Chapters 1 through 4 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 1: The Political Impulse

The political impulse originates from a natural urge to bring order to social relations. In the 2008 election, Republicans supported the concepts of fiscal conservatism, lower taxes and a strong military. The Democrats espoused the concept that "change" itself was a solution. The Right's view on security included armament while the Left felt that ultimate security would be found in peaceful solutions. Justice was seen by the Right as strict adherence to laws and Liberals saw justice as an increase in civil rights.

As a young writer, Mamet abhorred capitalism and wrote about it in such plays as "Glengarry Glen Ross" and "American Buffalo." Like many of his contemporary writers who were anti-business, they expressed their feelings in the written word and were paid for it in the free market which they ostensibly detested. Neither Capitalism...