Authoritarianism Threatens Mental Health and Fitness
Claudewell S. Thomas, MD, MPH, DLFAPA, is an established psychiatrist who is currently retired ,, He received his medical degree in 1956 at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine and specializes in social psychiatry, public health psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry. Dr. Thomas was board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry... more
As the world situation becomes more perilous, the world's most successful democracy is reeling from internal divisiveness. ProPublica's expose of the Supreme Court has resulted in a SCOTUS code of ethics. There is no enforcement requirement. There is the risk of a government partial shutdown in less than two weeks with the loss of the social support screen for the poor, and the mentally ill, and the pursuit of expanding abortion prohibition beyond the will of doctors and patients. This is an environment in which elderly persons are at huge risk not only from anxiety and depression but also from physical attacks from human predators who respond to their anomie by wolf pack behavior.
The conflict between Israel and a nongovernmental terrorist organization produced a world situation where medical facilities and personnel are serving as cover for underground terrorists. The use of explosive force and murderous air attacks seems to be necessary for warlord Mars but awful for Christmas, Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, etc. In this psychological morass, a character like Trump pursues his bid to become emperor of the divided states of America. Medicare, Medicaid, etc., are portrayed as signs of a creeping socialism. Antisemitism is on the rise, gun acquisition is spilling over legal boundaries. Physicians are retiring, addiction is increasing. We can't afford a 1930s autocracy. Addiction is no answer, the maintenance of health and fitness must be pursued. The elderly must be part of the difficult discussion. Take shots, avoid crowds, and support your LMD or equivalent.
