"Political activity in the American sense"?

In today's (4/15/11) The Sun, Ron Smith uses a quote from Will Durant.  Here is that part from Ron Smith's column which I thought I would simply relay.

"In his book, The Pleasures of Philosophy, Will Durant said "Democracy is the matrix in which oligarchies grow."  We are living proof of that.  

He describes politicians as being chosen "for for political activity in the American sense - i.e, the ability to get themselves nominated, advertised, applauded, and elected."

They are, he added, "subservient people, amenable to discipline, elastic of conscience, and free from dangerous originality or genius.""

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