Body Politic
Corruption and the Court
In its McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission decision last week, the Supreme Court struck another blow to campaign finance restrictions—this time finding aggregate limits on campaign contributions unconstitutional. And I’m not even mad. When you’re already living in a two-walled house, you take little notice when another crumbles.
What the Caged Bird Sings
“We will wipe out Twitter. I don’t care what the international community says,” Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed at a fiery campaign rally in Basra. Hours later, access to Twitter was completely blocked by Turkish authorities, who cited “court decisions to avoid the possible future victimization of citizens,” making Turkey only the second country in the world to ban the site. The first was China.
House of Bards
Unbridled evil can be intoxicating—just look at the television shows that captivate us. The unapologetic confessions of Walter White, Don Draper, and Frank Underwood force an addictive complicity that compels us to overlook all manner of sin: deceit, infidelity, murder. The vicarious thrill of simulated evil is disconcertingly enjoyable.
Dreams of My General
Whenever army chiefs don gaudy epaulettes and oversized shades, democracy’s death is sure to follow. Perhaps there is only one autocratic accessorizer for those with dictatorial designs.