"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors." Plato
Political science is the study of governments, public policies and political processes, systems, and political behavior. Political science subfields include political theory, political philosophy, political ideology, political economy, policy studies and analysis, comparative politics, international relations, and a host of related fields. (For a good cross section of the areas of study, see the list of APSA Organized Sections.) Political scientists use both humanistic and scientific perspectives and tools and a variety of methodological approaches to examine the process, systems, and political dynamics of all countries and regions of the world. American Political Science Association, What is Political Science?
Nihilism (n):
1 a : a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless; b : a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths
2 a : a doctrine or belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake independent of any constructive program or possibility; b capitalized : the program of a 19th century Russian party advocating revolutionary reform and using terrorism and assassination Webster
Narcissism (n):
1 : egoism, egocentrism
2 : love of or sexual desire for one's own body
— nar·cis·sist noun or adjective
— nar·cis·sis·tic adjective
Examples of NARCISSISM
Origin of NARCISSISM
German Narzissismus, from Narziss Narcissus, from Latin Narcissus
First Known Use: 1822, also Webster and Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Lastly, Egoism
1 a : a doctrine that individual self-interest is the actual motive of all conscious action, b : a doctrine that individual self-interest is the valid end of all actions; 2 : excessive concern for oneself with or without exaggerated feelings of self-importance — compare egotism 2 Ibid
C-Span feeds it; 24-hour news cycles and "gothca" soundbite politics cultivates it; well-heeled dark money encourages it. The "science" has been removed from the definition and "cult" would be more appropriate.
We should not be surprised one iota that a cult sect that says they're for "limited government" would wish it diminished: "small enough to drown it in the bathtub" to paraphrase Grover Norquist. The apotheosis of "The Gipper" has resulted in a "Facebook for patriots." Despite his deification, The Gipper didn't attend church on a regular basis. Despite his tax-cutting legend, he wasn't above negotiations that meant raising taxes. Even David Stockman - no pinko commie - has pretty much disavowed "trickle-down economics." Today, there is a love of the products of science by the cult and a disdain for its report on Climate Change. Corporate news that has the legal right to lie to the electorate; still lying to itself after its "predictions of the Romney landslide" fell to dried fecal dust. Facts are the bereft antithesis to dogma when your sect disdains the "reality-based community."
550,000 children were sacrificed on Moloch altars; "crematoriums of care" (or, don't care). Their dreams have become nightmares as this political stunt is similar to lemmings in suicide vests for any leverage in the nation's changing demographics. A paired-down "bill" that demands deportation back to the humanitarian crisis meat grinder some of these recent kids escaped; a result of our trade polices, a moribund, oxymoron "war on drugs" and an appetite for the same sorcery. There is 1 death every 74 minutes in Honduras. So much for the "war." Suing the president for using executive powers expanded under his predecessor; then demanding he use the same to "solve the crisis at the border." It would be an SNL skit or an "Onion" faux story, but it sadly, is a part of our congress that is clearly psychotic.
I don't use the word "cult" lightly. Mike Lofgren - previous life as a GOP operative - takes his former party to task in his op-ed: "Goodbye to All That: Reflections of a GOP Operative Who Left the Cult."
Two poignant excerpts:
"It should have been evident to clear-eyed observers that the Republican Party is becoming less and less like a traditional political party in a representative democracy and becoming more like an apocalyptic cult, or one of the intensely ideological authoritarian parties of 20th century Europe. This trend has several implications, none of them pleasant.
"Far from being a rarity, virtually every bill, every nominee for Senate confirmation and every routine procedural motion is now subject to a Republican filibuster. Under the circumstances, it is no wonder that Washington is gridlocked: legislating has now become war minus the shooting, something one could have observed 80 years ago in the Reichstag of the Weimar Republic. As Hannah Arendt observed, a disciplined minority of totalitarians can use the instruments of democratic government to undermine democracy itself."
We are being held hostage by nihilistic narcissists/domestic terrorists: more intent on wrecking "collectivism"-cum-Koch rebuke, deliberately sabotaging the very idea of democratic republics, holding off scrutiny from many well-meaning peoples with a few biblical verses and babble on the "sanctity of the unborn." We can't solve the crisis at the border; the crisis in the Near East; Ebola virus containment; Climate Change; education reform minus standardized testing idiocy; global competitiveness in science and technology; jobs; keeping the government open: we can't pass laws in a governing body where part of it doesn't believe in government. When the Earth and entire universe is only 6,000 years old and "the end is nigh," there is no reason - as it, and logic have left the House of Representatives - and there is no possibility of solving complex problems. That is a ship of state teetering the narrow edge of self-extinction. It is arrogant to think the global powers would not change the world currency of commerce from the Dollar to the Yuan or Euro overnight.
Meanwhile, the now-born on the border fleeing violence are destined to be stillborn on their fleeing feet; as an esteemed member of congress and Civil Rights icon John Lewis has stated, "history will judge us harshly." More also for not demanding the one litmus test prior to running for public office that should matter for our leaders: a psychological evaluation on the fitness to serve.
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