tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200276.post5325087632824369740..comments2023-12-28T06:30:48.808-05:00Comments on The Rule of Reason: Our Sociopathic Political ClassUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200276.post-20555680407144037402014-05-09T21:31:28.445-04:002014-05-09T21:31:28.445-04:00Mr. Cline describes Stanley Kubrick, the director ...Mr. Cline describes Stanley Kubrick, the director of "Dr. Strangelove," as "obsessed with madness and irony and what he perceived as the ignoble baseness of man." In that context, he tells of attending "Dr. Strangelove" in 1964, finding himself unable to enjoy or even understand what made others in the audience laugh, hearing those around him laughing at military pretense, within a comedy depicting destructive pathology. His fellow audience members were servicemen in the same American military whose leadership was being lampooned onscreen.<br /><br />My own experience in the audience of a Stanley Kubrick black comedy demonstrates that, years later, when Kubrick depicted irony within madness, a sophisticated Washington DC audience did not laugh when its ideology was imperiled by Kubrick's depicting pathologies within sacred cows. The movie was "Paths of Glory," and Kubrick's 1957 war comedy was being shown in 35mm a half-century after its release. Kubrick presents a general (played by George Macready -- Rita Hayworth's monomaniacal husband in "Gilda") who orders soldiers into a lost battle to fight without hope. When his superiors question him, he insists that the discipline of the entire army depends on soldiers not questioning orders but instead submitting themselves for the country's victory, which achieves the collective good. When this general's commanding officer, a politically-savvy general mindful of growing civilian criticism (Adolphe Menjou plays this general), realizes that a potential scandal can be nipped were the lower-ranked general sacrificed in a public-relations-driven kangaroo-court trial, the lower-ranked general is trapped by the ideas he himself has espoused. He can't back out, he can't argue that the group doesn't have a right to dispose of him for a greater good, because he has advocated just such disposal of his soldiers for the same objective. His face at this point twists, his lips contorting when objection is futile. His snarl says: What Was Good for the Goose Sets Precedent for the Gander.<br /><br />I laughed aloud at this moment of a person ensnared by his own untenable convictions. The close-up on the actor, the pause in the pace of the film, the exaggerated gestures to emphasize the mad comic logic of this outcome, all support my contention that this moment was planned for elicit laughter. The rest of the audience -- largely middle-aged and older, dressed and groomed like professionals, living in a region where federal government is the largest business -- were quiet. They may have been too invested in a system where no one is held responsible for the undesirable consequences of his ideology, where mistakes are never paid for, and upper management always smooths away inquiries from outside.<br /><br />Mr. Cline writes that politicians are often sociopaths. It's probably reasonable to extend this description to many of those who make a career of working for them. The audience I was in were viewing instances of Manipulation and Conning, Grandiose Sense of Self, Irresponsibility, and Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt (all from the list Mr. Cline presents at the end of his blog piece), and had responded as though it were unreasonable that someone acting from those dispositions should suffer from something as intangible as an idea.David Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13783307783352271393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200276.post-51695943388765576862014-04-12T15:57:09.341-04:002014-04-12T15:57:09.341-04:00Mr. Cline,
I completed your 3rd Novel of Suspense...Mr. Cline,<br /><br />I completed your 3rd Novel of Suspense, Run From Judgment, and have posted my review:<br />http://hermitsdoor.wordpress.com/2014/04/11/from-the-book-shelf-run-from-judgment-by-edward-cline/<br /><br />I think the book relates to this topic. Maybe the whole series of novels grew from your experience of watching Dr. Strangelove.<br /><br />Regarding, politicians and personality disorders, I agree with the rather bland definition of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, but would also add Hypomanic and Bipolar varients. This comes from 25 years of providing therapy on hospital behaviroal health units, five years in NYC and 10 in the D.C. area. I saw plenty of pathology from the political and business classes. I cannot give more details for confidentiality reasons, of course. (Would not want HIPPA chasing me about). <br /><br />However, few of those folks, unless they are in a manic state, get admitted to hospitals any longer, and no one uses straight jackes (unless chemical) these days. Treating the personality disorders in the community is more effective, and does not create so much trouble for those who needs hospital admissions (One Flew Over the Coockoo's Nest was really about personality disorders not psychosis, but the book is better written than the movie).<br /><br />Anyway, back to Run From Judgment, I would say that William Portman definately had a narcissistic streak, as did Corsair, Traxler, Dawn, and Fury. Though the difference is that the later understood and were able to conrol their impulses. Free-men and women do this. The others just wreak havoc on society.<br />OscarAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200276.post-75230239849330844882014-03-13T11:03:25.918-04:002014-03-13T11:03:25.918-04:00What I meant to say was: The only differences betw...What I meant to say was: The only differences between the actions of sociopaths and psychopaths who are studied in clinics and mental institutions, and the ones discussed in this column, are scale and the contents of their delusions, fantasies, and agendas. Edward Clinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12160209827969614964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200276.post-46771205391960713782014-03-13T10:59:21.129-04:002014-03-13T10:59:21.129-04:00The only difference between the actions of sociopa...The only difference between the actions of sociopaths and psychopaths who are studied in clinics and mental institutions is scale. The really dangerous ones are not wearing straight jackets and are still at large in government and in a variety of advocacy organizations. I don't have a copy of Peikoff's "Modernism and Madness," but know of it and will try to find it. Edward Clinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12160209827969614964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200276.post-49606968279444636432014-03-13T09:40:28.384-04:002014-03-13T09:40:28.384-04:00Sociopathology on the left. (Why do I see Nancy Pe...Sociopathology on the left. (Why do I see Nancy Pelosi's face as I type?) This is an interesting topic to pursue, Mr. Cline, and pursue it you did. Thank you, as always. <br /><br />(I suppose you have read Peikoff's "Modernism and Madness," and perhaps the book he cites in that essay. I consider it one of his most fascinating pieces, focusing on art rather than politics.)Slade Calhounhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01641485044152773832noreply@blogger.com