Oh, lawdy: Is this 'the most DavidBrooksian David Brooks sentiment ever?'

Sarah D. | 11:26 AM on September 23, 2014

David Brooks, ladies and gentlemen:

The most DavidBrooksian David Brooks sentiment ever? http://t.co/EjPtz2v3IA http://t.co/JDBfRIC0kb pic.twitter.com/MBpsRFjk62

— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) September 23, 2014

Maybe some context will help:

It’s important in times like these to step back and get clarity. The truest thing to say is this: We are living in an amazingly fortunate time. But we also happen to be living during a leadership crisis, and a time when few people have faith in elites to govern from the top. We live in a vibrant society that is not being led.

We don’t suffer from an abuse of power as much as a nonuse of power. It’s been years since a major piece of legislation was passed, and there’s little prospect that one will get passed in the next two.

This leadership crisis is eminently solvable. First, we need to get over the childish notion that we don’t need a responsible leadership class, that power can be wielded directly by the people. America was governed best when it was governed by a porous, self-conscious and responsible elite — during the American revolution, for example, or during and after World War II. Karl Marx and Ted Cruz may believe that power can be wielded directly by the masses, but this has almost never happened historically.

David knows what’s best for us.