Movement to Classify 'Liberalism' as Mental Disorder Gains Steam

Think that some of President Bush's judicial nominees are 'out of the mainstream'? Worried that John Bolton may not have the temperament to represent the U.S. at the U.N.? If some Republicans get their way, there may soon be an official diagnosis of what really ails you: political paranoia disorder.

American Psychiatric Association approves the inclusion of "Political Paranoia" in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

By Hermione Slatkin, medical correspondent

NEW YORK, NY—When Zacharia Goodman recently sought out the help of a therapist, it was no mystery as to what was ailing him. The 27-year-old copy editor was so consumed by his belief that President George W. Bush stole the 2004 election that he was having trouble sleeping, completing rudimentary tasks at work, and carrying on conversations about topics not related to politics.

The therapist he consulted wrote Goodman a prescription for the social anxiety drug Paxil and encouraged him to spend less time reading left-wing Web logs and listening to Air America.

This particular story has a happy ending; Goodman admits that he's already far less irritating to be around than he was just a few weeks ago. But countless paranoids just like him may be going untreated, say mental health professionals. The reason: the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM presently excludes political paranoia from its 933 pages of symptoms, diagnoses and treatment recommendations.

 Download the Political Paranoia Inventory (PPI) Self Test

 

Democrat or just demented?
Now a group of Republican lawmakers is hoping that they can do something about the problem. Early this summer, Senator Bill Frist, the first practicing physician elected to the Senate since 1928, plans to file a bill that would define "political paranoia" as a mental disorder, paving the way for individuals who suffer from paranoid delusions regarding voter fraud, political persecution and FBI surveillance to receive Medicare reimbursement for any psychiatric treatment they receive.

Rick Smith, a spokesman for Senator Frist, says that the measure has a good chance of passing—something that can only help a portion of the population that is suffering significant distress.
"If you're still convinced that President Bush won the election because Republicans figured out a way to hack into electronic voting machines, you've obviously got a problem," says Smith. "If we can figure out a way to ease your suffering by getting you into therapy and onto medication, that's something that we hope the entire 109th Congress will support."

A vocal supporter
GOP Congressmen aren't the only ones committed to helping Zacharia Goodman and the tens of millions of Americans who are believed to have contracted political paranoia disorder. Popular conservative radio host Michael Savage has also joined the call to help those suffering from this devastating illness. In his new book, "Liberalism is a Mental Disorder," Mr. Savage shares his observations of the affliction he likens to a national cancer.

While the talk show host has yet to endorse Senator Frist's bill—Mr. Savage would like to see Medicare and other socialist-type programs repealed as they are not explicitly mention in the United States Constitution—he is expected to join with the GOP Senate leader this summer in a series of town hall meetings entitled "Helping Your Liberal Neighbor: America Confronts a Mental Disorder."

A meeting of the minds
Of course, while Congress can pass laws defining mental disorders, the ultimate decision regarding the inclusion of political paranoia disorder in the next version of the DSM isn't up to legislators—or activist judges—but to psychiatrists. The entire assembly of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) cleared the way for that move at their recent national assembly in May.

This won't be the first time that the APA has bowed to political pressure to add or delete common mental disorders. In 1973, the APA removed homosexuality from the massive psychiatric desk reference. The 1987 publication of DSM-III-R deleted ego-dystonic homosexuality as well.

Have you been diagnosed with political paranoia disorder? Share your experience with [email protected].

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Comments

[Lenny]

With the New Administration in place, soon comments against the Left and the New World Order like this will be outlawed and those who make them will be subject to arrest!

Liberal/Democrat/Obama = Correct

Anything else = WRONG

[Jack]

Spencer you're a moron. There is no such thing as a conservative child molester. You can be a child molester who "acts" like he's a conservative, but he couldn't serioulsy be a conservative because the child molesting thing would really go against Conservative ideology. That's like saying you're a compassionate wife beater. In fact, it's the Conservatives who want rapists and molesters punished while the Liberals want to "cure and help" them when the fact is that those people can't be changed or helped. So your actually on the side of the Perverts dummy. It's the Liberals that supports groups like NAMBLA, It's the Liberals who support the ACLU which defends child rapists and child murderers while pretending to defend free speech. And it's actually Liberal ideology that promotes sex with children, don't believe me do some research. It's Liberal professors who say children can enjoy sex just as much as adults and that they should be allow to have sex at a young age. Heck even The Supreme Court Justice Sandra who's a Liberal and was put in to power by Bill Clinton ageed that the age of consent should be lowered. So you're obviously a tool, stop watching gay internet porn and read a bood A--hole.

[Liberalism is nuts]

There is no doubt at all that liberalism is a mental disturbance. Liberalism is based on what feels good for the moment.

