Radical evil

[PsychoBabble]

"Radical evil is the manipulation of others’ perception of reality in order to increasingly concentrate power and wealth in the hands of the few. "

45 is not insane. He is evil, in a way we struggle to comprehend because he refuses to abide by conventions and rules.

An impressive read:

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2017/03/donald_trump_isn_t_mentally_ill_he_s_evil.html

[caroldansen]

1. Actually he's both and he's really got to go. Twenty months and counting. Let's hope something

comes through long before then.

[gibraltar72]

2. Personified.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Really good article.

I've never thought Trump was clinically mentally ill, though I've used the terms "nuts" and "crazy" and the like as shorthand for his behavior. But I agree with this author. We aren't looking at mental illness here as most usually define it. Mental illness is more of a description for a disordered condition not the fault of the person who has it that affects their behavior and perceptions. Maybe Trump is a narcissist as the term is defined in DSM-V, but he is not ill in the sense that his behavior isn't his fault. He really is evil.

Of course there are a lot of definitions of "evil" as well. For some it has theological import - Satanic influences, rejection of God, etc. Or it could be just an expansion of garden-variety narcissism in which the person has no empathy or concern for anyone but himself and, most importantly, is willing to say and do anything, no matter how harmful or cruel, to further his desires.

I know a few people personally whom I would call narcissistic, and they are gigantic pains in the ass. One of them is an in-law, and I've been avoiding her like the plague for years. She's self-absorbed and mean-spirited - but I can't quite call her evil because she does seem to have lines she won't cross. Trump, however, has no such lines, which means he's just fucking evil.

[PsychoBabble]

4. good thoughtful addition, thanks. nt

[smirkymonkey]

5. Kicking for later reading!