On Sun, Jun 14, 2009 at 10:19 AM, Bruce Metcalf <[email protected]>wrote:
> > At university, one of my professors was an advocate of the belief that > there exists a particular political personality -- a personality disorder, > if you will -- that predisposes some to seek political office in general, > and fame and power in particular. > > This syndrome is observed to encompass "flexible" standards of morality, > above average levels of greed, the disbelief that they are subject to > societal rules or laws, the further disbelief that they will be held > accountable if caught (largely true, alas), and in men the tendency to chase > skirts. > > This pattern is viewed by some -- myself included -- as a psychological > defect, much as pathological lying or kleptomania. Why then is it tolerated, > and even lauded? Spot on. I think just as pedophiles are drawn towards working in day-care centres, the kind of person you describe is drawn to politics. It's lust for power that drives them, not desire for public service. In a robust political system, the damage they can do is limited, and the accountability they are held to is *relatively* high. And some systems are much less robust than others. At least we're not in denial about pedophiles. -- Amit Varma http://www.indiauncut.com
