// SAINTS

This will always be my rebuttle to those that will say Obama is an elitist. You damn right he is. So is any politician in Washington. They should be better than us. That’s why I’m doing my job and he’s doing his. I would hope to God our next president- or any, would be an elitist. As Jon Stewart satirically opined- this guy might have his face carved into a side of a mountain at Mt. Rushmore! You better hope he’s above average.”

karion:

Americans have an unhealthy desire to see average people promoted to positions of great authority. No one wants an average neurosurgeon or even an average carpenter, but when it comes time to vest a man or woman with more power and responsibility than any person has held in human history, Americans say they want a regular guy, someone just like themselves. President Bush kept his edge on the “Who would you like to have a beer with?” poll question in 2004, and won reelection.

This is one of the many points at which narcissism becomes indistinguishable from masochism. Let me put it plainly: If you want someone just like you to be president of the United States, or even vice president, you deserve whatever dysfunctional society you get. You deserve to be poor, to see the environment despoiled, to watch your children receive a fourth-rate education and to suffer as this country wages — and loses — both necessary and unnecessary wars.

Sam Harris, LA Times

3 years ago • 39 notes