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The Making of a Dumbass

The Making of a Dumbass

Last updated on: June 9, 2026 at 1:32 pm by Karl J. Forehand

The Making of a Dumbass 2026-06-09T13:32:17-06:00 Karl J. Forehand

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What this is NOT about.

This blog is definitely not about people with disabilities or those who have suffered injuries that leave them incapacitated. It’s not even about those who are ignorant because of high-pressure coercion to accept certain norms. That is a separate issue of control and abuse by other people. Often, people submit to belief systems and community norms because it’s easier and feels safer. That too is conditioning, so I can’t totally blame them.

What I do want to discuss is the tendency, especially in the U.S., to end up with leaders I often call “The Toddlers in Charge.” For today’s discussion, in honor of a high school friend, I want to call these “toddlers” dumbasses for a specific reason, which will become obvious. But initially, let’s just say that is what I think when I hear them speak. I say to myself, “Dumbass.”

What is a Dumbass?

In high school, I worked with a guy from Mexico named Lupé over the summer. He was a taxi driver in Mexico and worked with our Farmers’ Cooperative that summer. He taught us a bunch of Spanish cusswords, one of which was “pendejo.” When I asked him what it meant, he said, “Dumbass.” So, the other employees and I casually used the insult against each other, mispronouncing it as “bendejo” without realizing our mistake. We would shout, “Bendejo, come here.” They would respond, “Who me?” To which we cackled, “You’re the only bendejo here.” It didn’t always end in a fight, and eventually, we learned new words we could misappropriate.

Later in life, I shared my limited understanding with other Spanish-speaking adults, who warned me, “Don’t use that word; it’s bad!” So, I removed it from my repertoire and never used it, except when appropriating it to people in power who deserve it.

Jesus seems to have cautioned people about the Arabic word Raka and the Greek word Moros, which led to English words like “moron.” He seemed to be saying that it was like murder, even though he used the same terms when describing people. Personally, I don’t think this is okay because he lost the moral high ground by failing to follow his own rules. Regardless, none of these expressions is what I mean by “dumbass” when I am observing the leaders of our day.

The Making of a Dumbass

No one is born a dumbass. It’s a process of actions and reactions that produces this outcome.

The Advantage

As I emphasized earlier, I don’t think anybody is born a dumbass. But many dumbasses have something that gives them a head start they don’t realize. Dumbasses are often born with a certain advantage. This doesn’t have to be money; it could just as likely be power or influence that they automatically get without earning it. Most of them probably fail because they see that the world doesn’t give them the favor they inherited. The ones that “succeed” are the ones who push through. They are the dumbasses I am describing. They are stubborn enough to keep demanding that the world owes them something.

Of course, there is a swath of destruction behind them, but the narcissistic toddler doesn’t see it; they keep demanding that everyone serve them because they were validated by people who want what they have. Dumbasses like the preacher Marc Driscoll even brag about the “Bodies behind the bus.” The loyal fans and employees who want to be on the same stage enable their heroes to continue cultivating ignorance and shared delusions.

I have known many pseudo-mega pastors who turned out to be toddlers once you really got to know them. When they weren’t on stage, they needed an army of people to prop them up and make their ideas come true. Yet I never discussed deep, significant truths with them because they were always focused on their pet projects and on finding people to support them.

It’s too easy to point out the likelihood of politicians who fit this bill and the lengths they will go to in order to gain more power. It’s so obvious who the dumbasses are in politics, but if you are committed to them, nothing I say will change your mind until you face a real crisis because of their dumbassery.

The Peter Principle

The Peter Principle is a management theory stating that employees in a hierarchical organization tend to be promoted based on their success in their current roles rather than on their aptitude for the new job. Consequently, people keep getting promoted until they reach a position where they are no longer competent. The simplified phrase is “In a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence.” Once a worker is assigned to a job where they cannot perform well, they are no longer considered for promotion. Because they are stuck at this level, they generally remain in that role and fail to achieve measurable results. Organizations ultimately become filled with individuals who are out of their depth in their current positions, leading to inefficiency and stagnant growth.

In my opinion, pastors prove the Peter Principle on their first day in the pulpit, but applause and praise keep them hyped up long enough to build an audience. Then the principles of what makes a dumbass kick in. One day, they find themselves unqualified for any other role and addicted to the dopamine hits of performing. Politicians suffer the same fate.