[L B SPENCER]

Well what the Hell can I say,except that it is true,and I have been saying the same things,for a very long time.Thanks for placing it all into some sembalance of order,it's nice to know that I am,and was not alone.

[Keith]

You conservatives must know that 98% of child molesters are conservative. You do know this, dont you? Dont believe me, google it.

Ouch. Guess that blows this post right out of the water.

Perverts.

[vince]

LIBERALISM IS A MENTAL DISORDER

here's some proof...of the liberal mental disorder at work

it's ok to kill a fetus but not execute a murderor

marriage is a right between 2 people
not a privelage betwen a man and a woman

banning guns will stop all gun crime

america is responsible for global warming
but i have no proof

[mister j.]

And I thought being a draft dodging, oil loving, warmongering chickenhawk was a mental illness. Silly me.

[Ken Keyser]

Those neocons are SICK, SICK, SICK, SICK, SICK, SICK, SICK, SICK, SICK.

They all should be locked up in mental hopsital for the criminally insane.

I've kind of been thinking the other way around, that those who DON'T beleive they stole the 2004 (and 2000) elections for "W" are the ones who need some kind mental help.

Just look at all of the evidence out there.

Anonymous (think I want to be locked up in a rubber room?)

[Steve Brown]

This IS a wind up isn't it? I've read it a few times now and I was certain at first but now... I mean, this is a joke/satire right? Only it's difficult to tell with you dear Americans. But then again, I thought the news that Arnie was standing for Gov. of California, George Bush and the Iraq decision were all wind ups too. Enjoy your police state while it lasts - but leave us limeys alone....

[Hans]

Liberalism a mental disorder? It looks like the neocons have learned a few tricks from the Stainist USSR, where they declared poltical dissidents as mentally ill and put them away in mental hospitals, thereby conveniently getting rid of those troublesome people.

[Uncle Ernie]

Nice to see there is one place where we can go and round up you nazi traitors for several decades of broom handle therapy down at our concentration camp in Gitmo. I'm sure after that you won't have these fascist, lunatic ideas. As for Dr. Mengela er Frist nothing wrong with him that being drawn and quartered for treason and sedition live on PBS won't cure either!

Heil Smirky?

Your liberal, blue state pal,
Ernest

[PK]

Looks like DU picked this up. And took it seriously, of course. How ironic. They respond paranoically to an article about political paranoia.

[Paladin]

I personally think it's really a liberal plan to get more welfare entitlements.

[ella]

I'm afraid this terrible disease cannot be eradicated with simple pharmacologic methods. As a mental health professional, I have seen my share of personal miseries caused by liberalism -- and believe me when I say that social costs of this problem are going to be enormous soon. For one, liberalism has a severe and rarely talked about side effect: it leads to development of a conscience in affected individuals. And it does not take much imagination to understand what may happen if U.S. citizens in large numbers start showing signs of a conscience, even in its rudimentary forms. Why, life as we know it will come to an end. Granted, the media and powers-that-be are working at full capacity to prevent this worst-case-scenario. But when prevention fails, do not reach for Paxil; instead, schedule an appointment with your (OK, any) doctor for an outpatient lobotomy. Anything less than surgical intervention is a waste of your time and health dollars (if you have any such left). You will be paying for the surgery for the rest of your life, by re-mortgaging your house, dog and kidneys -- but hey, at least you won't feel the pain. Heck, you won't feel much at all, I promise. And isn't this the ultimate path to happiness for us, U.S. citizens, liberal or not?

[hehehe]

Mmmmmm, now that's good satire.

[[email protected]]

Sorry...his post BELOW mine.

[Roguewarrior]

As you can see by Thomas J Leddy's post (above), it really is a mental disorder.
In his case it manifested as poor speeling, punctuation! and s p a cing of his rant.

Of course the world would think much more highly of America if we have TJ Leddy write all of our school textbooks and dictionaries.

[thomas j. leddy]

liers , thives .hypocrites ,corporate whores,draft dogers,jesus freakes, war profitertiers,just the kind of people, that has the rest of the world thinking so highly of america

["gunner"]

are you sure this is satire? i've been calling "libralism" a form of mental illness for several years now

[MP]

Does Dr. Phil know about this? If I scored, like 64 on that test, could I some medical marijuana instead of Paxil?

[LiberAl]

Thank you for writing about this silent, painful affliction.

Reports in the media have helped to 'out' our hidden shame, and have contributed to the healing process.

Several years ago I was diagnosed by a caring and visionary, conservative doctor who has been treating me ever since. I have benefited from Paxil, but most therapists treat a liberalism diagnosis more aggessively.

The standard perscrition: Viagra three times a day until the patient goes blind.