I don’t know how much contemplation our national political leaders do. They probably don’t know about it. But it is dangerous to have public officials who have no inner life. They’ll operate out of illusion, self-interest, power, and fear, especially fear of not being reelected. We don’t have anything positive to believe in, anything that is enlightened or rich or deep. Negative identity, shallow as it is, comes more easily than dedicated choice. It is frankly much easier to be against than to be for.
