Sublime

As Burke said in describing his early years in Albany, “Murphy delegates to the point of anarchy.”7

Early in 2021 the relationship between the Centrão and the government was strengthened further when Bolsonaro backed the bloc’s candidates for the presidencies of both houses of Congress. In the run-up to these internal elections the government released more than R$3bn for lawmakers to spend on public works in their districts. Government opponents

The constitution of Venice, which had originally been democratic, became gradually less so, and was, after 1297, a close oligarchy. The basis of political power was the Great Council, membership of which, after that date, was hereditary, and was confined to the leading families. Executive power belonged to the Council of Ten, which was elected by t

When we do, we assume the politicians are clients in a patron–client relationship, and we assume their obligations will cloud their impartial judgment.

What do I mean by populism? Essentially, I see it as a political philosophy that seeks to reduce complex problems to simple choices. Almost invariably, populism scapegoats either the elite or a particular social group – bankers, immigrants or corrupt politicians – for the problems of society.

Nassim Taleb says he’s a libertarian at the federal level, a Republican at the state level, a Democrat at the local level, and a socialist at the family level.