Re: "Trump's Lizard Wisdom" — Letters that should have been in the new york times

To the editor:

David Brooks (NYT, Trump's lizard wisdom, 5.11.18), in a striking display of wishful thinking, describes President Trump's actions as based on lizard wisdom. He seeks to reassure us that behind President Trump's erratic, impulsive, self-centered, paranoid, grandiose behaviors there is something of evolutionary value in his conduct. Lizards are typically sit and wait predators that adapt to their environment through anti-predatory behaviors like camouflage, playing dead or reflex bleeding as a chemical defense. These behaviors are well suited to their environment. One can say the President can learn a thing or two from lizard wisdom.

Humans have adapted more sophisticated brains to create, survive and flourish in a more complex world. Wisdom involves forethought; reflex gives way to introspection; impulsiveness gives way to restraint. President Trump possesses none of these traits. Yes, some of his actions may have favorable outcomes. After all, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

It is a serious misunderstanding of the man - and the lizard - to equate his conduct or thinking with anything resembling wisdom. I would suggest the more apt metaphor is that President Trump is like a bull in a china shop attempting to destroy valuable, albeit delicate, international agreements on peace relations, trade and climate change and, of course, the domestic achievements of President Obama.

Respectfully submitted,

Larry S. Sandberg MD