Political Questions

NORMALLY THE GREAT POLITICAL QUESTIONS TAKE THEIR PLACE IN THE PSYCHIC ECONOMY OF THE TYPICAL CITIZEN WITH THOSE LEISURE-HOUR INTERESTS THAT HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE RANK OF HOBBIES, AND WITH THE SUBJECTS OF IRRESPONSIBLE CONVERSATION.

THESE THINGS SEEM SO FOR OFF; THEY ARE NOT AT ALL LIKE A BUSINESS PROPOSITION; DANGERS MAY NOT MATERIALIZE AT ALL AND IF THEY SHOULD THEY MAY NOT PROVE SO VERY SERIOUS; ONE FEELS ONESELF TO BE MOVING IN A FICTICIOUS WORLD....

WITHOUT THE INTITIATIVE THAT COMES FROM IMMEDIATE RESPONSIBILITY, IGNORANCE WILL PERSIST IN THE FACE OF MASSES OF INFORMATION HOWEVER COMPLETE AND CORRECT. THUS THE TYPICAL CITIZEN DROPS DOWN TO A LOWER LEVEL OF MENTAL PERFORMANCE AS SOON AS HE ENTERS THE POLITICAL FIELD.

HE ARGUES AND ANALYZES IN A WAY WHICH HE WOULD READILY RECOGNIZE AS INFANTILE WITHIN THE SPHERE OF HIS REAL INTERESTS.

-JOSEPH SCHUMPETER Political Economist