The Age of Narcissism

"Suddenly, abused and battered wives or children, the unemployed, the depressed and mentally ill, the illiterate, the lonely, those grieving for lost loved ones, those crushed by poverty, the terminally ill, those fighting with addictions, those suffering from trauma, those trapped in menial and poorly paid jobs, those whose homes are in foreclosure or who are filing for bankruptcy because they cannot pay their medical bills, are to blame for their negativity.

The ideology justifies the cruelty of unfettered capitalism, shifting the blame from the power elite to those whom they oppress."

Chris Hedges

We will always come across such personalities.  But there are some times, in some cultures, where such character traits may become not only more accepted, but socially incented, rewarded, and even fashionable.  

I think this is an important subject, because the current fiat culture in the United States has a strong element of collective and individual narcissism, expressed in the role models it upholds, the people who rise to great power, and in general, a feeling of historical and global exceptionalism that dare not be questioned.

We may do as we wish, because of who we are. This is our century. And if others object, they either have no right to do so, or are merely acting out of fear and jealousy of our greatness.

 

Hallmarks of Narcissism

 A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

 

•Lacks empathy - is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

•Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

•Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations

•Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends

•Is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her

•Requires excessive admiration

•Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

•Believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)

•Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

Frank Ochberg is one of my favorite modern psychologists. His primary area is PTSD. But his insights on a variety of topics is often insightful.

 

'Confidence' Is a Corollary In a Fiat Culture: The Triumph of the Shills

"When the political process becomes controlled by multi-national corporate interests, the US government becomes a tool of those interests. When multi-national corporations own the mass media as they presently do, honest democratic debate becomes unlikely.

As we witness corporate power becoming a dominate force in international relationships, it will surely continue to diminish independent national sovereignty under the banner of 'free trade.'"

Joseph A.

Economists are fretting about the current notion that the US is caught in a secular stagnation.  They are concerned because they believe that this is what is driving stock prices lower.  And lower stock market prices are upsetting to their masters.

 

 They are concerned that people are believing in stagnation as a sort of urban myth, and that makes it real.  Seriously.  Belief is not an effect, but a primary cause in their minds. 

The biggest myth that I know of is that confidence alone, no matter whether it is founded in fundamental reality, is enough to ensure a permanent plateau of financial asset growth.  If we believe something, it is.  No matter whether reality reflects it or not.

It is the corollary to the fiat culture that holds that if they say it, and we believe it, then that is enough.   They maintain their power to decide, and this is their real end.  Not accomplishments, not solutions for others, but the maintaining of their status quo. 

And so the Fed and the ruling elite will say whatever is needed to be said, whether it makes any sense or not, and paint pictures with their words and statistics, to make the people believe. If they believe, they will buy, using increasing levels of debt if needed.

Animal spiritism is the cargo cult approach to a financial recovery. If only we believe, then everything will be all right, and we can live in the Potemkin villages that we build with a debt that can never be repaid.

Or as Fernando said, 'It doesn't matter if you feel good, you only need to look good, and baby, we look marvelous.'

Confidence is not a crutch, not a substitute for fundamental growth. It is a spark, and it cannot burn the wet wood of a stagnant or declining real median wage. Just because some fools can believe something does not make it true, even in the Humpty Dumpty world of our pampered princes.

Related:

  Washington Post Insists Economic Inequality Is a Oversimplified Fiction

  Shiller: When aStock Market Theory Is Contagious

No Recovery: Longest Sustained Fall In UK Real Wages In Recorded History

Why is there no sustainable recovery?

Because of the policy errors of the West to save the corrupt financial system, but abandon the people whom 'the system' is intended to serve.

You may read the story about why the Bank of England is likely to keep interest rates low, which accompanies this graph, in the Financial Times.

Domestic Democracy or Foreign Imperialism, But Not Both

"Once you go down the path of empire, you inevitably start a process of overstretch, of tendencies toward bankruptcy, and, in the rest of the world, a tendency toward the uniting of people who are opposed to your imperialism simply on grounds that it’s yours, but maybe also on the grounds that you’re incompetent at it.

Indeed, one wonders whether we have already crossed our Rubicon, whether we can go back. I don’t know.

The Department of Defense is not, today, a department of defense. It’s an alternative seat of government on the south bank of the Potomac River. And, typical of militarism, it’s expanding into many, many other areas in our life that we have, in our traditional political philosophy, reserved for civilians. Domestic policing: they’re slowly expanding into that.

So, what do I suggest probably will happen? I think we will stagger along under a façade of constitutional government, as we are now, until we’re overcome by bankruptcy."

Chalmers Johnson

That bankruptcy will not only be financial, but moral and spiritual.  It will be a fiat culture, that is, reality will be defined as whatever power says it will be.

 

Below is a talk given by Chalmers Johnson in April, 2007

This was before the financial crisis and bailouts.

And before the Reform President Obama largely ratified the abuses of his predecessor and given over the welfare of the people to the corporations and the moneyed interests, finance and militarism, the pen and the gun, the bullet and the bribe.