Politicians and Psycopaths

Politicians and Psycopaths

Douglas French of the Mises Blog write about Hayek's view of Politicians and Political Success in his post "The Worst Rise to the Top."

"F.A. Hayek famously argued in The Road to Serfdom, that in politics, the worst get on top, and outlined three reasons this is so. First, Hayek makes the point that people of higher intelligence have different tastes and views. So, as Hayek writes, “we have to descend to the regions of lower moral and intellectual standards where the more primitive instincts prevail,” to have uniformity of opinion.

Second, those on top must “gain the support of the docile and gullible,” who are ready to accept whatever values and ideology is drummed into them. Totalitarians depend upon those who are guided by their passions and emotions rather than by critical thinking. 

Finally, leaders don’t promote a positive agenda, but a negative one of hating an enemy and envy of the wealthy. To appeal to the masses, leaders preach an “us” against “them” program."

Further...

According to law enforcement examiner Jim Kouri, politicians share a number of traits with serial killers. People with a talent for mixing charm, manipulation, intimidation, and occasionally violence to control others, to satisfy their own selfish needs are psychopathic.

I'm pretty sure I've seen all of that from the debates. Afterall, were else would you hear someone say "Let's cut the pious baloney."?

Bottom Line

Comparing politicians to reptiles or amphibians is old sport. 

~Xolo
Also, isn't the correct spelling "b-o-l-o-g-n-a"?