Two thoughts on Dear Leader

TL;DR

1. His tactics seem to be based on ruzzian “razvedka boem” (“разведка боем”).
2. His actions seem to be driven primarily by his own interests and those of his clan instead of the interests of his country and its people.

He announces new tariffs, then changes them, then withdraws them. He says he will end a war in 24 hours, then in two weeks, then says this war is none of his business. He jests about annexing a country or a part thereof, then proposes to buy it, then threatens military action, then says he’s made a great deal and decided that the won’t engage militarily. And so on and so on.

Every time he changes the course, the politicians, journalists, analysts, experts and other talking heads all spring to life, trying to figure him out – or sometimes claiming that they have figured him out.

Then he changes the course. Again.

And his fanboys in their red baseball caps happily clap their little hands and smirk and say that they knew their Dear Leader was going to outwit all of them libtards.

I fear that the “old school” analysts and experts are unable to “get” him simply because their minds have evolved in a world where a head of state would first and foremost act in the best interests of his/her country (or rather, his/her understanding of those interests). In this framework, almost nothing he does makes sense. On the other hand, believing that a complete and utter idiot could make it into the high office – twice! – would make no more sense.

Let’s change the frame of reference.

Let us assume for a while that his actions and choices stem, first and foremost, from his own interests and maybe those of his clan and entourage. In this world, making the Empire great again is but a slogan meant for those who are willing to believe that their devotion to the Dear Leader would also lead to the betterment of their lives. In this world, running a country is a pretty sleek way of getting one’s hands on way more resources than would be possible otherwise.

Suddenly, it all starts making sense.

P.S. That’s what Google’s AI has to say about Zaphod Beeblebrox’s views on presidency. Of course, it might be just another meaningless coincidence.