Transference

Sigmund Freud identified an interesting twist in the spectrum of human emotions which he labeled “transference.”  This was the tendency of those being psychoanalyzed to view their psychoanalysts as all-knowing and all-seeing … and thus an object of veneration (frequently falling in love with them.)

Siggy baby had it right … but he didn’t nearly go far enough.  It seems that our society today engages in a wide variety of illogical transference-like emotions.  We view successful investors (such as Warren Buffet) as super-experts in taxing policy.  We view movie stars (such as Sean Penn) as super-experts on international relations.  We view pop singers (such as  Madonna) as super-experts on child-raising.  We view comedians (such as Jon Stewart) as super-experts in news commentary.  We view the spouses of legislators (such as Clair McCaskill) as super-experts on law-making. 

And we view consummate politicians (you pick your favorite) as super-experts in governance.  (I guess I have also to add that we view successful venture capitalists as super-experts in politics.)

Useful Idiots

Hugo Chavez of Venezuela is not a friend of the United States. Along with his ties to terrorism, Chavez intends to install Iranian missiles in his country, a scant 1300 miles from the U.S. shore (see Iran missiles). After recent setbacks in National Assembly elections in his country (see recent elections) , Hugo Chavez has made an end run around Venezuela’s rapidly crumbling democratic process and grabbed dictatorial powers (see dictatorial powers). This sulfur-smelling dictator of this oil-rich South American country has gradually amassed power over the last twelve years to the point where now he is unlikely to be legally deposed or even voted out of office.

This gradualism should be an object-lesson for us all on how such loss of freedom comes about … like the proverbial frog in the pot of cold water that is gradually being brought to a boil. Joseph Stalin liked to call those fellow-traveler Westerners who supported him in his reign of terror in Russia as “useful idiots.” Unfortunately, we again have a litany of such brain-dead liberals who worship at the feet of this despotic leader Chavez. The list is predictably extensive but here is a gallery of a few of the most notables:

Danny Glover

Sean Penn

Joe Kennedy II

Kevin Spacey

Cindy Sheehan

Barney Frank

Noam Chomsky

Oliver Stone

Jimmy Carter