Am J Psychiatry 1977; 134:1140-1142
Copyright © 1977 by American Psychiatric Association
Psychiatric observations of state and local politicians
E Messner
The author, a psychiatrist and an elected official in a small town,
compares his observations of local politicians with a mental health
commissioner's observations of politicians at the state level. The author
feels that local politicians tend to be more strongly oriented toward
relatively altruistic public service. Several factors, including personal
ambition and reduced public scrutiny, may contribute to the apparently
greater selfishness of politicians at the state level.
