Why do so many crazy people become heads of countries?

[totodeinhere]

We have seen so many crazy people become heads of countries for the past century. Of course Hitler lost his mind, but he wasn't the only one. Stalin and Mao also murdered millions and must also have been crazy.

Then we in our own country just had a president who was certifiably crazy, and he could become president again in 2025.

And now we are hearing that Putin is crazy and might start WWIII.

And just imagine what would be happening if Trump were still president. These are scary times.

[Sneederbunk]

1. Because many crazy people live in those countries.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. Because sane people have no interest in that sort of thing.

And crazy people are more likely to be incredibly focused and single-minding, willing to do whatever it takes to gain power.

[Samrob]

4. THIS!!

[KPN]

5. THIS again!

[Raine]

6. Exactly nt

[haele]

3. Power attracts corruptible people. And narcissistic people.

So becoming egotistically paranoid is not a lot of steps away for those types attracted to power.

Haele

[moondust]

7. Many suckers for "alpha males."

Probably dating all the way back to "the strongest cave man rules the roost." Brawn over brains isn't so great in a technologically advanced world.

[smirkymonkey]

8. I think there is a certain personality type that is attracted to power, especially a LOT

of power. You know how they say that a lot of CEOs are sociopaths? I think the same can be true for world leaders, depending upon the type of government they seek to impose.

Obviously, not all world leaders are psychopaths, but there is something about the kind of domination in an autocratic regime that attracts a certain type of personality, and that personality is not usually a healthy one. There are some people who are truly altruistic and want to work within a democratic framework and others (we all know who they are) who are all about ego and self-seeking who wish to elevate themselves above all else. Those are the dangerous ones.

They are unbalanced to begin with, and the position they eventually find themselves in makes them even more paranoid, deranged and determined to crush anyone who would challenge their authority.

[BComplex]

9. That's what I was thinking, too, smirkymonkey. Sociopaths step over everyone and anyone, and

usually end up on top, where they LEAST belong and do the most harm.

There needs to be a warning on every office water cooler, that you should shoot the bully before he/she takes over.

[totodeinhere]

10. I think you hit the nail on the head. n/t