When discussing the polarization of American politics, pundits often act as if the categories Democrat and Republican reflect deep ideological divides, and that the truth lies somewhere in the center.
If you are like me, you have long known at a base, emotional level that the whole policy cycle — agenda setting, development solutions, decision-making and implementation — does not involve you. Wars are started, poverty ignored, the climate thrown out of balance and the police/prison system develops without anyone asking you — no survey, phone call, vote or post card. Not only were you not consulted, but in all likelihood no one you have ever known has ever had any impact on any policy outcome (though this is less true at Dartmouth).
Dartmouth is a rational institution with selected values.