Our country has always had a sadistic streak. Our treatment of the American Indian, by the country as a whole, was streaked in a sadistic pleasure at taming the savages, by any means possible. There WAS an element of revenge, but sadism played a key role in accepting extermination and subjugation as outcome.
Naturally, the despicable treatment of an entire race of people thrown into slavery is rife with stories of brutality, and millions of southerners relished in those stories of sadistic behavior.
In recent times, we are surrounded by the sadistic behavior of cyber bullying, where children finally turn to suicide to end the pain being inflicted on them. Look at the internet today and you find millions of people who seem to be in a frenzied glee over the outcome of the election and the pain it has caused to milions.
I believe, beyond a shadow of any doubt, that the candidacy and eventual win were rooted less in racism and misogynism than it was in sadism. I also believe that his campaign knew and understood this. His voters were voting to simply inflict pain. On liberals. On immigrants. On POC.
The MORE outrageous, the more “disqualifying” Trump behaved, the MORE it qualified him to inflict that pain.
His followers are now almost frenzied in their reaction. I could mention the psychosexual aspect of sadism … but I will just allow people to come to their own conclusions.
We are a mentally ill country. That is, if you believe that sadism is bad. Look at the incredible reaction to 50 Shades of Grey. Sadism as a coffee table book.
You have to know the problem before you can find a solution. I’d like to put it out there that the problem is sadism. Right now, the only cure for such behavior was depicted in Clockwork Orange.