Stunning map of states refusing Medicaid expansion. 5 million hurt. TPM

[HereSince1628]

15. imo it is a feature of counter culture rather than mental illness

(which isn't to say those within that counter culture cannot also have mental illness that is not this thing or that individual psychological needs don't motivate its advocates and practitioners)

Mental illness is typically defined as cognitive, emotional, or behavior dysfunction that creates distress and/or interferes with an individual's capacity to meet demands of daily living.

The merger of religion and selfishness facilitates the creation, maintenance, and rationalization of a cultural system of practices and and institutions that venerate and promote anarchistic capitalism. That culture also considers poverty, illness, empathy and social concern as flaws endowed by god onto persons not fated to be among god's Elected. It not only is tolerant of social inequities, it endorses the reinforcement of inequity as piety.

Persons living within this counter culture's protective embrace feel no emotional and cognitive distress due to their beliefs. Rather than being a handicap, anti social exploitative behavior of others is framed as virtuous self-actualization, and the vehicle for transporting practitioners to exceptional power and social influence.