When I tell people that I am a moderate, they approach the idea with disbelief at best. It happened again today. But I really, really am.
Not only that, but I am, by default, distrustful of politics and politicians. Yes, even President Obama, although I feel like he's done better than anyone since Carter. I think that he has a long way to go to get my full support, though. For my money, he's not nearly liberal enough. Our ship of state is starting to hew so far to the right that it's in danger of capsizing, and I'd love to see a true liberal with the balls to try to go so far left that it balances out a little.
Basically, I think that the agenda of ALL politicians in America today is to get you to vote for them instead of the other guy. Democrat, republican, libertarian, whatever Mike Gravel is… ALL Of them. That's it. And that's honestly the only way that I can explain about half of what comes out of John Boehner's mouth. He seems like a smart guy, so I have a hard time believing that he actually BELIEVES it.
This is also why I'm constantly pressing people to get involved. Vote for the guy or gal that you REALLY LIKE… not the one that you think will win. The downside to that, of course, is that most of today's republicans will march to the polls like little robots and vote for whomever the party throws up for them. So they'd probably win a lot of more often until more of them sober up like they did in 2008.
Peace.
Rev Randal
Friday, April 9, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Sociopathic Corporations
I was watching a news story last night about small, local banks vs. big national banks. One of the interviewees referred to big banks as "sociopathic". The interviewer said that he wouldn't go that far…
But why not?
He didn't really explain why he wouldn't go as far as to say that big banks are sociopathic. So let's really take a look at it.
First off, as idiotic as this is, banks and other corporations have taken to insisting on their "personhood", complete with rights. Most recently, with money standing in for speech, the supreme court granted them the right to spend as much money on political campaigns as they want. Not to do that, the court insisted, would deprive them of their right to free speech.
So if corporations want to be granted the same rights as people, let's really take a look at what defines "sociopathic" in a person and see if it applies to corporations, including the big banks.
1. Glibness and superficial charm. Take a look at the outer face of any corporation… their waiting areas and reception areas, etc… and then at the inner face. The offices where the "grunts" work. Superficially, they are very charming and welcoming. When you get to the cubicles, no charm. So that's a yes.
2. Manipulative and cunning. The DSM-IV defines this as follows: "They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims." Tell me which part of that doesn't apply to corporations. So that's another yes.
3. Grandiose Sense of Self. To a corporation, what is more important than the corporation? Isn't every corporation, by it's own lights, the BEST corporation in the world? I mean, for instance, aren't Ford trucks # 1? I have yet to see a Ford commercial that says "Fords are great, but if you're looking for the best gas mileage, you might start looking at a Honda." So that’s a yes.
4. Pathological lying. Oh my God yes. Or at least pathological warping of the truth. McDonald's has America's favorite fries. So does Burger King. Comcast, Direct TV and Dish Network ALL have the most HD programming. Can all of these statements be true? Of course not, they contradict each other. So this is a yes. (For the record. McDonald's has America's favorite fries based on sales. Burger King has America's favorite fries based on taste tests. Comcast has the most HD programming if you count pay-per-view and on demand. Direct TV has the most full-time HD channels. Dish Network has the most channels that run HD and SD programming combined.)
5) Lack of remorse, shame or guilt. Except for Mr. Toyoda, the CEO of Toyota, have you EVER heard a representative of a corporation apologize for anything? Or admit guilt on anything? And for the record, Toyota is a Japanese company, although they build a huge number of their cars here. So another yes.
6) Shallow emotions. A corporation cannot feel happy or sad or angry. And another yes.
7) Incapacity for love. See above. I'm not sure why this is listed separately, since love is an emotion.
8) Need for stimulation. Aren't corporations always looking for the latest, the best, the most exciting? Yes.
9) Callousness/lack of empathy. The corporation doesn't care about anything except profit. You might argue that they show empathy by providing health clinics and things for their employees, but the simple fact is that a healthy employee is a more profitable employee. So it's a yes.
10) Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature. Again, I'll let the DSM-IV speak for me. "Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others." So another yes.
11) Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency. The DSM-IV says "Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc." What part of that DOESN'T apply to corporations, especially when they're first starting out? So yes.
