Jon22 » the party of sigmund

the party of sigmund

No matter what your political affiliation, you’ve got to admit that this has been a fascinating election to watch, filled as it is with such interesting personalities. Fiery idealism in Obama, the personable master of policy in Biden, the war horse in McCain, and the nonstop train wreck that is Palin.

Personality does something very important for politicians: it allows them to convince the public that they are correct, even when they quite clearly aren’t. I’ve been wondering about the primacy of “being right” in politics. A politician running for high office must assure the public, 1984 style, that he (or she) has always been right. Any inconsistencies in the voting record, even ones that might have been perfectly reasonable under vastly different past circumstances, must be vociferously denied or quickly neutralized.

It got me to thinking. Has there ever been a person who was never wrong? Who was always able to explain away inconsistencies or contradictions in his philosophy? Moreover, this should be someone important, someone who said controversial things and was heard by millions.

As it turns out, such a man exists. Sigmund Freud, who gave the world psychoanalysis, and was always able to make his patients’ problems fit into the framework of his theory, no matter how ridiculous the logical contortions. He would have made an incredible politician. I have taken it upon myself to design some campaign materials for him, were he running today. Feel free to make bumper stickers from them. If you dare!