As we look back upon the ancients and wonder at their barbarous customs, so too will our descendants look back upon us and wonder how it is that we choose our representatives for their purely political skills. They will consider inconceivable that anyone with sense would fail to choose, as the people’s representatives, any but poets, philosophers, scientists, and artists. Yet we appoint instead liars and charlatans, the most debased and ignorant, depraved and fanatical, who delight in power f...