“Oh, we’re all mad here…”

“Alice tells the Cat that she doesn’t want to go among ‘mad people.’”
“Oh, you can’t help that… We’re all mad here,” said the Cheshire Cat… ~ From Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”

I’ve used Einstein’s definition of insanity in my past articles because it’s a simple way to describe how we approach our lives, especially in the administration of this republic. If you have any questions about Einstein’s definition, look it up.

We must be insane…

Here’s my case, my assertion, my allegation, and my defense.,,

Merka is a Bushism, Texican slang for America. When Bush Junior says America, he drops the ‘A’ and says Merka. I think it’s lazy, but like so many people who fail to pronounce the first few letters of a word (Administration becomes ‘ministration’) or the final few letters (the word ‘must’ becomes ‘muss,’ left becomes ‘leff,’ etc.), it presumes you can read the speaker’s mind and know exactly what they intend to say.

The technical term is elision: the omission of one or more sounds (vowels, consonants, or whole syllables) in a word or phrase to make it easier or faster to say. It’s common among certain ethnic and regional groups. I think it’s disrespectful to our language, but consider how we treat each other…

I’ve noticed this tendency among modern broadcasters, talking heads, and even in our ‘ministration. They expect too much from listeners and assume listeners will eventually understand. Maybe they’re just pandering to their base, but with the instant availability of information on the internet, it makes you wonder whether this language is normal or a crazy anomaly.

In a recently published commentary, “Keep the Loonies on the Path” I wrote about this insanity in Congress, the opposite of progress, and the performative nature of recent partisan politics. Rather than administering the republic, most of them are only interested in keeping their jobs rather than doing them.

How crazy is that?

Mental illness is widespread in the United States, with approximately 1 in 5 (over 60 million) adults experiencing a mental health condition each year. Roughly 5.6% of adults have a serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) that severely limits daily functioning, and 20% of adolescents aged 12-17 have a mental or behavioral health condition. Jeff Bennett has repeatedly referenced ADHD, which is considered a mental disorder.

The closure of large state-run “insane asylums,” a process known as deinstitutionalization, occurred primarily in waves from the 1950s through the 1980s. While many facilities have been shuttered or significantly downsized, some specialized psychiatric hospitals still operate today, though with far lower patient capacities.

Driving Factors:

– New Medications: The introduction of Thorazine in 1954 enabled many patients to be treated outside locked facilities.

– Legal Challenges: Supreme Court rulings, such as O’Connor v. Donaldson (1975), limited states’ ability to confine individuals who were not a danger to themselves or others.

– Financial Incentives: The creation of Medicaid and Medicare in 1965 incentivized states to move patients out of state hospitals so the federal government would cover a share of their care costs. (Please note this in particular.)

– Public Outcry: Exposés of horrific conditions at facilities such as Willowbrook State School (1972) and cultural works such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) shifted public opinion against institutionalization.

There are currently 36,510 patients in 192 state-operated institutions. Experts suggest that there should be between 40 and 60 public psychiatric hospitals per 100,000 people. That would require 171,500 psychiatric hospitals to accommodate the population, resulting in a shortage of 171,308 hospitals. 771,000 people in America are homeless, and 77% of them (593,670) experience some form of mental illness, with roughly 25% (148,418) suffering from severe, long-term mental health conditions. A state-run mental health hospital costs about $115 million annually. It would cost Merka $19,722,500,000,000, or $19.723 trillion, to cover what’s necessary right now.

So… the closure of these mental health facilities addresses patient rights.

What about the rights of the people in the community?

Dumping these mentally ill people into the community has a profound impact.

We must be insane…

Now, let’s add the impact of High-Potency Marijuana (hybridized pot) to the list. This is a purely self-imposed, voluntary decision to legalize a potentially dangerous drug. When this decision was first proposed, pot’s potency was under 4% THC, the active ingredient. Today, pot can range from 60 to 90% THC. It’s crucial to note that higher THC content increases the risk of mental health problems, including permanent memory loss, psychotic episodes, and suicidal thoughts.

Marijuana was legalized to:

– Generate state and local tax revenue and create jobs.

– Reduce the strain on legal systems, freeing up police resources for more serious crimes.

– To answer the call for individual freedoms, choice, and public opinion

– Medical Use – There are several benefits, including pain management and suppression of chemotherapy-related nausea.

– Create a regulated market for safer products, quality control, and contaminant testing.

Although legal in many places, cannabis remains prohibited at the federal level in the United States.

There’s a new malady called Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) that is linked to psychosis, schizophrenia, and depression among its 18 million daily users. Higher potency is associated with high rates of dependence among regular users. The impacts are currently being studied, and indications are that it is creating or worsening mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, psychosis, and suicidal ideation (thoughts and tendencies).

