Many of you may recognize the title of today’s post as the opening line of Stephen Still’s lyrics from Buffalo Springfield 1966 megahit, “For What It’s Worth.” (NOTE: You have probably  also figured out that I’m a big fan of the song as its title is my sign-off for each post.  No coincidence here.)

But it is not the song’s title that peaked my curiosity this morning.  It is the fourth verse.

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you’re always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away

Which reminded me of that now famous Kurt Cobain quote, “Just cause you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you.”  And no one can argue many segments of American society are understandably paranoid.  All you have to do is scan the headlines.  Deportation forces grabbing people off the street with little or no justification.  Hate crimes against Muslims and immigrants.  Vandalism and bomb threats directed at the Jewish community.

Which brings me to the timing of this post.  It could have been written any time over the past 18 months.  So why today?  Because the most dangerous paranoia is not that of the targets of Donald Trump’s misguided policies or the unwarranted fear his followers have of “the others.”  More alarming is the paranoia the agitator-in-chief exhibited in a flurry of Saturday morning tweets, accusing his predecessor of wire-tapping his phones without a hint of evidence to support the claim.  As many comedians and pundits have hinted over the past 24 hours, maybe this is what Trump investigators found when they were looking for proof President Obama was born in Kenya.

During a town hall meeting, South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham addressed the issue. He noted, based on currently available information, it is impossible to tell what is true or what is not.  He suggested two possible outcomes.  If Trump is correct, this is a serious violation of Obama’s oath of office.  But, and this is a very important but, if these are Trumped-up charges (sorry, I couldn’t help it), the Lyin’ King’s actions are equally or more onerous.

Graham is correct.  But here’s the real test whether someone like Senator Graham is truly interested in preserving the Constitution or is just straddling the fence to appear statesmanlike.  If we find there was NO basis for Trump’s assertions, Graham has no choice other than supporting impeachment and conviction or invoking the 25th amendment.

So Donald, there’s evidence you are growing more paranoid by the day.  And you should be afraid.  And if you have stepped out of line, as Stephen Stills writes, someone will come and take you away.  Now that’s something you should really be paranoid about.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP