Government as an institution within a group of people is an institution as old as time. Existing from before the time of Jesus when Neanderthals followed a leader to the democratic developments of the past millennium, men cannot seem to live peacefully without it. The institution of politics, however, only recently developed. One should not confuse government and politics as they are practically the antithesis of each other. Government is the control of public policy, while politics is the art of doing so. The political world in America has an image associated with it, one that is negative and not easily shaken off. The common perception is that of a world filled with greedy power hungry men, a view not without merit. In actuality the field of American politics is one surrounded by those who are willing to do whatever it takes to advance and those who have no regard for the consequences of their actions; notions that are wonderfully conveyed in the works Primary Colors and All the Kings Men.
Primary Colors, written anonymously by Joe Klein, captures the essence of political ruthlessness, as it conveys the story of how far one couple will go in their determination to win the Democratic Primary. In his quest for the Democratic ticket, Governor Stanton instructed his team to dig up damaging facts about his political opponents at whatever cost. Jack and Susan Stanton, after being provided with the information they sought about the leading candidate, were going to ruin a man's life if it wasn't for the conscience of his aides. As a result of her deep desire for her husband to win this race, Susan didn't care about the life altering ramifications her and her husbands actions would have because she thought that if they didn't "move on this Picker situation we"re dead. Everything we worked for since Miami twenty years ago dies. And fast. It will die tomorrow," (Klein 336). Through out his campaign Governor Jack Stanton makes it apparent that he has no qualms about lying about anything, no matter how insignificant, to win the election.
