Rise Of The Psychopaths

One of the most troubling developments of this new century, is the increasing level of authoritarianism in supposedly democratic states. The Nanny-State encroaches on peoples' lives more every passing year. Police become more 'militarised'. Secret Police organisations grow where once the very idea would have been repulsive. (I define secret police as authorities that function largely above the Law, like the Gestapo.) In countries that claim to be 'democratic', a person can be surveiled and searched without probable cause, arrested without warrant, held beyond the statutory limits without being charged with any crime and denied the remedy of Habeas Corpus. Such actions would have been unthinkable, fifty years ago.

So, what's moving society in this direction? Why do people in democracies continue to vote for leaders who erode personal liberties and economic freedoms?

I think this gradual slide into Orwellian authoritarianism is the symptom of a profound underlying weakness in the democratic process; When the opportunity to rise to power is opened to all, certain personality types will do so.

Psychopaths.

Key Symptoms of Psychopathy

    * glib and superficial

    * grandiose sense of self-worth

    * lack of remorse or guilt

    * lack of empathy

    * deceitful and manipulative

    * shallow emotions

    * impulsive

    * poor behavioral control

    * need for stimulation/prone to boredom

    * lack of responsibility

    * early behavioral problems

    * adult antisocial behavior

That's an uncomfortably accurate description of many rich, famous and powerful public figures today. Power over others is, to a psychopath, like catnip to a feline. The psychopathic personality is literally unable to give up trying to get appointed (or elected) to that big office. Eventually, any system that allows anyone to rise to whatever level they can achieve will come to be dominated by this personality type.

Then, society goes into a self-destructive terminal phase.

This, I think, may be the 'Achilles-Heel' of democracy. Hereditary monarchy may not be 'democratic' but as a mode of governance it has stood the test of time, providing political stability for millenia.