As evidenced by Donald Trump and the Ferengi Rules of acquisition.
“Star Trek” and related series documented many of the Ferengi rules. Notice how the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition and Trump’s values overlap repeatedly. (Ferengi rules in bold).
What the Nagus (the leader of the capitalist Ferengi species) wants, we acquire.Trump is famous for taking money for projects but then refusing to pay contractors for services performed. Trump is famous for bragging about how he gropes and kisses married women and gets away with it because he is a celebrity. He bragged about this on tape. Consent doesn’t matter so long as you are a Trump. Just take whatever you want. As Trump stated “grab em by the p—y.” Only once did he ever get in trouble for it, when he was found criminally liable for sexual assault.
The best deal is the one that brings the best profit.
Money is everything (Could anything not sound more like Donald Trump?)
Never spend more on an acquisition than you have to. (And if you’re Trump, merely stiff the contractors by never paying the bills and/or filing for bankruptcy repeatedly).
Sedition and treason are always profitable. (I am not making this Ferengi rule up, the fact that it overlaps with Trumps treason on January 6, 2021, and Trumps treason since, is merely a coincidence.)
Greed is eternal. (This should probably be engraved on Trumps tombstone).
Never place friendship above profit. (Trumps pal Epstein can tell you all about this one).
What’s in it for me? (This Ferengi rule pretty much could be Donald Trump’s personal motto. Trump cares nothing for anyone or anything more than he cares about himself. This selfishness is at the heart of why he never served in the military. Based on what we know about Trump and according to many people, he was either too self-centered, or too cowardly to serve his country in war. There was basically, nothing in it for Trump.
War is good for business. (Cue the Eisenhower quote on the power of the military-industrial complex and the many backroom deals you know this incredibly corrupt administration is doing).
Feed your greed, but not enough to choke it. (How is this Ferengi rule not a classic Trumpism? It sounds like the kind of ‘fatherly advice’ Trump – or a Ferengi- would give his kids)
Never ask when you can take. (Spoken like a true malignant narcissist and horrible human being. Also sounds like something a serial rapist and pedophile would say. I’m not claiming Trump is a serial rapist and a pedophile – even though many experts would suggest just that. This mantra certainly sounds like Trump).
Keep your lies consistent (ok, this is one Ferengi rule Trump would totally blow. No one is more inconsistent of a liar – or more of a pathological liar – than Donald Trump).
Work is the best therapy – at least for your employees (true, given Trump’s well-known penchant for both intellectual and physical laziness).
Females and finances don’t mix. (Given Trump and MAGA’s penchant for rampant misogyny, this is pretty on the spot for Trump and his consistent insults and contempt for women).
Enough is never enough.
Every man has his price.
A woman wearing clothes is like a man without any profits.
Exploitation begins at home.
Treat people in your debt like family, exploit them.
Everything is for sale, even friendship (as trump would say, “Epstein who? I barely knew him.”
There’s nothing wrong with charity…as long as it ends up in your pocket. (Trump and several of his grown children were forced to shutter the Donald J Trump Foundation in 2019 for “a shocking pattern of illegality” and allowed to participate in charitable endeavors in the future only if they comply with specified condition.
Not even dishonesty can tarnish the shine of profit. (Another Trump mantra).
Let others keep their reputation. You keep their money.
It’s never too late to fire the staff. (DOGE, anyone?)
Employees are the rungs of the ladder of success. Don’t hesitate to step on them. (Trump has no moral qualms with using people when he needs them only to discard them when no longer useful to them. With Trump, loyalty only flows to him, not from him.
A good lie is easier to believe than the truth. (Such as his big lie that he won the 2020 election, Ashli Babbit’s belief in Trump’s lie led to her death.)
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