Addicts and Autonomy

The politics junkies have taken over. Here’s how higher education can handle it.

Politics is a drug. Some people never get the appeal. Others try it once but don’t dabble twice. A few get sucked in briefly but go cold turkey when they see what it’s really like. And a fourth group of somewhat unusual people become lifelong addicts. 

The political addicts are now in charge. Then again, they always were. You don’t rise to the top of politics by being better, more intelligent, tougher or nicer than others. You rise to the top by being more dedicated and more willing to sacrifice a normal life, although it also helps if you are in the right place at the right time.