Books · 1919
Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.
— H. L. Mencken ‧ Prejudices, First Series
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The line compares an election to a sale conducted in advance, and labels the goods stolen. That image casts the process as an exchange involving something the seller does not rightfully own. Its cynicism comes from treating a public vote as a market for ill-gotten property.
Context reviewed