Last night during dinner my wife’s newest BFF announced she was planning to vote for Trump and asked if I was also.

I responded: “I don’t know.” And I truly don’t.

Not because I’m confused or need more facts or more debates; but because I’m unable to foresee events in the future that I feel in my bones are lying in wait for the country and my grandchildren. Not good events like going to Mars or curing cancer – but bad events like uncontrolled religious zealots or cyber warfare –  unmanageable using the knowledge base and tools that now exist.

Donald Trump is a plain talking man who has tapped into the festering anger over bureaucratic mismanagement chewing  away at the fabric of the country.  Specifically:

The government has demonstrated that it no longer functions for the people. It exists solely to get its arthritic members re-elected so they may continue eating from the public trough. It employs people of dubious character and questionable skills. Look no further than the introduction of the Affordable Care Act, the demise of the postal service, the corruption in the Veterans Administration, the IRS debacle and a Dept. of Education that won’t educate-  All bloated and inept.

Big banks have changed their charters without the public’s awareness. They no longer pay interest on deposits. Inconceivably, they now plan to charge us for placing our money in their care and for their investment use.  They no longer lend money to individuals and businesses. It is more profitable to gamble in sovereign currencies and unstable global affairs, comforted with knowledge that the politicos, whose campaigns they support, will bail them out when they fail again – with public money.

Corporations are fleeing the country in droves because of painful tax burdens imposed by a swollen government to pay for its sloth. Jobs for low to mid-skilled workers have disappeared. Advertising for faulty, harmful products abound:  drugs that don’t work,  cars with safety problems knowingly designed into them, adulterated, engineered foods having no nutritional benefit:  All because they need to meet unrealistic profit objectives set by lenders and hedge fund investors. Boards of Directors are absent or cowed.  Improved revenue and profit every quarter is the mantra of today’s business leaders.

Trump has tapped into this anger. He has lighted a fire under immigration policies (build a wall), government over-reach(eliminate the IRS, Energy Dept. and others), force Apple to build iphones in America and Ford to build cars here.  He continues to fan the flames. Because he has amassed a fortune he is independent of banks, lobbyists and campaign donors – all actors most Americans despise.

But are his plans achievable? Or, are they merely the ranting and raving of a modern-age dictator-in-waiting?

Trump doesn’t need money, though who would ever admit to not wanting more?  (Perhaps Warren Buffett.) Trump is an egoist seeking power.  That is scary, and the root of my indecision.

Greece and Rome before us had thriving empires but both ultimately perished. The reasons were separated in time but contained similar themes:

• Hostile tribes/pirates disrupted trade, limiting access to critical resources
• Lacking new sources of gold/silver, they raised taxes beyond reason
• Soil became overworked by tilling and/or war, causing famine
• Military troops, disillusioned by leader’s goals, rebelled which led to recruiting mercenaries
• Upper class people lived the ‘good life’ and were indifferent to the government
• Constant conflict between the ruling aristocrats and poorer classses

Sound familiar?

America today has a leadership vacuum. We have principled people with no ability to implement their ideas. For one to lead, he/she needs a willing army to follow:  an army that believes in the leader’s objectives and trusts his values. Mr. Trump professes to be a leader, a builder.

But I believe his stated objectives are unachievable and I’ve been listening hard to hear his values.

So far, I’ve heard nothing.

But the screeching and ranting of the alternatives are frightening. That is why I’m undecided. Once again, we’re forced to choose between two bad alternatives.

Like the Greeks and Romans before us, we are about to pay the price.  Mr. Buffett, where are you?

You are welcome.

For more go to: http://www.jameshpyle.com