Politics in America, Twain, and Confidence Men

With the presidential election well underway in the United States, I find it amusing to listen to spectating Europeans complain about how complicated the process is. In reality, leadership selection is rather convoluted on both sides of the Atlantic, and I think it fair to also ask your European "man on the street" to explain how the management team of the European Union is selected, the next time he or she comments on the American process. Actually, both the leadership selection mechanisms in the Euroepan Union, and the electoral college in the United States, seem somewhat akin to selection of the Doge in Venice:

"Thirty members of the Great Council, chosen by lot, were reduced by lot to nine; the nine chose forty and the forty were reduced by lot to twelve, who chose twenty-five. The twenty-five were reduced by lot to nine and the nine elected forty-five. Then the forty-five were once more reduced by lot to eleven, and the eleven finally chose the forty-one who actually elected the doge.." (Wikipedia, "Doge of Venice").

There may be wisdom behind such complexities. It shields us from true populism, prevents us from feeling too vested in our leadership, and makes the system harder to game on a consistent basis.

So, if the process of leadership selection in the United States is hard to explain in detail, the spirit is easier to explain. We just need to turn to the pages of Twain. To understand what goes on spiritually in American politics, it helps to first remember that there is an important entertainment element to the whole thing. With this in mind, I recommend reading Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and in particular the chapters relating to the Duke and King. In Chapter 23, they put on a play. Think of the play as a political administration. What the Duke and King advertise is

"The Royal Nonesuch. 3 Nights only! World-Renowned David Garrick and Edmund Kean! Admission - 50 cents. Ladies and children not admitted."

What they deliver is the King prancing around the stage naked, along with a revelation that the audience has been conned, tricked out of their hard-earned money. Rather than admit they have made a mistake, the audience decides to talk the rest of the town into going to the play the next night.

"Hold on! Just a word, gentlemen." They stopped to listen. "We are sold- mighty badly sold. But we don't want to hear the last of this thing as long as we live. No. What we be the laughing-stock of this whole town, I reckon, and never want, is to go out here quiet, and talk this show up, and sell the rest of the town! Then we'll all be in the same boat. Ain't that sensible?"

Basically, having chosen wrong, they support forcing a second performance on the rest of the town (a second term in office, so to speak), rather than admit to a mistake. Eventually, however, the town does throw the rascals out, in dramatic fashion complete with rotten eggs, cabbages, and dead cats. This is what we are witnessing now. We have had repeated performance of The Royal Nonesuch these last 8 years in Washington. The electoral wheel is turning, and the town mob is gathering their eggs, cabbages, and dead cats and getting ready for political change. This is what is happening, metaphorically speaking, as the elections proceed. Pay no attention to the procedures. Enjoy the theater.

References

(1) Wikipedia, "Doge of Venice."

(2) Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Chapter 23.