Farewell Governor Blagojevich

It was just announced that the Illinois Senate has removed Governor Rod Blagojevich from office. I guess I will see him jogging by my house more frequently than usual.

He and I probably share something in common (besides a passion for getting health care services to those in need). Chances are we both read a popular 1970s book, Culture of Narcissism, by Christopher Lasch. Elements of narcissism permeated our culture according to Lasch. Reading it as a college freshman I was, like, what? But now it makes more sense, especially if we look at our ex-Gov in light of a personality disorder which Lash thought was shared by American society.

Perhaps, our ex-Gov has Narcissistic Personality Disorder (diagnosis 301.81 in the DSM IV).

"A pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by 5 or more of the following:

• has a grandiose sense of self-importance...exaggerates achievements and talents
• is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance...
• believes the he is special and unique
• requires excessive admiration
• has a sense of entitlement
• takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends...is interpersonally exploitative
• lacks empathy
• shows arrogant haughty behaviors or attitudes"

Well, either Mr. Blagojevich is a product of the Culture of Narcissism, or he suffers from the above diagnosis. Or both. You decide.