We must be effing insane…

Journalists and even fellow lawmakers have used terms like “crazy” or “deranged” to describe the behavior of specific colleagues or the institution’s overall lack of productivity. A record number of members are reportedly leaving Congress early, citing unprecedentedly low morale and a “toxic” work environment in which performance is often driven by “fundraising texts” and social media antics rather than policy. Public frustration remains high; while most members are highly educated (96% are college graduates), a majority of Americans support term limits to address what they perceive as a broken system.

Worse yet are the numbers in Congress, the opposite of progress. Members have increasingly traded censures and public insults, with some even describing the House of Representatives as effectively “dissolved” amid extreme partisan gridlock.

I’m part of one of the groups described above as mentally ill. I was diagnosed with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) after my military service. There are excellent descriptions and explanations online. It was called ‘shellshock’ in WWI and WWII. I strongly recommend you spend some time reading about it. It will expand your understanding of the horrors of war and the fragility of the human psyche. Oh, and by the way… 1 in 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime.

I don’t want pity; I’m dealing with my problems. It was part of the job I signed up for, and now it’s part of my life’s journey. As Nietzsche said, “What does not kill me makes me stronger…”

Key indicators of PTSD:

– Unwanted memories

– Avoidance

– Negative alterations in cognition and mood

– Reactivity, being easily startled, having trouble sleeping, and experiencing angry outbursts.

I still have nightmares and PTSD symptoms even after more than 50 years. And in case you’re wondering… I would not hesitate to do it all over again!

I think Hector Berlioz sums it up nicely. “Life is a cruel teacher; she kills all of the students.”

Perhaps you know someone with a few of these indicators… Please note that this is not limited to people with a military background; traumatized civilians experience it, too. Just try to be a little more compassionate and empathetic. That’s all I ask…

That partially explains who I am; there’s so much more…

What about the rest of you?

Are you in any of the groups listed above, or are you perfectly sane?

Then why do you keep making the same choices year after year, expecting different results? This is Einstein’s definition of insanity. It’s not just in our government; this foolishness and irrational behavior define our lives. We often call this gaining wisdom from experience, you know, learning. Maybe it’s a learning disability or disorder. Yet maybe it is insanity…

How do you explain the demented pandemonium in the ‘ministration, sorry… administration’?

In the halls of Congress, the opposite of progress, the representatives regularly meet to discuss the administration of the republic. The Legislature is physically and structurally divided into two coequal chambers in the U.S. Capitol: The House of Representatives (lower house), with 435 voting members based on state population, and the Senate (upper house), with 100 members (two per state). They occupy separate wings and operate under different rules. In their respective chambers, members are seated by party, with Democrats to the right and Republicans to the left of the presiding officer.

– Note: They are divided both physically and ideologically…

Consider the message this arrangement sends. If the Democrats are on the Right, wouldn’t that imply they are endorsed as correct, while the Republicans, on the Left, would be presumed to be wrong? Everyone knows that the left side is “incorrect”, and the right side is “correct”; for all intents and purposes, this reflects historical, linguistic, and cultural biases, particularly the right-handed bias that has shaped many languages. In many cultures, the right hand (often called “dexter” in Latin) is associated with strength, skill, and correctness, while the left hand (often “sinister”) is associated with weakness or, historically, with being “crooked”. Do you remember the phrase, “Left-handed deal or comment”?

This speaks volumes about today’s socio-political turmoil. It appears to have evolved over time to support the discord that fuels partisan animosity. Recall that this is the 119th Congress, so they’ve been at this for a while. One would think that after 118 such meetings, things would improve. One would hope, but you’d be wrong.

They haven’t improved one Gorram bit. – See Firefly for the explanation.

There are several reasons for this arrangement, including geographic and demographic sorting, the rise of ideological cohesion, gerrymandering and primary elections, echo chambers, and polarizing and divisive issues. Together, these factors leave little room for moderation or negotiation, creating a partisan environment in which strategy often outweighs bipartisan cooperation and compromise. This leads to heightened partisan political apartheid. Is it any wonder we can’t seem to get past racism when our government is intentionally divided, reinforcing a separatist alignment?

I recall something from Washington’s 1796 farewell address about the rise of partisan political parties. He called them factions, but that was so long ago and couldn’t possibly be relevant to our current ‘ministration… sorry administration.

We must be insane! 119 attempts, and things are only getting worse.

We intentionally divide our legislative body into ideological camps, yet why do we do so after we’re warned against it?

