissistic control seeps into leadership, it distorts truth, erodes trust and destabilizes institutions. This is what we see happening now. Authoritarian leaders rely on states of volatile uncertainty, and that’s what this tariff business is really all about.
When outcomes aren’t just unknown but constantly shifting and unpredictable, it prevents other countries from being able to anticipate and prepare, keeping them off-balance and unable to mount a practical response.
Awareness of this dynamic works like a vaccine, gradually building immunity against further harm. The thing is to withhold what these leaders consistently demand, what they need and what they desire. In childish minds like T****’s, it makes them easier to control. Ultimately, this will dilute their ability to maintain the kind of control they crave, and reset the the world stage.
I suspect that the EU, and to a lesser extent China, have realized this, and that the best way for them to deal with our pathetic little man-child is to not play his game. And indeed, this is the way you always have to deal with petulant narcissism, in small children as well as powerful autocrats.
Like Donald T****.
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