The essence of politics

Clausewitz wrote that war is politics by other means.

International politics, he meant, no doubt.

A realist wag promptly replied that, equally, politics is war by other means.

Meaning domestic politics, of course.

Sort of throws a different light on Machiavelli's The Prince, doesn't it?

And on the popularity of that author, Sun Tzu, and Clausewitz, himself, among political leaders, both those who have power and those who seek it.

Zandar thinks politics is race war, in particular, by other means.

There are many others of all races who think so.

All the same, it is not only race war that is in question.

Nor, pace socialists, class war.

Nor, dear harridans, the battle of the sexes.

It is the underlying, fundamental war of all against all, in which morality and justice - social, racial, or of whatever kind - are mere weapons, though in ideological conflict they are sometimes the stakes, and though sometimes they get in the way.

Religion too, really.

Think of it.

Is it not true?

When you raise your kids right you intentionally indoctrinate them with the propaganda of the strong to spare them their blows.