© Scott ThongThe Goracle
Throughout history episodic eruptions of mass manias have swept societies. These outbreaks embody the dissatisfactions, fears and hopes of their times while offering a shining path to a bright new future. They are characterised by a millenarian nature, wherein threat of punishment for past sins is accompanied by promise of salvation through a new faith.
The power of mass manias is reinforced by severe disapproval of any questioning of their certain truth. Any doubt is seen not just as error needing correction but as conscious deliberate evil deserving expulsion or extermination. With adherents permitted only to support the established dogma, these movements tend to gather followers rapidly. But they also soon become afflicted with a growing disconnect from reality which they can neither acknowledge nor adjust for.
As no believer dares express anything other than certainty, social manias tend to persist for some time after their disconnect with reality has become obvious to all. In the face of such recalcitrant reality, leaders are forced to become ever more extreme in their proclamations. This then often leads to a zenith of zealotry and disconnect just before increasingly obvious reality finally forces them to make some small admission of error. The spell is then broken and the faith collapses.
Comment: Quoting Senator Debbie Stabenow (D., Mich.): Scientists mull quiet '09 hurricane season
NOAA Lowers Hurricane Season Outlook
Dr. Gray's updated hurricane forecast 2009: Good news
Still No Tropical Storms? Must Be Global Warming
US: Mild season in Tornado Alley frustrates scientists
Note to NCDC climate report authors: try using the telephone next time
The mental aberrations being displayed in the global warming camp are showing more and more what our leaders are made of - or at least who and what they are.