Money and the Power

[DISCLAIMER]

Photo credit, fair use

It fascinates me how many people who subscribe to the tenets of the hip hop subculture seemingly forgot about how well-regarded President of the United States (U.S.) Donald Trump once was within rap music. I’ve not forgotten.

As an example, on his 1991 debut studio album Mr. Scarface Is Back legendary Texas lyricist Scarface released the song “Money and the Power.” Describing how he ostensibly sold drugs in order to amass wealth, Scarface stated:

Mom would ask questions, and often pitch a bitch

Where am I gettin’ the money? Mickey D’s ain’t paid me shit

I’d make up a story, just to get her off my back

Uh oh, I got a beep, I think my boys are out of crack

Everything was smooth, exactly how I played it

A dollar to be made, best believe a nigga made it

Nickels, dimes, and twenties, and sixty cent bumps

Nigga rollin’ hard, stackin’ paper like Trump

Although it was once fashionable to hate Trump, a number of rappers and lyricists have, relatively recently, apparently figured out how catastrophic it was to have employed tactics of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) within urban populations. It hasn’t boded well.

This isn’t to suggest that Trump, the Republican National Committee, or the Make America Great Again movement is morally and ethically superior to the Democrats – many of whom apparently detest Trump. Still, Trump won the popular vote among U.S. citizens for a reason.

One imagines that people grew weary of watching money being transferred into the hands of people who didn’t center our citizenry. Likewise, voters probably voted against the interests of Democrats who likely abused power and ultimately harmed our nation.

When considering this matter, I keep in mind the teachings of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Namely, I understand that blaming the DNC and its acolytes for my reaction to their quest for money and the power isn’t logical or reasonable (collectively “rational”).

Using personal ownership, I’m not self-disturbed about this matter. Aside from practice of the ABC model and unconditional acceptance techniques offered by REBT, I acknowledge how little control and influence I have over sociopolitical matters – practically none at all.

Thus, people who misuse money and the power remain within my circle of concern. Also, practice of REBT doesn’t render me oblivious to or dis-compassionate regarding government institutions and non-government organizations (NGOs) which seek money and the power.

For instance, when serving as a Marine Security Guard (MSG), fulfilling diplomatic missions in South America, I learned about how the U.S. Department of State (DoS) essentially served as a front for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) while using NGOs to accomplish various goals.

My time as an MSG is what led to my disillusionment with the sociopolitical actions of the U.S. We weren’t helping nations to improve their level of function and quality of life, much as I try to do when serving as a psychotherapist while promoting use of REBT.

Rather, the DoS, CIA, and NGOs were haphazardly interfering in the affairs of state in foreign lands to supposedly promote U.S. interests which ultimately led to money and the power being placed in the hands of a select few within our nation’s elite class. That was disgusting to me.

Notably, in “Money and the Power,” Scarface ends the song by stating, “Money and the pow-the-pow-the-pow-the-pow-the-power!” In my youth, repetitious use of the word “pow” reminded me of the oral sound people made when simulating gunfire (e.g., pow, pow, pow).

Arguably, violent force of action is precisely what it takes in order to ultimately satisfy one’s desire for money and the power. Think about it. If the U.S. attempts to influence an election of country X, though that nation objects in the interest of sovereignty, what may be the result?

When supposedly peaceful manipulation by the DoS, CIA, and NGOs is unacceptable to country X, the U.S. will seek money and the pow-the-pow-the-pow-the-pow-the-power. This behavior is often masked by Machiavellian rhetoric about “our democracy” being at stake.

As an example, an ally to the U.S. in World War II had enough with encroachment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization upon its border, and our nation ostensibly used an organization like the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to promote so-called “democracy.”

Throughout the 2024 U.S. presidential election cycle, many voters demonstrated unwillingness to allow USAID-backed NGOs – which presumably serve as a workaround for the DoS and CIA’s governmental restriction measures of accountability – to meddle in foreign affairs.

The U.S. is currently involved in what is a thinly veiled proxy war with Russia—our former ally. Who does this benefit, other than a select elite class within the U.S. that thirsts for money and the power? This is likely one reason why millions of U.S. voters back Trump who may end the war.

As such, one source reports, “The Trump administration is moving to strip a slimmed-down [USAID] of its independence and put it under [DoS] control, two sources familiar with the discussions said on Friday [1/31/2025], in what would be a significant overhaul of how Washington allocates U.S. foreign aid.”

Presumably, rolling USAID into the DoS will provide more transparency regarding spooky actions abroad. Yet, I remain skeptical, because those who thirst for money and the power tend not to part ways with their means of oppression without a proverbial fight. We shall see.

One can hope that if the Trump administration is serious about countering “deep state” activities, which even the CIA acknowledges on its website in regard to USAID, then other organizations such as the National Endowment for Democracy will also be addressed. Again, we shall see.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

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