Great quote from Noam Chomsky:

[marmar]

I have often thought that if a rational Fascist dictatorship were to exist, then it would choose the American system.

[stellanoir]

1. apparently, they have.

[magellan]

2. I don't understand the use of the word "rational" there

??

These people aren't rational. They're psychopaths who simply pretend they're rational.

[Muttocracy]

3. I'm thinking here they mean rational as in analyzing the choice of countries

not rational decision-making about how to treat others (unless by rational one means strictly getting the most for yourself).

[angrycarpenter]

4. It is very rational to oppress

Empathy is an emotion that seems to escape them. If you were in a life boat and there was a sick person on board who would eventually die, the rational thing to do would be to kill them and throw them over board. It would save food and water and the sickness will not spread to the rest of you. But most people would not do such a thing. Rational does not mean right in all cases.