Homo Politicus: The Strange and Scary Tribes That Run Our Government

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), May, 2008 by Raymond L. Fischer

HOMO POLITICUS: The Strange and Scary Tribes That Run Our Government BY DANA MILBANK DOUBLEDAY, NEW YORK 2008, $26.00, 277 PAGES

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Once past the garish cover and "HOMO" in one-inch caps, the reader will find Homo Politicus quite interesting--and worrisome. Author Dana Milbenk writes "Washington Sketch," which appears four times a week in The Washington Post. A must read for politicians, the column generally derides powerful figures in and around D.C., and Homo Politicus follows in the same ridiculing vein.

The term Homo Politicus denotes political man (or woman) referred to as Potomac Man living in Potomac Land. Milbank points out that Potomac Man in the capital of the "most egalitarian people on the planet" has accepted a "hierarchical and Byzantine" status system similar to India's caste system. He will do anything to amass power by which to reach the upper caste for himself and his "tribe" (party). However, one major difference exists between India's caste system and Potomac's: Potomac Land "has a severe shortage of indigenous wise men and scholarly figures."

The author disapproves of most of the inhabitants of Potomac Land. He begins each chapter with a reference to a tribe or individual whose unique deplorable activity occurs in the nation's capital. For example, Milbank compares sacrifices 15th-century Aztecs made to their sun god to contemporary Washington scandals which demand "rituals of human sacrifice to appease the gods of public opinion."

Although Milbank begins with rather common shortcomings and indiscretions characteristic of politicians, he quickly progresses to more serious improprieties and exposes specific individuals. In "Norms and Deviancy," the most "scary" chapter of the book, Milbank writes Potomac Land has "long encouraged eccentricity" and tolerates behavior that other cultures would attribute to "psychiatric disorders." The author details unbelievably bizarre activities of Potomac Man and terms Potomac Woman (Amazon Warrior) as "fierce and bloodthirsty" as any man.

Milbank also takes on the media. Washington journalists and reporters function as a resurrected Greek chorus. The modem "choreutai" mimic their ancient counterparts in alcohol consumption, unruliness, and identification of each Potomac Man as either hero or villain. One group forms a chorus biased toward Republicans, the other toward Democrats. However, modem "choreutai" show more interest in drawing attention to themselves than to their party.

Milbank sometimes mitigates the seriousness of his message with whimsical humor: for instance, his comparison of fertility rites and mating behavior applied to modem Weshington's lifestyle; the author's apology to anthropologists who expect the book to contain "genuine academic merit"; and his admission to being a journalist with "adult-onset attention deficit disorder." Milbank includes a glossary for readers not understanding Potomac Land language ("You're doing a heckuva job" means "You will be fired in tan days"); he does not include an index because Potomac Man would search for his own name in the index without reading the book.

Interesting and enlightening, Homo Politicus would make entertaining reading if its message were less frightening. Assuming the truth of the "strange and scan/examples, readers must question how the government functions at all; however, the author reassures, "Alas, it is all true." Potomac Man will read this book with trepidation.

Reviewed by

RAYMOND L. FISCHER

Mass Media Editor