The Sociopathic Party

The Republican Party is deeply sick. In fact, I think it is fair to diagnose it as a sociopathic entity. If something isn’t done to stop the Republican Party’s destructive behavior, I fear the consequences for this country.

The DSM-5 defines a sociopath (someone who has an anti-social personality disorder) as an individual with three or more of the following traits. Of course, this definition is intended to diagnose a person, not a corporate entity such as a political party, but the exercise is nonetheless equal parts enlightening and frightening.

1. Doesn’t respect social norms or laws. They consistently break laws or overstep social boundaries. Do I really have to cite every time Trump and the GOP have done this over the last 6 years? Read the friggin’ indictments, people!

2. Lies, deceives others, uses false identities or nicknames, and uses others for personal gain. Ummm. Yeah, that is pretty much the only way the GOP communicates these days…

3. Doesn’t make any long-term plans. They also often behave without thinking of consequences. When is the last time you saw anything like a plan to meet the challenges of the future from the GOP? They don’t even have a platform anymore in order that any such document won’t contradict Trump’s latest toilet “Aha!” moment.

4. Shows aggressive or aggravated behavior. They consistently get into fights or physically harm others. January 6th, anyone? Dozens of so-called “lone wolf” right-wing and racist terrorist attacks. The constant threats of violence and intimidation when they don’t get everything their own way immediately from the rest of us. Basically, violence is becoming so normalized amongst right-wingers that media seems to often tune it out. The only exception seems to be when someone takes a hammer to skull of the Speaker of House’s billionaire spouse.

5. Doesn’t consider their own safety or the safety of others. Certainly, they don’t give two shits about the threats of death and harm the professional bureaucrats and Democratic politicians that have become a deadly droning background noise for anyone in a position of public trust who is not a conspiracy delusional nut. And, of course, the historical and ongoing complete indifference of most Republicans to the health and safety of women who have now been stripped of their right to access needed healthcare due to abortion restrictions.

6. Doesn’t follow up on personal or professional responsibilities. This can include repeatedly being late to work or not paying bills on time. Ummm… passing a fucking budget, perhaps? Like the ONLY real responsibility of Congress. They’ve already shut down a government – harming millions of Americans in the process – and are set to do so again in just a few days on October 1st.

7. Doesn’t feel guilt or remorse for having harmed or mistreated others. Trump’s notorious adage to never apologize for anything or to anyone has become the norm in the GOP. Anyone expressing anything other than glee over the blood and tears of their enemies (i.e. fellow citizens) is ridiculed as a squish and/or hounded out of the party.

So we can see that the modern GOP, and Trump especially – though hardly uniquely, clearly and unequivocally meet ALL 7 criteria while only 3 need be met for a professional diagnosis as a sociopathic personality.

Can a democracy long endure one of its two structurally determined major parties acting in a blatantly sociopathic manner? Until recent years, I might have assigned one or two of these traits, possibly 3 (certainly the constant lying, and maybe the lack of remorse at the harm they cause and lack of concern for the safety of others) to the GOP, but certainly not all 7.

This is a whole new level of malevolence by the GOP as a collective – in that, it seems there are never consequences – other than positive ones – for any member of the party engaging in such behaviors. The GOP is mentally ill if any organization can be judged to be so. Certainly, many of their members in good standing – such as the deeply creepy Rep. Paul “hang the generals” Gosar – are clearly mentally unstable with their own sociopathic traits that seem more like a qualification for office as a Republican, rather than the disqualifier such behavior should constitute in any healthy organization.

Jesus (and Washinton) wept.