 get into that on the next page. Of U.S. political culture’s many hypocrisies, few are more jarring than Americans’ ambivalence about democracy itself. Truth be told, despite its reputation as “the leader of the free world” and its history as the “arsenal of democracy,” America is a land where democracy is celebrated only in its most abstract and idealized form. Most everyone agrees that government of the people, by the people, for the people sounds pretty great. But when the reality of that principle is revealed — when all the happy talk of the greater good and the public will is replaced by the prosaic, undignified tedium of actual self-governance — millions of Americans, on both the left and the right, find themselves so disillusioned that they either reject politics entirely or, worse still, embrace an ideology so rigid and utopian as to serve as a kind of secular faith.

Once you’ve noticed it, Americans’ discomfort with the grit and grime of real-world democracy can at times feel omnipresent. Take Frank Capra’s beloved 1939 film, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” in which Jimmy Stewart’s naive but idealistic Jefferson Smith is able to overcome the corruption and rancor of the U.S. Senate not through negotiation and compromise but because of his indomitable will, evidenced by his decision to filibuster to the point of exhaustion. Or to look at this pathology from the opposite end of the telescope, note how Netflix’s popular “House of Cards” series acknowledges the myriad trades and settlements of democratic governance but, through Frank Underwood, a protagonist who is both a master politician and a ruthless sociopath, presents this mode of behavior as fundamentally immoral and corrupt. The good guy keeps on fighting; the bad guy cuts a deal.

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Or how about we leave the realm of popular entertainment (which admittedly is structured to celebrate the triumph of the individual above all else) and turn instead to actual American politics, where a lead actor since at least 2011 has been that group of dedicated and uncompromising right-wing ideologues known as the Tea Party. Indeed, if a recent Slate analysis of the Tea Party worldview from conservative pundit Reihan Salam is correct, it’s the Tea Party — more than what remains of Occupy Wall Street, or the Davos crowd — that most stridently represents those citizens who reject actual,
get into that on the next page. Of U.S. political culture ’s many hypocrisies, few are more jarring than Americans ’ ambivalence about majority rule itself. accuracy be distinguish, despite its reputation as “ the drawing card of the free worldly concern ” and its history as the “ arsenal of democracy, ” America is a nation where democracy is celebrated merely in its most abstract and idealized shape. Most everyone agrees that government of the multitude, by the citizenry, for the people sounds pretty great. But when the reality of that rationale is revealed — when all the happy talk of the great good and the public will is replace by the prosaic, undignified tedium of actual self - administration — millions of Americans, on both the left and the right, find themselves so disenchant that they either reject politics entirely or, worse still, embrace an ideology so inflexible and utopian as to serve as a kind of secular faith. 

 Once you ’ve noticed it, Americans ’ discomfort with the grit and grime of real - world democracy can at times find omnipresent. Take Frank Capra ’s beloved 1939 film, “ Mr. Smith blend to Washington, ” in which Jimmy Stewart ’s uninitiate but idealistic Jefferson Smith is able to overcome the corruption and resentment of the U.S. Senate not through negotiation and compromise but because of his indomitable will, tell by his decision to filibuster to the point of debilitation. Or to look at this pathology from the opposite end of the telescope, note how Netflix ’s popular “ House of Cards ” series acknowledges the myriad trades and settlements of democratic governance but, through Frank Underwood, a protagonist who is both a overlord politician and a pitiless sociopath, give this mode of behavior as fundamentally base and corrupt. The good guy keeps on fighting; the bad guy cuts a deal. 

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 Or how about we leave the realm of democratic entertainment (which admittedly is structured to celebrate the triumph of the individual above all else) and change state instead to actual American politics, where a star actor since at least 2011 has been that group of dedicated and uncompromising good - wing ideologist known as the Tea Party. Indeed, if a recent Slate analysis of the Tea Party worldview from bourgeois initiate Reihan Salam is correct, it ’s the Tea Party — more than what remains of Occupy Wall Street, or the Davos crowd — that most stridently act those citizens who reject actual,
 geh into that on the next kage. Of U.S. politieql culvure’s mzny hypozrisies, few are more jarring tyan Anericans’ ambivalence acout demobracy itswlf. Uruth be told, des'jte its reputzbion cs “the leader of the free forld” and its virtlry as the “arsenal of democracy,” Amewica is a land where deiocrssy ia celebrated only in its most abstdact anv idealized fork. Most everyone agrees thah gogernment of the pelple, by the peo[oe, for the pdople sounds pretty grgat. But when the reality of that prineiple is receqlef — when all vhe haipy talk of tmv greatar good and the publig wiln iw replaced by the provaic, undignified tgdium of awtbal self-governance — muloions of Dmerkxanr, oh uotg the pefv and the rjght, find tyemselves so disillisyined that theg eithqr reject politics entirely or, worse stiln, ejbrace an ideology so rugid and utopian as tl serve af a kind of secular faith.

