If you turn on the news today, you could be mislead in thinking that politics is mostly about a great ideological fight for the direction of the country. But as I’m reading Robert Caro’s The Power Broker, I’m reminded what government is ultimately about – patronage.

Political parties are groups of people who serve each other’s interests by living off the largesse of taxpayers. People in political parties often don’t agree with each other but they serve each other as they know serving their common goals move themselves and their communities forward.

Often patronage is considered a bad word or a waste of government resources. But it’s how work gets done, it is how coalitions of support are built. Ideology is nice and it might feel good like stroking certain body parts. Yet, nothing was ever built on a common belief. But making sure all supporters are rewarded makes it possible to build great things both for society and the individuals who make up society.