Other than the possibility of supernatural retribution in some dark future it is hard to see a downside to being without a conscience. The world, especially one dominated by Capitalist economic principles, favors those who simply take what they want, whose focus is primarily, sometimes solely, amassing personal wealth and power. In this environment compunctions are a handicap, morality a luxury reserved for later in life when one "gives back" by using the money squeezed from the sweat of others to create foundations ostensibly for philanthropy, but really to buy a reputation for humanitarianism which had played no part in their lives.
But what I really wanted to talk about is Jon Ronson whose latest work, The Psychopath Test, has landed him on "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report," as well as NPR. I have neither seen nor heard any of these, and I haven't read the book either, so, armed with this ignorance, I can blissfully disregard Ronson's real purpose and focus on the part that struck me as most curious in the NY Times review and in an interview by Jeff Bercovici for Forbes: the qualities of a psychopath that would contribute to his/her effectiveness as a CEO, namely a lack of empathy, remorse or loving kindness.
We really ought to question the morality of any system in which these virtues are a handicap but that for another time. What really strikes me right now is the curious coincidence of some comments made by Mrs. Christie. She was asked if her husband, Chris, would make a good president. Of course she said yes but she didn't stop there she also added, unbidden, that he would make a very good CEO and it seemed to me that she preferred that course which is not surprising as her world is the world of Wall Street.
Now I have never met Boss Christie and he may be a very different person in private but his public persona is that of a bully, uncompromising, vocally aggressive, and certain that those who oppose him are not only wrong but stupid. His wife, who does know him privately, thinks he would be a good CEO. He does seem a good candidate, having demonstrated a marked absence of empathy, remorse, or loving kindness, and maybe someday he will take his abilities into that arena but for now he is our Governor here in New Jersey.
I know it is Quixotic to believe that public servants should actually serve the public and not just themselves but I believe it nonetheless. For the most part our elected officials have put up something of a good front, appearing to care, and sometimes I believe they even do. Boss Christie doesn't even bother to pretend. Shouldn't we be fearful?
Postscript: After writing this I read that Christie was saddened by the death of Clarence Cleamons, I wondered is this empathy? But no, his reason was, "I was struck with the overwhelming feeling that the days of my youth were now finally over." Yes, it's all about you isn't it Boss Christie?
But what I really wanted to talk about is Jon Ronson whose latest work, The Psychopath Test, has landed him on "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report," as well as NPR. I have neither seen nor heard any of these, and I haven't read the book either, so, armed with this ignorance, I can blissfully disregard Ronson's real purpose and focus on the part that struck me as most curious in the NY Times review and in an interview by Jeff Bercovici for Forbes: the qualities of a psychopath that would contribute to his/her effectiveness as a CEO, namely a lack of empathy, remorse or loving kindness.
We really ought to question the morality of any system in which these virtues are a handicap but that for another time. What really strikes me right now is the curious coincidence of some comments made by Mrs. Christie. She was asked if her husband, Chris, would make a good president. Of course she said yes but she didn't stop there she also added, unbidden, that he would make a very good CEO and it seemed to me that she preferred that course which is not surprising as her world is the world of Wall Street.
Now I have never met Boss Christie and he may be a very different person in private but his public persona is that of a bully, uncompromising, vocally aggressive, and certain that those who oppose him are not only wrong but stupid. His wife, who does know him privately, thinks he would be a good CEO. He does seem a good candidate, having demonstrated a marked absence of empathy, remorse, or loving kindness, and maybe someday he will take his abilities into that arena but for now he is our Governor here in New Jersey.
I know it is Quixotic to believe that public servants should actually serve the public and not just themselves but I believe it nonetheless. For the most part our elected officials have put up something of a good front, appearing to care, and sometimes I believe they even do. Boss Christie doesn't even bother to pretend. Shouldn't we be fearful?
Postscript: After writing this I read that Christie was saddened by the death of Clarence Cleamons, I wondered is this empathy? But no, his reason was, "I was struck with the overwhelming feeling that the days of my youth were now finally over." Yes, it's all about you isn't it Boss Christie?
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