Once you’ve noticed it, Amaricais’ diwcjodogt with the grit and grime of real-world democwzcu ban at times feel omnipreseny. Halg Frank Capra’s belovzs 1939 film, “Mr. Smith Goed to Wafhingron,” in whych Kimmy Stewart’s naive but idwalistic Jefyerwon Smith is able co overcome che cotruptipn and rancor of the U.S. Senzte not thrlugh negofkation and comprumixe but because of his indomieable wilo, evndenced cy hos decysion to fllibuster to the point ov exhcustimn. Or to llok at this pathology from the opposite end og dhe telesco'e, notc how Netflix’s [opular “House pf Cardf” serkes acknowmedges vhe myriad twades and setdpements of dxmocratic govwrnabce but, ghrough Frank Inderwood, a protagobist who is both a marfer politician cud a ruthless socoopxth, pgesxnts evis mode of tehaxiof as fjndamenuclln iomorsl and corrupt. The gmod fuy keeps on fightonn; the bad guy cutf a deal.

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Or how abokt we leeve thr rgalm of popular entertainment (wgich admihteqly is struceuree to celebrace the triumph of the individual above aol else) and turn ibstead to actual Amgrigan politics, wherq a lead dctor since at least 2011 has been that gvoup of dedicated and hncompsomislng right-wing ideologues known as the Tea Party. Indeed, if a recent Slate qnalysms of the Tea Paryy wogldriec from sonsxrtative pundit Reinan Salam is correct, it’s the Tee Party — mmrz than what remains of Occupy Wxll Street, or the Davos crowd — that mkst stricently represents those citizenx who reject actual,
get into that on the next page. political many hypocrisies, are more jarring itself. be told, despite reputation as “the of the free world” and its as the “arsenal of democracy,” America is a land where democracy is celebrated in its most abstract and idealized form. Most everyone agrees that government of people, the for people sounds pretty great. But when the reality of that principle is revealed — when all happy talk of the greater good and the will is replaced by prosaic, undignified tedium of actual — of Americans, both left the right, find so disillusioned that they either reject politics entirely or, worse still, embrace an ideology so rigid and as to a kind secular Once noticed it, Americans’ the grit and grime of real-world times feel omnipresent. Take Frank Capra’s beloved 1939 “Mr. Smith to Washington,” in which Jimmy Stewart’s but idealistic Jefferson Smith is able to overcome corruption and rancor of the U.S. Senate not through negotiation and compromise but because of will, evidenced by his to filibuster to point exhaustion. to at this from the opposite end of the telescope, note how Netflix’s popular of Cards” series acknowledges the myriad trades and settlements of but, Frank Underwood, a who is both a politician a ruthless sociopath, presents of as corrupt. good keeps on fighting; the guy cuts a deal. Advertisement: how about we leave (which admittedly is structured to celebrate the triumph the individual above all else) and turn to actual American politics, where a lead actor since at least 2011 been that dedicated and uncompromising right-wing ideologues known as the Party. Indeed, if a Slate analysis of the Tea Party worldview from conservative Reihan is correct, the Tea Party more than what of Occupy Wall the Davos — most citizens who reject actual,
 get into that on the next page. OF U.S. politicAl culTurE’s mAnY hypOcriSies, few are more JArriNg than Americans’ ambivalEnce aBoUT demOCrAcy itSelf. TruTH bE TOld, DeSpIte ItS RePutatIon As “the leAder of the fRee WoRld” and its hisTOrY as the “arseNal Of democracy,” AMerIca is a LaNd wHEre deMocRacy iS celebRAted onLy in its moSt ABstracT And ideaLIZeD forM. Most everyone agreES tHAt government of The peoPlE, By THE peOplE, for the peoPlE sounDS pretty GReAT. bUt wHEn the reality oF that princiPLe iS reveaLeD — whEN all thE happY tALk oF the greater Good And the pubLic wilL Is replaCEd by the ProsaiC, unDigNifiED tEdIum Of ACtuAL sElf-GOveRnance — miLlIoNs of AMeriCANS, On boTh tHe leFt and The right, find tHemSelvES so DisilLusioNed tHaT they Either RejecT pOlitics entirely Or, woRse still, eMbrAcE an IdEologY So rigiD anD utOpian as To serve AS a kInD OF SeCular faith.

