The Liberal Mind: The Psychological Causes of Political Madness

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Gotta love this one. Might even buy it.

Townhall.com::The Liberal Mind: The Psychological Causes of Political Madness::By Lyle H. Rossiter, Jr, MD

Dr. Lyle H. Rossiter, Jr.,a forensic psychiatrist, explains the madness of liberalism in his new book The Liberal Mind: The Psychological Causes of Political Madness. You can read an excerpt below, and read more at his website libertymind.com.

Like all other human beings, the modern liberal reveals his true character, including his madness, in what he values and devalues, in what he articulates with passion. Of special interest, however, are the many values about which the modern liberal mind is not passionate: his agenda does not insist that the individual is the ultimate economic, social and political unit; it does not idealize individual liberty and the structure of law and order essential to it; it does not defend the basic rights of property and contract; it does not aspire to ideals of authentic autonomy and mutuality; it does not preach an ethic of self-reliance and self-determination; it does not praise courage, forbearance or resilience; it does not celebrate the ethics of consent or the blessings of voluntary cooperation. It does not advocate moral rectitude or understand the critical role of morality in human relating. The liberal agenda does not comprehend an identity of competence, appreciate its importance, or analyze the developmental conditions and social institutions that promote its achievement. The liberal agenda does not understand or recognize personal sovereignty or impose strict limits on coercion by the state. It does not celebrate the genuine altruism of private charity. It does not learn history’s lessons on the evils of collectivism.

What the liberal mind is passionate about is a world filled with pity, sorrow, neediness, misfortune, poverty, suspicion, mistrust, anger, exploitation, discrimination, victimization, alienation and injustice. Those who occupy this world are “workers,” “minorities,” “the little guy,” “women,” and the “unemployed.” They are poor, weak, sick, wronged, cheated, oppressed, disenfranchised, exploited and victimized. They bear no responsibility for their problems. None of their agonies are attributable to faults or failings of their own: not to poor choices, bad habits, faulty judgment, wishful thinking, lack of ambition, low frustration tolerance, mental illness or defects in character. None of the victims’ plight is caused by failure to plan for the future or learn from experience. Instead, the “root causes” of all this pain lie in faulty social conditions: poverty, disease, war, ignorance, unemployment, racial prejudice, ethnic and gender discrimination, modern technology, capitalism, globalization and imperialism. In the radical liberal mind, this suffering is inflicted on the innocent by various predators and persecutors: “Big Business,” “Big Corporations,” “greedy capitalists,” U.S. Imperialists,” “the oppressors,” “the rich,” “the wealthy,” “the powerful” and “the selfish.”

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@Drnaline,

I am gonna have to read that .

0 Replies

@Drnaline,

Sorry, had inserted the wrong link, corrected now.

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@Drnaline,

Can I get that book via Amazon?

0 Replies

@Drnaline,

You may be able to find the answer here.

Liberty Mind

1 Reply

@Drnaline,

"It's not that liberals aren't right, it is simply that they are right too soon."

It'd be better for the world if you skipped that crap and read this short article
instead:

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@Drnaline,

Socialism doe not work. No matter how you explain it. I will read it later when i'm out of work. Was Russia too soon in it's attempt? Why did it fail? Utopia can never be so when it's a few with the power and the money and the many wanting in. Willing to wait for days to get your share of toilet paper?

1 Reply

@Drnaline,

Drnaline;8089 wrote:

Gotta love this one. Might even buy it.

Townhall.com::The Liberal Mind: The Psychological Causes of Political Madness::By Lyle H. Rossiter, Jr, MD

Sounds like this book would be of better use as toilet paper.:cool:

1 Reply

@Drnaline,

Drnaline;8138 wrote:

Socialism doe not work. No matter how you explain it. I will read it later when i'm out of work. Was Russia too soon in it's attempt? Why did it fail? Utopia can never be so when it's a few with the power and the money and the many wanting in. Willing to wait for days to get your share of toilet paper?

Not socialism, not at all... that's Francis Fukuyama, who hatched the neo-con
idea about exporting democracy, explaining why we have to have some social
programs. It's simple, he realized that democracy took hold in America not
because it was available, but because the majority of the population here
had assets, had things to care about and wanted a voice in how things were
done. The mistake the U.S. has made everywhere since the beginning of our
history is expecting the people in other countries to embrace democracy as
we did when it's offered to them, which they don't really do. Why? They don't
have any opportunities, any assets... they don't have running water or money,
so why do they care about the principle of the free market and self-determination?
They will vote for Chavez or Hizbollah or whoever will give them rice so they
don't starve and medicine when they're sick, rather than respond to the
notion that "you're better off if you pull yourself up by your bootstraps,"
because that realistically isn't possible for them in those countries and
markets.

The point of his article, and he is a conservative, is that your instant rejection
of notions you brand "liberal" or "socialist" will doom democracy and America
in the global sphere because you're not looking at things as how they are, but
how you want to think they are.

1 Reply

@tumbleweed cv,

tumbleweed;8140 wrote:

Sounds like this book would be of better use as toilet paper.:cool:

I have heard of some people absorbing information through there ass! Maybe you should try it?

1 Reply

@Drnaline,

Drnaline;8155 wrote:

I have heard of some people absorbing information through there ass! Maybe you should try it?

You would know more about that than I would. Sounds like the voice of experience.

