5 December—El Liberalissimo made a valid point in a Saturday email: “Why even vote if all politicians are corrupt?”

Why indeed? Aren’t we screwed no matter whom we vote for? Without doubt. Usually, at any rate, simply because the good ones are far outnumbered by the bad ones. But remember the pigs’ commandment painted on top of the barn in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”? “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

Orwell, a committed socialist but fierce opponent of communism, intended that as a brilliantly pointed comment on the hypocrisy of false democracies—dictatorships—like the Soviet Union’s, which proclaimed the absolute equality of all their citizens but nevertheless gave power and privilege to a small elite. That shoe also fits all democratic republics and monarchies, genuine or otherwise, including the United States.

Well, by the same token, consider the truism that all politicians are corrupt, but some politicians are less corrupt than others. And those less corrupt pols are the ones we hope we’re voting for. (That’s how I vote, anyway, not that it matters.) When you think about it, choosing the less or least corrupt, less or least undesirable candidate is really no different from choosing the better, best, or most desirable candidate.

Take your pick.

It’s just a question of thinking positively or realistically. And hope springs eternal . . .