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.)
