Since President of the United States (U.S.) Donald Trump was voted into office, replacing President Joe Biden, I’ve paid attention to the expressed critical thoughts of people who report displeasure with the former while I heard little to no critiques of a similar nature about the latter.
Perhaps one of the most frequent complaints I’ve heard thus far is, as Senator Elizabeth Warren expressed with a condescendingly code-switched statement, “No one elected Elon Musk to nothin’!” Other people have expressed similar views when protesting the Trump administration.
For context, Musk is the Senior Advisor to the President of the U.S. and de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In truth, no one elected Musk to either of his roles in the U.S. government. Nevertheless, expression of this fact as a complaint is irrational.
In order for a proposition to be considered rational, it empirically must remain in accordance with both logic and reason. As an example, consider the premises of a modus ponens syllogism (i.e., if x, then y). If no one elected Musk, then he has no legitimate role in the U.S. government.
This proposition follows logical form, as evidenced by its syllogistic format. However, it’s worth examining whether or not the proposal is reasonable—in accordance with a statement offered in explanation or justification.
To understand the underlying contextual claim, one may infer that only people elected to presidential office may serve in a president’s administration. Clearly, President Trump was elected to office. What about Vice President (VP) JD Vance? Was he elected?
Per one source, “The vice president is indirectly elected at the same time as the president to a four-year term of office by the people of the United States through the Electoral College, but the electoral votes are cast separately for these two offices.” Very well, VP Vance was elected.
The same may be inferred regarding VP Kamala Harris from the Biden administration. Now, if it’s true that Musk wasn’t elected for his primary role as Senior Advisor – and he wasn’t – then one may also deduce that President Biden’s Senior Advisor Mike Donilon wasn’t elected either.
Where were Senator Warren and others in regard to complaining about Donilon’s unelected influence? In fact, I don’t recall hearing much critical thought from Democrats about President Biden’s Cabinet and who it was that was actually running the country during his administration.
For context, following a presidential debate between Trump and Biden, I posted a blog entry on June 28, 2024, The Puppeteer and the Puppet, using a reference from The Lord of the Rings film series regarding the King of Rohan, Théoden, and sycophant Gríma Wormtongue when stating:
One remains uncertain as to who puppeteers Théoden, though suspicions remain about Wormtongue and who’s been fulfilling the role of the U.S. President since January 2021. It’s difficult to suspend critical and rational belief long enough to pretend as though it’s the man who stumbled and bumbled on a debate stage yesterday [June 27, 2024].
In that blogpost, I compared Biden to Théoden and made no certain claims about who I suspected it was that played the part of Wormtongue. Plausibly, individuals in the Cabinet of President Biden (pictured below) could’ve puppeteered the cognitively-questionable figure.
None of those people, except VP Harris, were elected. No one voted for them, as no one voted for Musk. Nonetheless, I don’t recall bitching, whining, moaning, complaining, or whinging from supporters of Biden regarding his apparently questionably neurocognitive faculties.
Therefore, decrying the fact that no one voted for Musk – while having remained silent about Donilon and others – is irrational, because this subjective protest is steeped in hypocrisy. Ultimately, complaining now, because one’s preferred leader isn’t in office, is unreasonable.
Unfortunately, I suspect that it may be many years from now before the world learns about whom it was that ran this country while Democrat leaders and the media were largely silent about his presumed cognitive and/or neurological decline – a condition for which who voted?
Bear in mind that I don’t vote. I’m not team Republican or team Democrat. I’m not aligned with the Right or the Left. I’m not a conservative or a liberal. You didn’t like Biden, Harris, or Donilon? Fine. You don’t like Trump, Vance, or Musk? I didn’t vote for any of them.
Therefore, I remain able to refrain from self-disturbance regarding irrational beliefs about in-group and out-group distinction so that I can rationally assess matters such as the topic of this blogpost. How about you? Even if you vote, there’s a method to rationally view issues.
I invite you to consider use of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) as a method of rational living whereby you can think critically about your beliefs which may cause unpleasant cognitive, emotive, sensational, and behavioral outcomes. Would you like to know more?
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging 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
References:
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