Politics?

In Adam's last post, he mentioned that he wasn't sure that Schmidt's idea of politics is relevant to the real way politics works, in that it is too cut throat, but that it fits Ender's world nicely. I'll agree with this on the outside, but I think that politics works that way in places taht we, as the public, cannot have access to. I wonder what the goal of politicians in America really is. If you asked them to describe their ideal world, would it be one where everything is America literally or just with Western views agreeable to us.

I believe that many political actions are actually motivated in the way that Schmidt describes, by viewing everyone as enemies. The most base motivation that drives every action of governments is fear, and naturally so, as protecting the sovereignty of their nation is their job. Therefore, if fear remains the driving force, actions will be as cut throat as Schmidt imagines. Overall, I think the reality of politics is not as severe as Schmidt's view, but fairly close ideologically.