“Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive.”

They will also think THEY know what is best for us. I don't trust them with running my life.

Take Senator Harry Reid (-; please ! ;-) for example. Harry, being the man in authority makes illegal deals with the Chinese, does insider trader, makes illegal deals for his son, lies, etc. then helps implement new rules to giterdone. Everything was done in the name of protecting the desert tortus which, will be in harms way if Harry gets his way. Then the snipers, helicopters, planes, military clad thugs, equipment, ordinance, etc., etc., etc. were sent out to roust a numerically inferior bunch of pedestrians and flag waving cowboys on horseback. Then, Harry called the non-violent inferior bunch domestic terrorists and vowed to return with a vengeance - further criticizing those subversives.

Reid is probably the worst Senator in history. A really rotten person to boot.

Always deceiving and being deceived, is the politicians way of life. Speaking in half truths, till they get what they want. Which and most times belongs to someone else. RKO must be on their payroll. Can someone tell Reid, and all the rest liken unto him that they are FIRED ! Let alone hang them for treason on the White House lawn.

A true leader is guided by democratic principles of free and open debate.  What Mr. Commager alludes is that our elected personnel will always be a bunch of spoiled brats. I have to disagree, we will have a mature elected body in the future. What we need is real leadership.  Friend with sensitivity.