The Phantom of the White House

by Wayne Flaherty

There is a virtual phantom in the White House. Yea verily! He also stalks the halls of congress. The specter of Donald Trump pervades every level of government. The very mention of his name strikes fear into the hearts of every member of the U.S. Government.

Why do you suppose that is? It's really very simple. They have never seen anyone like Donald Trump. In a land where everybody owes somebody something they are confronted by somebody who owes nobody anything. He is beholden to no one so no one has any leverage with which to influence him. This concept is so new to those who currently run our government that they are going crazy trying to figure out how to deal with him. Everyone is asking the same question, "How do we deal with an honest man?"

The answer, of course, is that you don't deal in the way to which you are accustomed. You can't call in any favors from those who owe you something. You can't call on those to whom Trump is beholden because there aren't any. You can't bribe him. You can't threaten him with revenge because he hasn't done anything to anybody.

For many years congress has been run by millionaires, many of whom obtained that hallowed status during their term in congress. While forcing the general population to rely on Social Security and Medicare, they have exempted themselves. While they live in splendor from special privileges and government expense accounts, they provide welfare and food stamps for the under classes (that's you and me).

What will an honest president do once he is in office? The very thought of it fills the work day of government officials. Asleep, it turns their dreams into nightmares. Yes, Donald Trump does roam the halls of government much like the fictional Phantom of the Opera. He has a much more profound effect on our government officials, especially the ones up for reelection. He now roams the halls of their minds - and they can't do a thing about it. He is in there and they can't get him out.

All across America people are wondering what to make of Donald Trump. Don't make anything of him. Let him continue to generate sleepless nights for the arrogant beings who have lorded their exalted status over us for lo, these many years. They will continue to paint him as everything from Beelzebub to Jack the Ripper. In the end, their efforts will be in vain and they will be forced to answer the question, " How do we deal with an honest man?"