Listening to Rachel and Lawrence two nights ago I suddenly had the glimmer of an idea that helped me understand why Trump despite his very evident awfulness appeals to so many people — or really to anyone.
Infants who grow into children who grow into adults need to be “civilized.” They need to learn that other people exist and have needs just as legitimate as their own. The job of parents, teachers, nursemaids, and all of society is to teach children how to behave in a world of many people. To learn to obey laws, norms, and guidelines for how to behave.
Trump does not know about that. He behaves like a toddler who only cares about his own needs. Yes, many people have observed that. But what has not been noted enough, if at all, is that his total freedom to behave exactly the way he wants when he wants (shoot someone on 5th avenue) is something that stirs envy in people who struggle to give up their needs for others. “Why can’t we do what we want when we want — like little children — like Donald Trump? He seems so “comfortable” in his selfishness it makes others want the same comfort. and why not? he has gotten away with it for most of his life. “Me too. I want to get away with it. Who are you to tell me to be considerate, think of the common good?”
Furthermore his sadism appeals to the part of everyone who wishes occasionally or way too often to make someone suffer. Hate is much easier to tolerate than sadness or disappointment. Life lived with the consideration of others is filled with disappointment. No, you cannot always have what you want when you want it. That is a hard lesson for people who have had to tolerate too much pain and anguish and envy in the course of their lives.