Let’s take an example from politics and call this guy Ronald Dumbass. Even though his parents were wealthy and somewhat successful, he couldn’t seem to accomplish anything early in life.

His early life was marked by challenges ranging from a disruptive childhood to major business and financial crises in the late 1980s and early 1990s, during which he accumulated massive debt and faced several corporate bankruptcies. Growing up in Queens, New York, he was an impulsive child whose disruptive behavior at school, including throwing an eraser at a teacher, prompted his parents to send him to the New York Military Academy at age 13. Despite being gifted with opportunities and inheriting money, he bankrupted not only his creations but also a casino! Facing billions of dollars in debt and personal financial ruin, he relied on bank rescues and loans from his father to avoid personal bankruptcy and restructure his debts.

Another boost came from Hollywood, which portrayed him as a reality-star (fictional) character who pretended to be a successful businessman who made hard decisions to fire people at will. The audience believes in the façade and repeats the lie long enough to dupe enough ignorant people into following him into politics.

He daily demonstrates his lack of ability by stumbling and bumbling through challenges, believing that a cognitive test proves he is superior. He claims credit for good things that happen and blames everyone else for his failures.

Every day, I whisper it to my phone, Dumbass!

The Desire for Power

A key influence in Ronald’s life was a New York City lawyer who encouraged him to always hit back harder when criticized, admit nothing and deny everything, refuse to concede mistakes even when faced with overwhelming evidence, and claim victory regardless of the actual outcome or circumstances. Even when failing, most dumbass leaders know instinctively how to manipulate people (it may be their only real talent).

DARVO is an acronym coined in the 1990s by psychologist Dr. Jennifer Freyd, standing for Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender. It is a psychological manipulation and blame-shifting tactic commonly used by perpetrators of wrongdoing (such as abusers, narcissists, or those seeking to avoid accountability) when confronted about their behavior.

The tactic follows a specific three-step pattern used by all types of leaders, which involves flatly denying that the harmful behavior or event ever happened or downplaying their involvement. Instead of addressing the accusation, the perpetrator attacks the credibility, character, or sanity of the person holding them accountable. The perpetrator flips the narrative so that they become the victim, and the original victim is cast as the abuser or wrongdoer.

DARVO is a form of gaslighting. When you confront someone, they might say: “That never happened. You’re making things up.” They might also add, “You are crazy, overly dramatic, and just trying to start a fight.” Eventually, they stand firm with, “I’m the one being attacked here. You are ruining my life.” This tactic is highly disorienting. It shifts the focus away from the original offense and forces the victim to defend themselves, leaving them feeling silenced, guilty, or doubting their own memory of events. When the narcissistic dumbasses of the world succeed with these tactics, it only emboldens them in the future.

Some Personal Observations

My father was not a great influence, often absent or asleep at the wheel. Like other young men, I was constantly searching for the right influence in my life. It was a purely noble quest, but it unfortunately led me to the dumbass toddlers who impressed me on stage but rarely delivered in real life.

I spoke to one of these men the other day via text, and I couldn’t believe his disconnect from real life and real people. He is a former pastor who only hears applause because he is so charismatic and is the perfect figurehead for superficial Christian organizations. I have never had a healthy, robust discussion with a pastor or politician because they avoid real discussion, which leaves them out of touch, ill-informed, and totally committed to their fame within their particular group. They pay people to do their uncomfortable work.

So, confused, I stumble back from these conversations, mumbling to myself and regretting the wasted time. But before I mumble the D word again, I hear my Spanish-speaking friends’ encouragement not to use those words because they don’t accomplish much. I don’t know why Jesus used them, and I know my narcissistic friends don’t hesitate. All of a sudden, I’m overcome with compassion, and I just feel sorry for them.

Moving Forward

In the future, I think the best path forward is to stop empowering the powerful. They lose their power when they lose their audience. It may seem like we will benefit, but they rarely share their power without imposing substantial constraints on us. Just look at Marco Rubio’s face, and you’ll understand.

I can speak up about their inconsistencies, even if it doesn’t seem like they’re listening. I also have to admit that I’ve been a dumbass at times, and I need to change the course of my actions that harm others and enable narcissists. Hopefully, through the hard work of addressing my trauma and mental health, I can gain the confidence to stand alone when necessary and choose friends to love rather than control. I will speak truth to power and resist the temptation of promised fame. Belonging to the right group was never the answer. Being authentic and present is always better.

Be where you are, Be who you are, Be at peace!

Karl Forehand

Progressive Christian

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