Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

dweller

(28,213 posts)
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 01:39 PM Yesterday

Living in a Time of Lunatics and Monsters

Let's be honest about the roots, costs and consequences of the Iran War
DAVID ROTHKOPF
MAR 07, 2026

Not since Adolf Hitler blew his brains out in a bunker beneath the garden of the German Reich Chancellery on April 30, 1945, have the lives of so many people around the world been so buffeted by the psychosis of a single man.

It is not that there have not been mad men in power since. There have even been very powerful ones. But, at this moment in history, the fate of virtually everyone on the planet is being impacted by the toxic cocktail of character flaws, insecurities, and pathologies that are shaping the actions of the President of the United States.

Economic chaos and hardship ranging from spiking energy prices to the destruction of the global trading system; wars, military and diplomatic decisions that are causing death and suffering to millions and striking profound insecurity in the hearts of the rest of the planet; assaults on the rule of law and democracy that are not only causing misery and inequity for Americans but robbing the world of an important champion for a more just planet; attacks on science and medicine that are doing profound damage both to individuals and families but also the environment of the entire planet at a time of climate crisis; the active promotion of racism, misogyny, religious intolerance and hate that is inevitably altering global discourse and behaviors…look anywhere and there is evidence that a sick, sick man holds the most powerful job in the world.

This is not a new phenomenon. Indeed, the mental defects and warped personalities of leaders have plagued humanity since the dawn of time.

much much more at link
https://davidrothkopf.substack.com/p/living-in-a-time-of-lunatics-and?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web

Fairly lengthy essay , well worth the read

✌🏻

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Living in a Time of Lunatics and Monsters (Original Post) dweller Yesterday OP
;-{)..... Goonch Yesterday #1
Perfect statue some_of_us_are_sane Yesterday #3
Please tell me that's not real -eom vanessa_ca 21 hrs ago #11
Brilliantly stated some_of_us_are_sane Yesterday #2
Has there ever been a leader with his multigraincracker Yesterday #4
maybe constantine the great? rampartd 23 hrs ago #7
THIS - The only imminent threat was from Trump malaise 23 hrs ago #5
DURec leftstreet 23 hrs ago #6
K&R 2naSalit 23 hrs ago #8
KNR and bookmarking for later. niyad 21 hrs ago #9
That was a great read. And, wow, the most highly rated comment vanessa_ca 21 hrs ago #10

malaise

(295,249 posts)
5. THIS - The only imminent threat was from Trump
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 01:59 PM
23 hrs ago

Was he distracting from the Epstein Files? From economic decline at home? From plummeting poll numbers? Did he have some darker alternative motive? We can’t know. Indeed, all we do know is that his stated reasons for action changed so much—from concern about nuclear weapons to concern about missiles to concern about Iranian proxies in the region to support for Iranian protestors in the street to warnings of an urgent threat—were all embraced and discarded with such frequency that they certainly were just fabrications.

vanessa_ca

(779 posts)
10. That was a great read. And, wow, the most highly rated comment
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 04:32 PM
21 hrs ago

"Your country is truly sick. All Americans are at fault here, not just Trump. Your supine Congress and Senate let this mad King do what he wants. The fact that Americans voted this corrupt paedophile in to a second term speaks to the sickness in your society. The fact that neither Congress nor the Senate are capable of reigning him in speaks to the weakness in your democratic institutions. The real concern is how weak the checks and balances put in place by the forefathers have proven to be. Never again can Europe link its future to the US. These are not our values and you will stand alone."

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Living in a Time of Lunat...