Comment by 47282847
2 days ago
I put it in quotes because I quoted you.
From my understanding, it is not wealth that creates sociopathy, it is a traumatic childhood. For me it points to the origin, and thus the fix, which is why I find that distinction not only relevant but crucial. After studying a broad body of literature around the connection between trauma and violence and politics, I do believe this would indeed be “nearly enough to understand the current state of affairs“. What connects Hitler and Mussolini and Trump and Putin is not wealth but severe early childhood violence.
But by what mechanism can they attain power? That's what matters. Many sociopaths remain in the shadows.
Material support from the oligarchy absolutely connects Hitler, Mussolini, Trump and Putin. It is how they find the funding to get into power, how media is made to relay fascist propaganda 24/7, etc.
Serving the interests of the capital class, and only theirs, is what defines and enables fascism.