A recent British study found that most gang members have an identifiable mental illness, ranging from antisocial personality disorder to psychosis (ideation disconnected from reality) to drug/alcohol dependency to anxiety disorder. In addition, they found that one-third of them had attempted suicide.

When they used the word "most", it was 85.8%.

The article went on to describe specific antisocial attitudes and behaviors, psychotic ideation and so forth, in some detail.

As I was reading, I was struck by the notion that many politicians, both in the state legislatures and in Washington, should fall in the same categories.

Which means our country is being run by a weird bunch of crazy people, for the most part. And the more sane, the remainder, are afraid of the crazies. All it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to be silent and do nothing.

Why do the insane keep being re-elected? One reason, I think, is that there is a huge media platform for their psychotic spewings and it makes for great theater. I blame the media, for instance, for continuing to follow Sarah Palin. Or Michelle Bachman. Or giving a public voice to Sean Hannity and Glen Beck et al.

By contrast, the moderate, sane voices seem so dull. Compromise? What a bore! Cooperation? No drama.

I think the media have a lot to answer for. And the public which continues to eat it up. The crazier, the better.