# Are these three categories for countries and political parties useful?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-three-categories-for-countries-and-political-parties-useful/992106>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [October 26, 2023, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-three-categories-for-countries-and-political-parties-useful/992106 "2023-10-26T00:02:07Z")\
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**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-three-categories-for-countries-and-political-parties-useful/992106/12 "2023-10-26T15:42:52Z")

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> [@FlikTheBlue](#):
>
> “I care more about hurting my enemies than helping myself” type people like present day Russia and Iran, and the MAGAs of the contemporary United States.

If you think any of those three groups aren’t _primarily_ about helping themselves, you haven’t been paying attention. Usually helping themselves to power, but also material wealth. Or reacting to current privilege being perceived as under threat.

Your whole thesis depends on one unstated assumption. It’s the idea that most people are _basically_ good, that most aren’t _inherently_ selfish. That it’s just “shortsightedness” that causes people not to cooperate.

Well, I don’t believe that’s the case. I believe most people are not good in that way. Not even neutral - _most_ people are a little _bad_. Selfish as well as bigoted and hateful. And _even more_ are either stupid or ignorant. Evil _and_ dumb is a terrible combination.

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