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Louisiana mayor convicted of raping 16-year-old boy at her home while still in office
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 04 Mar 2026
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Is almost everyone like this and we just didn't know? Or is our political class just dominated by people like this?
The second option, I'd say.
People who want to do stuff forbidden to the public look for positions of power.
Some of this stuff is good like taxing rich people and requiring car companies to put seat belts in vehicles.
A lot of these ambitions are bad: pedophilia, cruelty, torture, corruption, selling off public assets, building strip malls, etc.
In this case she was drunk, and clearly regretted what she did so much she turned herself in even though she could get away with it if she just didn't.
So I don't believe she looked for a position of power in order to be able to do it.
We need more good people looking for positions of power to squeeze them out, I guess?
I think to seek out power you have to be one of two kinds of people
You truly want to change the world for the better
You want power over others
2 is IMO by far more common and I'm not surprised that those kinds of people don't see rules applying to themselves and also like dominating people.
Like... I'm also horny and kinky... I'll go as far as saying that I think I'd call myself a dom switch. But I don't see the appeal of doing it with kids or even teens. Even when it comes to ~~Computer numerical control~~ Consensual non-consent, it just... isn't attractive if it's not actually consensual. When we're done with it all, I want to cuddle up with my partner for a breather, have a shower together and then go back to being equal partners who support each other through life. Most of all, I want her to enjoy it more than I do.
But these people, it seems they want to actually subjugate people for real. Maybe not this mayor, she had sex with a 16 year old boy who likely in some jurisdictions could've been considered consenting. Hell I would've done it at his age (now that I'm older, I do of course realize that SHE should've still known better, as the adult). But I think a lot of these people in power actually enjoy causing pain and misery to those who can't resist.
It’s been a few years since I read it, but the book The Sociopath Next Door did a lot to inform how I think of this.
In the book, the author gives the stat that about 4% of the population are sociopaths, which is defined as people who lack empathy and a conscience. She explains that often, sociopaths highly crave success, but posits that what defines “success” is largely dependent on one’s culture.
In the US, success usually looks like having a lot of money, fame, and/or power, so: actors, politicians, CEOs, etc. And when one doesn’t have empathy, that makes it easier to step on others in order to achieve that success. She explains that in other cultures, like in India, success is more about how one fits into and supports their community. So while they have the same driving motivation (success), the steps to achieve it are wildly different.
Based on that, I say with confidence that “almost everyone” is NOT like this. However, sociopaths are significantly more likely to become those who are rich, famous, and powerful. And this kind of abuse doesn’t phase sociopaths because they don’t have empathy.
faze*
Yep, good catch. Thanks!
So weird being in a place that looks vaguely like Reddit but people don't have an aneurysm when you point something like that out. The expected response was "tHiS iSn'T eNgLiSh ClAsS" and reporting me.
I think the ven diagram is an almost a complete circle with the rich. You don't become a billionaire by caring about others.
I think one of the Walton kids grew a conscious and started donating that vast fortune. Instead of taxing we just have to wait generations for the kids to care or lose the money gambling or something
No, these people are rare. The problem is that their impact is outsized. One person can harm many over the course of several years. It doesn’t take a lot of bad actors like this to cause a lot of harm in society.
it's probably notable that politicians are often people who are seeking power.
They wouldn’t let a well intentioned human within 500 miles of Washington DC. That’s the point of a two party system.
Yes. People are horny.
Being horny is normal. Being horny for kids, is not.
Usually not craving children, though.