There have been several media accounts linking Blagojevich with narcissism. I think the most interesting take on the story, however, comes from James Poniewozik at Time. He places Blagojevich’s saga into the context of the self-esteem focused culture.
Blago seems less an old Chicago-machine boss than a distinct 21st century character: the American with Too Much Self-Esteem.
Poniewozik then provides a wonderful account of our current culture’s fight against the reality principle:
Since the invention of recording media, nearly every child has gone through a ritual unsettling demonstration of the gap between ideal self and actual self: hearing what your voice sounds like on tape. Play a kid’s voice back to him for the first time and his reaction will probably be, “That’s not me. I know what I sound like.”
Eventually most of us come to accept that, no, we don’t know. But now there are books, talk shows and self-help systems dedicated to unlearning that lesson. The Secret became a best seller by telling people that their attitudes and perceptions create reality. If you dream it, you can be it. If people say you can’t sing–they’re wrong. The true voice is the one you hear inside your head. Your mouth is not lying. Their ears are.
well put . . . read it here.