I immediately thought of the passages that warn of disunity – Matthew 12:25, Mark 3:25, Luke 11:17, and Abraham Lincoln (1858). These passages emphasize that unity is essential for strength, stability, and survival. They also highlight that internal discord, infighting, and a lack of shared purpose lead to destruction. The message serves as a warning against self-destructive conflict within families, communities, and nations.

“Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, ‘ Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.'” ~ Matthew 12:25

“If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand…” ~ Mark 3:25

“But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.'” ~ Luke 11:17

Lincoln declared that the U.S. could not permanently endure half-slave and half-free… So, over 168 years ago, #16 knew this republic could not survive racial or any other division, yet here we are, doing everything in our power to reinforce them.

The 3,000-year-old follow-up to the verses above is Proverbs 11:29, which says: “Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.” It means that those who bring ruin, chaos, or neglect to their own household (through greed, laziness, or poor choices) will ultimately gain nothing of value—inheriting only “wind.” It highlights that foolish, destructive behavior leads to a loss of resources and respect, often resulting in servitude to the wise.

This concept has existed for at least 2,000 years, and we still haven’t learned a Gorram thing!

We Must Be Insane! – Or… maybe we’re just plain stupid… and you can’t fix stupid, as comedian Ron White says.

What seems to be the problem, Merka?

We have an abundance of data, regularly organized into declarative statements and presented as a ceaseless stream of carefully crafted talking points, sound bites, and viral video clips, each with an accompanying description that tells you what to see. This isn’t communication; it’s programming, and we are being programmed to follow the ideological norm of their choosing.

It doesn’t need to follow the US Constitution because this amazing document gives everyone the opportunity and the freedoms of speech and the press, but not the wisdom to use them as intended. We have the right to protest peacefully for the redress of grievances, but apparently not the knowledge to understand the underlying language and its intent. We conveniently ignore the words that don’t fit our needs, and that, folks, is the crux of our problems.

Remember the phrase – “The ends justify the means?”

It is the main cause of this dilemma. Leadership interprets this simple 5-word phrase as a license to do or say whatever they please to further their causes or agendas. It gives them carte blanche, which literally translates from French as “blank paper.” In English, it is an idiom that describes having complete freedom or unconditional authority to act as one wishes without any restrictions.

What we see and hear from the relentless incursion of info-channels on every Plastic Altar of Enlightenment – digital indoctrination devices – is nonstop bullshit. We all think we know our Constitutional Rights, but what we know is a partisan political perception and posture used to advance their ideology. In reality, we’re familiar with the political ideology and regurgitate it, reinforcing the misunderstanding. We are their useful idiots, a phrase that originated during the Cold War in the Western Bloc; so we’ve become the partisan political party’s useful idiots, advancing these misinterpretations.

Our understanding is superficial at best and based on the mainstream media’s partisan political propaganda. We know our programmed talking point, so we’re apprised – but we’ve actually been duped.

Here’s a recent example from the Mainstream Media.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), a well-known and self-avowed Socialist, claims that these people have a right to be here and are not criminals. What reason would she have to spread misinformation or disinformation – let’s call it what it is… LYING! According to her, people who enter the United States without permission are not criminals because illegal entry is a civil offense, like a parking ticket. 8 USC § 1325 describes illegal entry as a federal offense with stipulations; however, it is not a civil offense, as AOC claims – but that’s what we hear and believe. She’s in Congress, the opposite of progress, so she would know… Right?

Guess what – according to the available information, violating a federal law – a statute enacted by Congress, the opposite of progress – makes you a criminal and grounds for prosecution by the U.S. Government in federal court. So… if you enter the United States of America without permission, you have violated a federal law and are a criminal. That means the 13.8 million recorded entries and the estimated 10.8 million undocumented under the Biden–Harris regime, all 24.6 million, are criminals…

What reason would anyone have to lie?

The answer is simple… They don’t agree with the rules, so they freely reinterpret (misinterpret) them under the guise of Freedom of Speech or Freedom of the Press. It’s not literally wrong, but it’s not right either – it’s their interpretation, perception, rationalization, and justification. It also seems to nullify their oath of office.

AI tells me that the Constitution’s authors used general, flexible language to ensure the document could adapt to future generations, societies, and technologies they could not predict. By avoiding overly specific, rigid definitions, the Framers ensured the document would serve as a lasting framework rather than a temporary, detailed code.

Key rationale:

– Adaptability: The Framers recognized that they could not predict society’s future evolution, so they required a document that could adapt.

– Preventing Enumeration Limitations: They feared that listing specific rights might be interpreted as denying the existence of other rights not listed.

