George Washington, in Freudian terms, was all superego. His superpowers were patriotism and self-discipline. He aspired to be a gentleman, a leader of men, and a figure similar to the heroes of the Roman Republic. By force of will, he succeeded in all of these things. The America of today would be unrecognizable without him.
Lincoln’s superpowers, on the other hand, were empathy and a form of simple eloquence that still touches the hearts of Americans today. The price he paid for his empathy was written all over his face. You’ve seen the pictures, so you know what I mean.
When Trump looks at America, on the other hand, he sees only himself. Unlike Washington, he is pure id. Unlike Lincoln, he has no feeling for anyone but himself. We will see the fruits of that if we are crazy enough to elect him.
Happy Independence Day! Enjoy it, because next year, we may be “celebrating” something completely different.