12) Irresponsibility/Unreliability. The DSM-IV says "Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed." Think about the corporations who have wrecked people's lives. Think about the environmental devastation that they wreak. Think about companies like Wal Mart refusing health care to their employees. I think that has to be a yes.
13) Promiscuous sexual behavior/infidelity. Take a look at the way that they use sex to sell their products. So that's a yes.
14) Lack of realistic life plan/parasitic lifestyle. Again, corporations leech off of others in order to better themselves. The very DEFINITION of parasitic. So yes.
15) Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility. The DSM-IV says "Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily." Speaks for itself. So yes.
I would have to say that, based on these criteria, that corporations are sociopathic. If they want the rights, they should also be prepared to have the responsibilities.
Peace.
Rev. Randal
But why not?
He didn't really explain why he wouldn't go as far as to say that big banks are sociopathic. So let's really take a look at it.
First off, as idiotic as this is, banks and other corporations have taken to insisting on their "personhood", complete with rights. Most recently, with money standing in for speech, the supreme court granted them the right to spend as much money on political campaigns as they want. Not to do that, the court insisted, would deprive them of their right to free speech.
So if corporations want to be granted the same rights as people, let's really take a look at what defines "sociopathic" in a person and see if it applies to corporations, including the big banks.
1. Glibness and superficial charm. Take a look at the outer face of any corporation… their waiting areas and reception areas, etc… and then at the inner face. The offices where the "grunts" work. Superficially, they are very charming and welcoming. When you get to the cubicles, no charm. So that's a yes.
2. Manipulative and cunning. The DSM-IV defines this as follows: "They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims." Tell me which part of that doesn't apply to corporations. So that's another yes.
3. Grandiose Sense of Self. To a corporation, what is more important than the corporation? Isn't every corporation, by it's own lights, the BEST corporation in the world? I mean, for instance, aren't Ford trucks # 1? I have yet to see a Ford commercial that says "Fords are great, but if you're looking for the best gas mileage, you might start looking at a Honda." So that’s a yes.
4. Pathological lying. Oh my God yes. Or at least pathological warping of the truth. McDonald's has America's favorite fries. So does Burger King. Comcast, Direct TV and Dish Network ALL have the most HD programming. Can all of these statements be true? Of course not, they contradict each other. So this is a yes. (For the record. McDonald's has America's favorite fries based on sales. Burger King has America's favorite fries based on taste tests. Comcast has the most HD programming if you count pay-per-view and on demand. Direct TV has the most full-time HD channels. Dish Network has the most channels that run HD and SD programming combined.)
5) Lack of remorse, shame or guilt. Except for Mr. Toyoda, the CEO of Toyota, have you EVER heard a representative of a corporation apologize for anything? Or admit guilt on anything? And for the record, Toyota is a Japanese company, although they build a huge number of their cars here. So another yes.
6) Shallow emotions. A corporation cannot feel happy or sad or angry. And another yes.
7) Incapacity for love. See above. I'm not sure why this is listed separately, since love is an emotion.
8) Need for stimulation. Aren't corporations always looking for the latest, the best, the most exciting? Yes.
9) Callousness/lack of empathy. The corporation doesn't care about anything except profit. You might argue that they show empathy by providing health clinics and things for their employees, but the simple fact is that a healthy employee is a more profitable employee. So it's a yes.
10) Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature. Again, I'll let the DSM-IV speak for me. "Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others." So another yes.
11) Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency. The DSM-IV says "Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc." What part of that DOESN'T apply to corporations, especially when they're first starting out? So yes.
12) Irresponsibility/Unreliability. The DSM-IV says "Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed." Think about the corporations who have wrecked people's lives. Think about the environmental devastation that they wreak. Think about companies like Wal Mart refusing health care to their employees. I think that has to be a yes.
13) Promiscuous sexual behavior/infidelity. Take a look at the way that they use sex to sell their products. So that's a yes.
14) Lack of realistic life plan/parasitic lifestyle. Again, corporations leech off of others in order to better themselves. The very DEFINITION of parasitic. So yes.
15) Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility. The DSM-IV says "Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily." Speaks for itself. So yes.
I would have to say that, based on these criteria, that corporations are sociopathic. If they want the rights, they should also be prepared to have the responsibilities.
Peace.
Rev. Randal
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