– Political Compromise: General language allowed delegates with differing views to agree on broad principles, leaving the specifics for future interpretation.

– Focus on Principles: The goal was to establish core values, such as justice, liberty, and a structured government, rather than a comprehensive legal code.

– Deliberate Vagueness: Certain phrases, such as “necessary and proper,” were intentionally vague to allow for flexible interpretation over time.

The authors of the Constitution were concerned about misinterpretation, fearing that the federal government, particularly the judiciary, might twist its meaning to expand power beyond its original scope. Thomas Jefferson warned that allowing judges to interpret the document too loosely would make it a “mere thing of wax”: easily manipulated, shaped, or twisted to suit someone’s desires, lacking firm structure or permanence. The phrase describes a pliable, weak, or compliant object (like the Constitution) that powerful individuals (like judges) can mold into any form they please.

Despite their fears, many framers recognized that no written document could anticipate every future scenario, leaving room for interpretation. Most founders, including Madison, believed the document should be interpreted according to the original public meaning of its words at the time of ratification, rather than evolving with “the progress of the human mind.” While they expected some “difficulties and differences of opinion” to arise, they believed a long, consistent course of practice, which Madison called “liquidation” of the meaning of ambiguous or indeterminate constitutional provisions through long-term, deliberate government practice, would eventually settle the meaning of ambiguous terms.

How did Jefferson or the other framers know it could or would come to this?

The founders and framers were well-educated, sober men of good character, patriots all, with a profound understanding of the ambitions of nefarious men, especially those for whom power was an end in itself. Remember, they were well-read, and Machiavelli was high on that list, along with other insightful authors of their time. Their concerns speak directly to his famous quote about the ends justifying the means, as well as to the admonitions of other great writers, philosophers, and statesmen.

There it is, citizens – the garage-door-sized loophole in the Constitution, and the legal beagles in government know every line, wrinkle, and every possible and probable nuance that circumvent the intent of this document. In their efforts to craft a living document to guide and manage this fledgling republic, they handed the keys to this kingdom to fortune-hunters, brigands, and privateers.

We’ve even formalized this discipline of partisan political piracy – governance, calling it Political Science: the social scientific study of government systems, political behavior, public policies, and power dynamics at the local, state, national, and international levels. It combines empirical research and theoretical analysis to understand how communities govern themselves, resolve conflicts, and make decisions. Key areas include political theory, comparative politics, and international relations.

It’s not bad enough that it exists; we turn it into a profession that teaches those tactics. There’s even a Ph.D. program. Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, is the most prestigious school, followed closely by Stanford, Princeton, and Yale. You’ll no doubt notice that the International School of Hard Knocks (my alma mater) is not in that lineup. ��

We must be Insane…

This commentary omits several areas of lunacy, including personal finance, business, lending, medicine, and manufacturing. I’ve spared you the rhetoric you already know. We’re hosed, or, in military parlance, we’ve screwed the pooch. We’ve made massive, embarrassing mistakes, failed, or severely screwed up an undertaking. The saddest part is that we haven’t learned a Gorram thing.

I’ll leave you with this quote to reflect on.

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” ~ Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States

And knowing what we know and seeing what we’ve seen, we do the same things the same way, expecting different results.

“Alice tells the Cat that she doesn’t want to go among ‘mad people.
Oh, you can’t help that… We’re all mad here,” said the Cheshire Cat…

‘The devil you say…’

March 12, 2026

~ the Author ~
Charles R. Dickens Was Born in 1951, Is a Veteran of the Vietnam War, for Which He Volunteered, and the Great-Great Grandson of the Noted Author, Whose Name He Shares.

He Is a Fiercely Proud American, Who Still Believes This Is the Greatest Country on the Planet, With Which We’ve Lost Control and Certainly Our Direction. He Grew Up in Moderate Financial Surrounding; We’re Not Rich by Any Stretch, but Didn’t Go Hungry – His Incredibly Hard Working Father Saw to That. As Most From That Era, He Learned About Life From His Father, Whose Story Would Take Too Long to Tell, Other Than to Say That, He Is Also a Fiercely Proud American; A WWII and Korean War, Veteran Marine.

Charlie Was Educated in the Parochial System Which, Demanded That You Actually Learn Something, and Have Capability to Retain It Before You Advance. He Attended Several Universities in Pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree, and Chased the Goose Further to a Master’s, and Has Retained Some Very Definite Ideas About Education in This Country.

in Addition, Charlie Is a Retired Blues Guitar and Vocalist – a Musician. This Was His Therapy Career. Nothing Brings Him as Much Joy as Playing Music, and He Wishes That He Could Make a Living at It… but Alas… Life Goes on!