Talk about the flag or drugs or crime (never about race or class or justice) and follow the yellow brick road to the wonderful land of consensus. In place of honest argument among consenting adults the politicians substitute a lullaby for frightened children: the pretense that conflict doesn't really exist, that we have achieved the blessed state in which we no longer need politics.

Summary

This quote highlights how politicians often manipulate public discourse by diverting attention away from important issues such as race, class, and justice. Instead, they focus on superficial topics like the flag, drugs, and crime to create an illusion of consensus. By doing so, they suppress honest arguments and perpetuate a lullaby-like narrative, reassuring the fearful masses that conflicts and political engagement are unnecessary. The quote criticizes this tendency, emphasizing the need for genuine discourse and active participation in politics in order to address complex social issues and maintain a just society.

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