[pilipo]

If you’ve ever lived or worked in DC, it’s impossible to avoid the cultural saturation of the abuse of power ethic. It’s epidemic, relentless, and everywhere.

Having lived in D.C. for 30 years (before vacating to flyover country), I concur.

This is a profound truth that is difficult to convince many people of. When I tell people that D.C., or even life inside the beltway,is beyond toxic they respond with a wan smile and gracious nod.

I don't fault them for that because you really do have to live there to "get it".

[JockoManning]

Maybe for most--they have to live there, to get it. However, I've known Qx to speak in such terms all the years I've known him and he only once traveled East of the Mississippi--to the NYC airport on the way to Israel.

I don't know if he had such perceptiveness because of his very high IQ; his very sensitive empathy and capacity to put himself in another's skin; his massive reading and study or his querying folks who did live and work in DC. But he's always thought of it as an ingrown other planet full of arrogance, power mongering, raw evil etc.

[JockoManning]

BTW, we both think of chunks of California and New York City similarly.