Monday, July 16, 2018

A Psychological Examination

If you are rich, you will seldom be required to sit for a psychological examination.

In case you missed it, the NY TIMES published a story on the rules that Latino children must follow when detained at our border. These children, separated by guards from their parents, classified as "unaccompanied," are ordered not to touch one another, not even your own little brother or sister. No hugs. Some are required to learn our salute to the American flag. And so on.

The people who wrote and enforce these rules are probably (mostly) stupid rather than evil. To do this sort of thing (or to vote for President Trump, a mentally disturbed weakling) you first have to know nothing about psychology and have no insights into your own behavior or Trump's. 

It isn't that psychology is infallible or a science like physics. But psychology offers insights. It provides a way to recognize trolls who are as openly narcissistic and stupid as President Spanky. Republicans with this kind of knowledge turned against Trump before he was nominated--but there weren't many of them, and now we--like Putin--end up staring in amazement at continuing  monumental and cruel folly.

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