Thursday, March 22, 2012

ZERO HEDGE is a rather contrarian financial site, that proclaims "On a long enough timeline the survival rate for everyone drops to zero." Hmmmm . . . nobody gets out alive. Well, Doug Casey is a guest contributor, with a fascinating article that goes a long way to describe the American fascist juggernaut: "The Ascendence Of Sociopaths In US Governance".

In this article, I'm going to argue that the US government, in particular, is being overrun by the wrong kind of person. It's a trend that's been in motion for many years but has now reached a point of no return. In other words, a type of moral rot has become so prevalent that it's institutional in nature. There is not going to be, therefore, any serious change in the direction in which the US is headed until a genuine crisis topples the existing order. Until then, the trend will accelerate.

The reason is that a certain class of people – sociopaths – are now fully in control of major American institutions. Their beliefs and attitudes are insinuated throughout the economic, political, intellectual and psychological/spiritual fabric of the US.

There are seven characteristics I can think of that define a sociopath, although I'm sure the list could be extended.

1. Sociopaths completely lack a conscience or any capacity for real regret about hurting people. Although they pretend the opposite. Sociopaths put their own desires and wants on a totally different level from those of other people. Their wants are incommensurate. They truly believe their ends justify their means. Although they pretend the opposite.

Check out the other six. Reminds me of Stevie.
H/T — Helmut, thank-you, sir.

4 comments:

kootcoot said...

Here's a good list of what it takes to be a sociopath from another source about the ascendency of Sociopaths in American Governance.

1. Sociopaths completely lack a conscience or any capacity for real regret about hurting people.
Although they pretend the opposite.
2. Sociopaths put their own desires and wants on a totally different level from those of other people. Their wants are incommensurate. They truly believe their ends justify their means. Although they pretend the opposite.
3. Sociopaths consider themselves superior to everyone else, because they aren't burdened by the emotions and ethics others have – they're above all that. They're arrogant. Although they pretend the opposite.
4. Sociopaths never accept the slightest responsibility for anything that goes wrong, even though they're responsible for almost everything that goes wrong. You'll never hear a sincere apology from them.
5. Sociopaths have a lopsided notion of property rights. What's theirs is theirs, and what's yours is theirs too. They therefore defend currency inflation and taxation as good things.
6. Sociopaths usually pick the wrong target to attack. If they lose their wallet, they kick the dog. If 16 Saudis fly planes into buildings, they attack Afghanistan.
7. Sociopaths traffic in disturbing news, they love to pass on destructive rumors and they'll falsify information to damage others.

kootcoot said...

Sorry, I see you are commenting about the same article. I got confused because the link led to the Hare article about psychopaths.

harebell said...

Ed
Interesting.
A few years back I read a book "snakes in suits" about psychopaths in corporations. It sounds like much the same areas of commonality are touched upon.
It's funny how many professions and top earners have characteristics in common with socio/psychopaths.

JJ said...

"Rather contrarian" -- I should say so ;) ZH is a daily read for me, I love it.

Coincidentally, before I read this article, the same topic -- the rise of sociopaths in business & government -- came up in a recent discussion with a friend of mine. A lot of people must be having that same conversation.

People are catching on. Next up: Torches & Pitchforks, bitchez.