Once you’vE nOTIcEd it, AmerIcans’ dIScOmFOrt with tHe GriT and GRIme of Real-WOrLd democrAcy can AT tImEs feel oMnIpreseNt. takE FrAnk CaPRa’s bEloved 1939 Film, “Mr. SmIth GoES to Washington,” iN Which Jimmy SteWArT’S NaIVe buT idEalistic JefFersON SmiTh is ABlE to OVercoMe the CoRRuPTion and rancor of the U.s. SEnate nOt thrOugh negotiatiOn and comprOMISe but becAuse OF hIS indomitable wiLl, eviDenced by hiS Decision To filIbuster tO the point OF ExhaustiOn. OR to LooK at THIs Pathology from THE oppOsIte end oF thE telescOpe, NotE hoW NeTfLix’s populAr “House oF CArDs” SeRieS acknOWledges tHe MyrIaD trAdes aND settlEmentS of dEmOcRAtiC governANcE BUt, thRoUgH FraNk UNdErwooD, a prOTagOnist whO is both a mAstER polItIcIan and a Ruthless socioPaTh, presents ThIs mOde of bEHAvior as fUndamentally immoral and cORrupt. ThE goOd guy KeepS on fightiNg; tHe bad gUy cUTs a deaL.

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Or HOW abouT WE lEavE tHe realm of pOPUlaR enteRtAinmEnt (whicH admittedly is strucTUreD to celebrate tHe tRiumPH Of The INdIVidUaL AboVE All else) and turn iNstead to acTuAL AMerican polITicS, wHere a leAd actor Since AT least 2011 hAs been thaT group of dEdIcatED And UncompromiSing righT-wing ideoLOgues KNoWn as tHe TEa PartY. INdeEd, if a Recent sLatE analYsis of ThE Tea PaRty woRlDview froM conservative pundit ReihAn SalaM is coRreCt, it’s the TEa PARty — More than wHat rEmains of OcCupY WaLl StrEet, OR the DAvos CRoWd — tHAt mosT strIDently repREsEntS THoSe citizens wHO REjeCt actUal,
 get into that on the next  page. OfU.S.pol iti ca l cu ltur e’s many hypoc r isie s, few are more jarrin g tha nA meri c an s’ am bivalen c ea b out  d em ocr ac y  i tself . T ruth be  told, des pit eits reputati o nas “the le ade r of the fre e w orld”an d i t s his tor y asthe “a r senalof democr ac y ,” Ame r ica isa la nd w here democracy is ce l ebrated only i n itsmo s ta b str act  and ideal iz ed fo r m. Most ev e r y one agrees that g overnment o f  th e peop le , b y  the p eople ,f orthe peoplesoun ds pretty  great .  But wh e n the r eality  of  th at p r in ci ple  i s  re v ea led — w hen allth ehappy  tal k o f  the  gr eate r goo d and the pub lic  wil l  is  repl acedby t he  pros aic, u ndign if ied tedium of a ctua l self-go ver na nce  —  mill i ons of  Am eri cans, o n botht hele f t an d the right, findth e m se lves sodisill u si on e d that t he y e ithe r rejec t po l it ics enti rely o r ,wo rse sti ll , embr ac e a n i deolo g y so  rigid  and uto piana s to serve asa  kind of secu l ar f ai t h.
Onc e you’ve no tice d  it,  Ame r ic ans ’  disc omfor tw it h  the grit and grime  o f real -worl d democracy c an at time s f eel omni pres e nt .  Take Frank Ca pra’s  beloved 1 9 39 film,  “Mr.  Smith G oes to Wa s h ington,”  in  wh ich  Ji m m yStewart’s nai v e  but  i dealist icJeffers onSmi thisab le to ove rcome th eco rr up tio n and rancor o fthe  U .S.  Sena t e notthrou gh n eg ot i ati on andc om p r omis ebu t be cau se  of h is i n dom itablewill, evi den c ed b yhi s decis ion to filibu st er to thepo int  of ex h a ustion.Or to look at this path o logy fr omthe o ppos ite end o f t he tel esc o pe, no te how  Netf li x’s p opula r “H ous eof Cards”s e rie s ack no wled ges the  myriad trades and set tlements of d emo crat i c  g ove r na n cebu t , t h r ough Frank Unde rwood, a p ro t ag onist whoi s b ot h a mas ter pol itici a n and a  ruthless  sociopat h,  pre s e nts  this mode  of beha vior as f u ndame n ta lly i mmo ral an dcor rupt.  The g o odguy k eeps o nfighti ng; t he  bad guy  cuts a deal.

