The value of Humour in Democratic Politics
Humour is the best spice of life. It makes a person popular. In the politics of a democratic state, the contest is almost always between what is right and what is popular. No matter how right a person may be, if they fail to win the favor of the masses, they will be dismissed. On the other hand, no matter how wrong or flawed another person may be, if they manage to win public favor, they will succeed. Winning the favor of the masses is the first step in a democratic power struggle. To do so, one must get the public to listen only to their views, while ignoring those of their rivals. This allows them to easily conceal their own flaws—whether in beliefs, ideas, or character—when compared to a rival with stronger, more well-developed attributes. So, how can one make the public behave in this way? By adopting a humorous persona. Popularity can be achieved by adopting a cheerful, humorous personality. However, people often equate humor with hilarity. Hilarity can be achieved through various...