@severien The time to stop psychopaths like Putin is before they get into power. This wisdom has been discarded.
Psychopaths start out as useful tools. They are willing to get their hands dirty, in ways that their fastidious masters won’t. But almost inevitably, the users end up the ones being used, once the psychopath consolidates power.
Humanity’s greatest threat is over-confidence. We believe we understand our situation, and can control the outcome. And we seem to never learn.
@severien The time to stop psychopaths like Putin is before they get into power. This wisdom has been discarded.
Psychopaths start out as useful tools. They are willing to get their hands dirty, in ways that their fastidious masters won’t. But almost inevitably, the users end up the ones being used, once the psychopath consolidates power.
Humanity’s greatest threat is over-confidence. We believe we understand our situation, and can control the outcome. And we seem to never learn.
I don’t think they really had the knowledge or ability to stop Putin before he started.
Russia didn’t exactly start off from an even playing field.
He carved himself out a powerful sphere of influence in a power vacuum, with access to the tools and personnel of a tyrannical super power.
It’s not like he was appearing on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in order to boost his political career.