Trump threatens their very essence, the very lively hoods they’ve spent entire careers cultivating and advancing. Once you understand the ‘game within the game, then everything makes perfect sense.
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A normal person cannot comprehend the amount of money at stake. Globally. Generational wealth. The plans of men to parlay fortunes into unimaginable wealth. The 1% destined to be the 1/10th of the 1%. The lobbyists, the globalists, the bureaucrats, the Professional Career Corrupt Politicians, the Donor Class, the crony capitalists, the Media Class, the Educrats, the Globalist transfer of the wealth of the USA to other countries leaving the USA at a third world level of living, with all jobs either offshored or taken by Indians-—they all stand to lose EVERYTHING with a Trump presidency.
However, each incrementally higher income level brings increased ennui. I had my wife's Rolex repaired a few months ago; parked in front were around 10 Bentleys & Ferraris.
The shop owner said it was a resident of the luxury condo above. He was a regular customer who bought an expensive watch once a week, and a new super-car once a month. This person had no reasonable outlet for his money, so he consoled himself playing with trinkets.
But for those who can essentially afford anything, the acquisition/retention of power provides the ultimate diversion. As you mention, once you get into multi-generational aspects, and include international trade, tax havens, foreign policy, etc then the game becomes progressively more complex and entertaining.
Fitzgerald was right; Hemingway misunderstood what he meant with his reply "Yes, they have more money". The founders knew very well the personalities at play - it's why they established the checks & balances.
They also knew the system would require constant vigilance, otherwise is would eventually be overwhelmed. The resulting corruption we have today is a product of nature - "normal" people cannot hope to compete with sociopaths. Witness the Clintons as exhibit #1.
The inability of regular people to even recognize what they are, much less mount an effective defense, is the reason non-governmental institutions like the two major political parties are so entrenched.