I have seen it described thus: at the root is Metaphysics, the study of existence and the nature of existence. Closely related is Epistemology, the study of knowledge and how we know about reality and existence. Dependent on Epistemology is Ethics, the study of how man should act. Ethics is dependent on Epistemology because it is impossible to make choices without knowledge. A subset of Ethics is Politics: the study of how men should interact in a just and proper society and what constitutes “just and proper”. Esthetics, the study of art and sense of life is slightly separate, but depends on Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Ethics.

In the past, it has been an American tradition that one or more of the original five branches kept the lower branches in check but now with the evolution of the Hysterical branch, the least logical rung on the philosophical ladder threatens to saw off all the upper rungs. Devotees of this school of thought are not bound by logic, reason, propriety, self-governance, knowledge, facts, or truth, they feel no shame or remorse and are only driven by emotion with the singular goal of satisfying that emotional need.

In the past, it has always been true that when the Hysterics started to rise, there was enough force expressed from one or more of the other branches to knock it down. Not now. It certainly seems, at least to the casual observer, we have a national government in which both major parties are led by Hysterics.

When the shrieks of the Chicken Little mainstream media that everything is evidence the fabulous, golden gilded Trump sky is falling and the Democrats want to impeach or appoint a special prosecutor without being able to describe even the smallest of crimes are met with the conflicting “did he or didn’t he” messages out of the White House and the “let’s not do anything and just say we did” process of the GOP held Congress, one could hold the perception that the Hysterics are in charge.