What is it that prevents our leaders from learning the lessons the past has to teach us. Surely it is only toddlers who burn themselves on the boiling kettle and don't have the sense to not do it again.

With these questions, Chris Watson, A Shorter History of the World, sinks his teeth into the ease with which politicians prey on human beings who are so easily distracted by bullshit that they are incapable of tending to their own best interests.

Reading his article, it occurred to me that politicians are no different than pedophiles. Both vermin pretend to love their prey (my people are special, my darling is special), both promise goodies to weaken their prey (tax cuts, lollies or whatever the child covets), both use their prey mercilessly to further their own mean and miserable ends.