“We got high on the grandeur of our vision. Getting aggressive in the political world was a high all its own. Our noble goals expanded our egos. We were no longer insignificant; we were the new liberal elites creating the future of the world. As we dwelled on the intellectual and moral superiority of our beliefs we felt justified in our arrogance. We felt no shame; humiliation was a pain of the past. We became political snobs. Our goals were not just grandiose; they were truly grand. In our many expansive moments we saw a new and benevolent world government whose awesome power would bring peace and justice to all. To rid the world of evil we would bring down the capitalist predators. To make the world happy we would inform the masses as to what was good for them and regulate their lives for their benefit. We knew, of course, that many would resist our plans, but we also knew that the power of government would persuade our opponents to cooperate with us. We would use such force willingly and without guilt because the nobility of our purpose, to remake society, would justify the use of any means available … We were destiny’s children — and assured of victory.”
–from “The Liberal Mind: The Psychological Causes of Political Madness” by Lyle H. Rossiter, Jr., M.D.