The Trump brand is in a state of terminal decline. But here’s the shakedown: unlike a failing casino or a fraudulent university, this brand is hardwired into the state of the U.S. and global economy. As Donald Trump falters, we all falter – whether it’s our retirement savings, educational savings, mortgage payments, or car payments. They’re all collateral damage in a universe centred around a man who can no longer take his own self-directed stage cues.

We are witnessing a living, walking embodiment of the love child of Grandpa Simpson and Lucille Bluth screaming at clouds, “It’s a banana, Michael. How much could it cost, $10?” It’s the ultimate disconnect. But this love child is running the world. It’s disgusting, it’s apt, and it’s deeply depressing. His focus is wherever his addled brain takes him, but the difference this time around is that that the world is on fire and he’s on full display, unable to find the fire extinguisher.

Why does the establishment keep quiet? Why do the people in power keep complimenting the “fabric” of an Emperor who is clearly naked? Maybe they’re afraid. Or maybe they’re practising a brand of voodoo economics that would make Ben Stein’s character in Ferris Bueller look like a visionary. They’re betting that the wealth might finally trickle down into their pockets, ignoring the reality that this Promethean fire they’ve been promised has no warmth.

It isn’t bringing light to the “forgotten man.” It’s just burning down the village.

When the smoke clears, we know what happens next. The big banks will fail, and there will be a bailout – because in this system, there is always a bailout for the architects of the disaster. This Grandpa Simpson and Lucille Bluth love child drama playing out on the world stage will be memory-holed, and we’ll all move forward and pretend the hallucination never happened.

But to those watching this unveiling in real time: pay attention. It’s jarring. It’s scary. It’s unnerving. But it’s the truth.

We are staring at a total system collapse, the direct result of putting a mentally addled, narcissistic sociopath in charge of the global nuclear arsenal.

The “World Police” has a de facto leader who can’t even stay awake for the briefing. We better be prepared for what happens when the lights finally go out.

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