At no point in this analysis have I spoken of the candidates’ programmes. This is because, in the reality of the local political philosophy, they don’t count. Since Oliver Cromwell’s «Commonwealth», Anglo-Saxon political thought considers the notion of general interest as an imposture aimed at masking dictatorial intentions. So the candidates do not have a programme for their country, but «positions» on given subjects which enable them to collect «support». The elected officials - the President, parliamentary representatives, governors, prosecutors, sheriffs, etc. - do not pretend to serve the Common Good, but to satisfy the greatest majority of their electors.

Bravo. This article is overall a good and clear-headed look at things. There are some minor errors, but one should expect such given the large distance (culturally and otherwise) between Lebanon and the US.