by Guest Blogger Jesse Hendrix

Much attention has been paid to the recent tragedy in Texas, where a wealthy teenager who killed 4 people while driving drunk and was given a sentence of probation and treatment instead of jail time. The teen’s lawyer argued that he was suffering from Affluenza, an inability to understand the consequences of his actions brought on by wealth and privilege.

While this case is a tragedy and a miscarriage of justice, it may finally bring attention to the dangerous epidemic of Affluenza.  Affluenza effects thousands of wealthy Americans and it’s more virulent cousin, Affluenza-by-proxy is suffered by millions more.

There are many possible symptoms of Affluenza including:

Belief that you are immune to the consequences of your actions;

Belief that your personal wealth is more important than the lives and fortunes of others;

Paranoia that the poor, unions, or the government are coming to steal all your wealth;

The belief that Ayn Rand was a genuine philosopher, and that selfishness is a virtue; and

Immunity to factual information.

The widespread prevalence of Affulenza among the richest members of society is responsible for  hardship throughout the country. When CEOs triple their own pay while refusing to raise wages for low-paid workers, that’s Affulenza in action. When Republicans in Congress refuse to extend unemployment benefits and insist on food stamp cuts, that’s Affulenza as well. When Donald Trump turns tragedy into insanebirther conspiracy theories, that is a mind completely ravaged by this disease.

What makes Affulenza so dangerous is that its sufferers are driven to spread it. Affluenza is spread through audio-visual means via vectors such as Fox News and talk radio. This allows the disease to spread to non-wealthy people in the form known as Affuenza-by-proxy. Sufferers of this variant demonstrate the symptoms above combined with a delusional belief that wealthy sufferers have the best interests of the country at heart.

Unfortunately there is no cure for Affuenza. But there is treatment available. If someone you know might be suffering from this condition, it is important to separate them from the causes. Exposure to non-biased news sources can ease early cases of Affluenza-by-proxy, but full blown cases take more intensive treatment. Those with a fully developed case of wealth-driven Affluenza can only be treated by forcing them to confront the consequences of their actions.  This requires a careful balance of popular and government pressure.

While fighting other diseases requires funding, fighting Affluenza can only be accomplished by keeping the money away. As a concerned member of the public your most potent tool is carefully deciding where to spend your money. If a business is demonstrating signs of being run by a sufferer, take your business elsewhere. The only way to help sufferers of this disease is reduce their access to the wealth and power that cause it.

Together we can put an end to Affluenza.

Reproduced from Politlcal Moll and used with permission.

Jesse Hendrix writes political satire at http://www.stoptellingliesaboutliberals.com. Questions, comments, good jokes and job offers can be sent to him at jessemhendrix@gmail.com