The sociopathic style in American politics.

[Danascot]

The position of the Republican party is that individual liberty is always and everywhere of such overwhelming importance that people should suffer no negative consequences whatsoever for refusing a free, safe, and highly effective vaccine, in the midst of a global pandemic that has killed millions around the world, and that by the end of this year will have, directly and indirectly, killed more than one million Americans.

This is merely a particularly vivid example of how contemporary right wing ideology in America consists of defending the indefensible, via arguments that no reasonable (again, non-sociopathic) person could possibly accept.
: this is quite literally their position. People should be free to acquire and transmit to others a deadly and extremely communicable virus, that is causing a catastrophic pandemic, even though this catastrophe could be avoided completely if people chose to take a free and safe vaccine. Furthermore, it’s morally wrong for the government to engage in even the mildest coercion to nudge people toward getting vaccinated, because such coercion interferes with individual liberty, which is always the highest social value in every circumstance.

This is the sociopathic style in action. In contemporary conservative thought, anti-social personality disorder is, via the magic of ideology, transformed into an all-purpose political doctrine. In its cruder forms, as illustrated 24/7 by the workings of the nation’s massive right wing mass media propaganda complex, this ideology manifests itself as a kind of oppositional defiant disorder, as millions of chronological adults are encouraged to behave like cranky toddlers, whenever they are asked by the Liberal Conspiracy to perform the political equivalent of picking up their toys and going to bed on time.

https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2021/09/the-sociopathic-style-in-american-politics

[Hortensis]

1. Sounds about right. Sociopathic acting out elevated to noble political doctrine.

The excuse of "fetishizing individual liberty" covering the reality of something more akin to anti-social personality and oppositional defiant disordesr.

Certainly, the authoritarian right doesn't seek, often rejects personal freedom, and the freedom the right does value is mostly focused on property rights, more than even their own individual rights. Not that they admit it.

Interestingly, there's a parallel with libertarian personality, which elevates personal rights above all other principles, in extremists the only principle, and research has shown that they lack and tend to despise the altruism most people have.

So, refusing vaccination as a hard right oppositional defiance against the liberalism dominating our nation and government. We appreciated the term "owning the libs" for its sociopathic idiocy, but more and more of them have been realizing they're part of an insurrection and that they can win.

[Irish_Dem]

2. The GOP is no longer a political party. It is a group of ruthless sociopaths.

Who will stop at nothing for political and financial gain.

The GOP leadership doesn't care about masks or vaccine. They are all vaccinated and send their kids to private schools with a mask requirement. They don't care about abortion, their girlfriends and daughters will get one if needed.

Their goal is to create division, anger, chaos and control.

This provides a cover for when they cheat to win elections.

[Kid Berwyn]

3. Great article!

“Told you so.” — DU

[Celerity]

4. Psychopath vs Sociopath: 16 Key Differences

https://psychcentral.com/blog/relationship-corner/2018/08/psychopath-vs-sociopath-16-key-differences#1

Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a long-term pattern of disregard for, or violation of, the rights of others. Individuals with a personality disorder have a low moral compass or conscience, as well as a history that is likely to include maladaptive behaviours such as crime, legal problems, or impulsive and aggressive behaviour. Not surprisingly, antisocial personality disorder is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th Edition. Antisocial personality disorders can consist of several variations; however, the most prominent delineations are sociopaths and psychopaths. Unfortunately, many people use the terms psychopath and sociopath almost synonymously. The primary reason the terms are often used interchangeably involves the limited differences that define the terms. Notably, there are many similarities between the two disorders, including disregard for the law; lack of regard for the needs or the feelings of others; absence of empathy; the tendency to blame others and make excuses for their own behaviour; lack of emotional attachment; engaging in deceptive behaviour; lacking feelings of remorse or guilt; and a greater likelihood than individuals without the disorders to participate in illegal activities. Although mental health professionals often group sociopaths and psychopaths together, criminologists differentiate between them based on their outward behaviour.

[tanyev]

6. That's interesting.

I'd be hard pressed to say which of those fits Donny better.

[Celerity]

5. great article btw

[lagomorph777]

7. The toddler subculture.

How will historians describe this era, a century from now (assuming our species is still around then)?

[crickets]

8. And there it is - if only more of us would say it out loud. nt