Little Ball of Hate

I once wrote (in my Master's thesis, dealing with Euripides and Plato, of all places), " When participation in public affairs (ostensibly for the purpose of serving the well-being of the community at large) becomes nothing more than masquerade for furthering one's own personal ends, the community and its institutions become nothing more than an empty shell in which competing interests constantly vie for power ..." I was angry then. I'm angry now...