[stcredzero]

My personal opinion is that humans to some extent are innately good

I agree.

it's the EXTREMELY broken ones that become the crime lords etc. and those people often have massive flaws in their character such as the arrogance you described.

If you examine crime lords and their activities and morality, then compare them with world leaders from before 1800, then you will find that the behavior they exhibit is fairly common in the repertoire of history.

Also note that our present culture has been tremendously influenced by the governments they ran. That's why it takes so long to "wake up from history."

[drjesusphd]

Why do you think world leaders before 1800 are significanly different than the ones since?

[stcredzero]

I don't, really. There isn't a sudden demarcation. It's more of a gradual shift. If you go back in time before then, you're predating the enlightenment. Democratic revolutions will be following the example of the British Colonies after that point.

[drjesusphd]

I guess I'm asking: how do you know that world leaders before about 1800 are significantly more sociopathic than now?