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Homo Politicus, Part II: Washington's Obedience to Authority Problem

amy185 Wrote: Apr 18, 2012 4:11 PM

I believe that this very concept of America not obeying "authority" is what has Obama baffled. For example, we are not buying what he says ought to be a better health care system, who should be allowed to marry who, that abortions somehow set women free, or that fairness has everything to do with entitlements (to name just a few). The reason we won't acknowledge his authority is many faceted but primarily, they simply don't make sense. Obama, on the other hand spent his formative years under socialistic rule, believing what his leaders told him was fact. Therefore, I just don't think Obama can relate to us! :)

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Homo Politicus, Part II: Washington's Obedience to Authority Problem

An earlier column, “Homo Politicus,” offered an explanation of why Washington does not learn from experience. (Recap: Washington elites rarely operate from observed results. Rather, they mostly emulate higher status members of their society — much as do chimpanzees and other primates.)

Calling “monkey see monkey do” on our high public officials is heresy, of course, because our political system’s legitimacy is based on claims of merit, reason, and effective service. The evidence for such qualities often is flimsy. Homo Politicus (part 1) concluded: “What besets Washington … is an ‘Obedience to Authority’ problem.” The implications are...

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