In Picture This, Heller's cynicism is leveled at a number of political and social issues. These include the failure of democracy to bring "unity, coherence, contentment, good government, intelligence, equality, fairness, honesty, justice, peace, or even political freedom"; the necessity of poverty to support national economic prosperity; the perversion of power by demagogues and military leaders to achieve personal wealth and glory; and the failure of the law to protect the innocent.