2 Replies

@oleo,

oleo;8142 wrote:

Not socialism, not at all... that's Francis Fukuyama, who hatched the neo-con
idea about exporting democracy, explaining why we have to have some social
programs. It's simple, he realized that democracy took hold in America not
because it was available, but because the majority of the population here
had assets, had things to care about and wanted a voice in how things were
done. The mistake the U.S. has made everywhere since the beginning of our
history is expecting the people in other countries to embrace democracy as
we did when it's offered to them, which they don't really do. Why? They don't
have any opportunities, any assets... they don't have running water or money,
so why do they care about the principle of the free market and self-determination?
They will vote for Chavez or Hizbollah or whoever will give them rice so they
don't starve and medicine when they're sick, rather than respond to the
notion that "you're better off if you pull yourself up by your bootstraps,"
because that realistically isn't possible for them in those countries and
markets.

The point of his article, and he is a conservative, is that your instant rejection
of notions you brand "liberal" or "socialist" will doom democracy and America
in the global sphere because you're not looking at things as how they are, but
how you want to think they are.

Quote:

Not socialism, not at all... that's Francis Fukuyama, who hatched the neo-con
idea about exporting democracy, explaining why we have to have some social
programs. It's simple, he realized that democracy took hold in America not
because it was available, but because the majority of the population here
had assets, had things to care about and wanted a voice in how things were
done.

So what about the Greeks, Germans, Japanese, South Koreans, Canadian, Mexicans and every other country on this planet that is either democratic or a republic? The idea must work for it to be as prodominant as it is.

Quote:

The mistake the U.S. has made everywhere since the beginning of our
history is expecting the people in other countries to embrace democracy as
we did when it's offered to them, which they don't really do. Why? They don't
have any opportunities, any assets...

That's where we differ. And alot of countrys would also say different. The ones that have accepted it have propered. New example would be Poland. In fact here's a list.
Made in Democracies - List of Democratic Countries

Quote:

they don't have running water or money,
so why do they care about the principle of the free market and self-determination?

I didn't need nor have assets, just the opportunity. That's what we are offering.

Quote:

They will vote for Chavez or Hizbollah or whoever will give them rice so they
don't starve and medicine when they're sick, rather than respond to the
notion that "you're better off if you pull yourself up by your bootstraps,"
because that realistically isn't possible for them in those countries and
markets.

Your right, it's just a notion. But a very powerfull one. One that has brought us to who we are today, and we brought along some friends. We can also afford to dish it out to half a starving world. All through that notion, amazing!

Quote:

The point of his article, and he is a conservative, is that your instant rejection
of notions you brand "liberal" or "socialist" will doom democracy and America
in the global sphere because you're not looking at things as how they are, but
how you want to think they are.

Where did you get that as the point of the article? Have you read the book, does it say some where in there that the author is "conservative" Or are you doing what you accuse me of, "instant rejection
of notions you brand conservative?"
There may be some debate as to how things are but i have not many doubts of how you want things to be.

2 Replies

@tumbleweed cv,

"The point of his article, and he is a conservative, is that your instant rejection
of notions you brand "liberal" or "socialist" will doom democracy and America
in the global sphere because you're not looking at things as how they are, but
how you want to think they are."

Replace liberal and socialist with right wing and conservative , and the point is just as good . We are often victims of our own closed-mindedness .

2 Replies

@tumbleweed cv,

tumbleweed;8156 wrote:

You would know more about that than I would. Sounds like the voice of experience.

Did you say something or is that **** in your shorts?

1 Reply

@Curmudgeon,

Curmudgeon;8158 wrote:

"The point of his article, and he is a conservative, is that your instant rejection
of notions you brand "liberal" or "socialist" will doom democracy and America
in the global sphere because you're not looking at things as how they are, but
how you want to think they are."

Replace liberal and socialist with right wing and conservative , and the point is just as good . We are often victims of our own closed-mindedness .

Pot calling the kettle black.

0 Replies

@Drnaline,

Drnaline;8159 wrote:

Did you say something or is that **** in your shorts?

More schoolyard tactics. :baby: :lame:

The report sounds silly.Pretty much like your comments.

1 Reply

@tumbleweed cv,

tumbleweed;8162 wrote:

More schoolyard tactics. :baby: :lame:

The report sounds silly.Pretty much like your comments.

I consider myself always in class. The schoolyard is always just one door away. Wanna go play? It's not a report it is a book, writen by a doctor,a forensic psychiatrist to be exact. He probably knows more about you then you'll admit to yourself. Don't be a hater for it's only a game.

1 Reply

@Drnaline,

It still sounds stupid any way you want to twist it. Any nutcase who considers political affiliation as madness needs their own head examined.

1 Reply

@tumbleweed cv,

tumbleweed;8165 wrote:

It still sounds stupid any way you want to twist it. Any nutcase who considers political affiliation as madness needs their own head examined.

It must not be just an affiliation, maybe that's why it offends you? Of course you think it sounds stupid, he talking about you. I've not twisted anything he wrote, if you have an example please give it? I find it funny you get all shook up over affiliation when you claim independency. Hiding something, very good posibility.

1 Reply

@Drnaline,

Drnaline;8167 wrote:

It must not be just an affiliation, maybe that's why it offends you? Of course you think it sounds stupid, he talking about you. I've not twisted anything he wrote, if you have an example please give it? I find it funny you get all shook up over affiliation when you claim independency. Hiding something, very good posibility.

What I find funny is your warped sense of reality.:cool:

0 Replies

The Liberal Mind: The Psychological Causes of Political Madness

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