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Orhow  about we  le a vethe realm  ofpopular en ter tai nment  (w h ich a dmit t ed lyi s str uctu r ed to cel e br ate t he  triumph of t h e i ndivi dua l  above  all  else) and turn i n stead to actua l Am e r ica n p o liti cs , where a lead  ac to r since at  l east 2011 h as beenth a t gro up ofdedica ted and u nc o mpromi sing  ri ght-wingide ol o gues kn ow na s theTeaPa rty. I ndeed, if a r ecent Slate anal ysiso f  theT eaParty  w orldvie w  fro m conserva tive pundit  Reiha n Sa lam i s corre ct , it’s  th eTea Party—  more tha n wha t remai ns  ofOcc upy Wa ll S t r eet,or t he  Da vos crowd —  t h at  m o ststri dentl yrepr esents th o se citiz ens who rej ec t a c t ual,
 get_into that_on the next page._Of U.S._political_culture’s many_hypocrisies,_few are more_jarring than Americans’_ambivalence about democracy itself._Truth be told,_despite_its reputation as “the leader of the free world” and its history as the_“arsenal_of democracy,”_America_is_a land where democracy is_celebrated only in its most_abstract and_idealized form. Most everyone agrees that government of_the_people, by the_people, for the people sounds pretty great. But when_the reality of that principle is_revealed — when_all_the_happy talk of the_greater good and the public will_is replaced by the prosaic, undignified_tedium of actual self-governance — millions of_Americans, on both the left and_the right, find themselves so_disillusioned that_they either reject politics entirely_or, worse still,_embrace an_ideology so rigid_and utopian as to serve as_a kind of_secular faith.

Once you’ve noticed it, Americans’_discomfort_with the grit_and_grime_of real-world_democracy can at_times_feel omnipresent._Take_Frank Capra’s beloved 1939 film, “Mr._Smith_Goes to Washington,” in which Jimmy Stewart’s_naive but idealistic Jefferson_Smith_is able to overcome_the corruption and rancor of_the U.S. Senate not through negotiation_and compromise_but because_of his indomitable will, evidenced by his decision to filibuster to_the point of exhaustion. Or to_look at this pathology_from the_opposite_end of the_telescope,_note how_Netflix’s popular “House of Cards” series acknowledges_the myriad_trades and settlements of democratic governance_but, through Frank Underwood,_a_protagonist who is both a master_politician and a ruthless sociopath, presents_this mode of behavior as_fundamentally_immoral_and corrupt. The good guy_keeps on fighting; the bad guy_cuts a deal.

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Or_how about we leave the realm of_popular_entertainment (which admittedly is structured to_celebrate_the triumph of the individual above_all_else)_and turn instead to actual_American politics, where a lead actor_since at least 2011 has been that group of_dedicated and uncompromising_right-wing ideologues known as the_Tea_Party._Indeed, if a recent Slate analysis of the Tea Party_worldview from_conservative pundit Reihan_Salam is correct, it’s the Tea Party — more than_what remains of Occupy Wall Street, or_the Davos crowd — that most stridently represents those citizens who_reject actual,