[Tax-chick]

The more loutish and brutish, the better. Keeps the locals in fear, and easier to manipulate.

I think it was Theodore Dalrymple who wrote about the corrosive effects on people when they have to pretend they don't see what's right in front of them. It's one thing to have a gray functionary in a position: people can reasonably think, "Well, nobody else would be able to do much in the job, either,"

However, when there's a comic book figure such as Ms. Sills, and normal people have to pretend they don't notice, it can drive people to despair.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Excellent observation.