from closing down lanes of bridge traffic to turning loose the IRS, Netflix's series

無論是蓄意干擾對方的交通興建政策或指使國稅局介入都是常見的事情。 Netflix 的影集

House of Cards and its tale of the ruthless and ambitious congressman Frank Underwood

《紙牌屋》講述的正是一位冷血無情又野心勃勃的議員 Frank Underwood

straddles the line between fiction and reality.

將人們玩弄在虛實之間

Here are the top three lessons to help you better understand the much anticipated second season of House of Cards.

現在這三件事讓你更了解這齣叫好叫座，即將推出第二季的影視巨作

Number one, as a general principle, we should be very skeptical of politicians. After all,

一：我們普遍都應對政客抱持著懷疑的態度，畢竟

the motives of people who desire to rule others should be regarded suspiciously. The series

一心想要統治大家的人很難不讓人心存疑竇。這部影集告訴我們：

presents politicians as no different from any other human being in their desire to satisfy

政客和我們沒兩樣，都想先滿足自己的利益

their own interests first. For example, Frank is passed over for the Secretary of State

舉例來說，新總統編排內閣之時，Frank 並沒有如期當上國務卿。憤恨之餘

position he was led to believe would be his, and sets his plan in motion to essentially

他便決定要狠狠地復仇並爬得更高

get revenge and higher office. House of Cards is a strong realistic alternative to the romantic

有別於ㄧ般人透過媒體，而對政治人士有不切實際的想像

view of politics so often seen in the media.

《紙牌屋》用更現實的角度切入，並深入的剖析政治家的思想

Number two, House of Cards shows the constant backroom trading of favors among the politicians,

二：它揭露了政治人物與其職員、利益團體甚至大眾之間的幕後交易

their staffers, special interests, and, occasionally, the public. Politics is yet another way in

在他們的眼中，政治不過就是一種利益交換的行為，藉此能夠讓自己站上更高的位置

which people try to make themselves better off through exchange. Take Peter Russo for instance.

或得到更多的好處。拿劇中人物Peter Russo為例：

Frank saves Russo from the cops, who busted him for DUI and solicitation, and now Russo is effectively Frank's pawn.

在 Russo將因酒駕和關說名聲敗裂之際，Frank 壓下消息並保釋了他，因此 Russo 便只好成為Frank的魁儡

He encourages Russo to flip-flop on the shipyards

他指使 Russo 改變決定，不再興建會提供選民

that employ his constituents in order to promote a green project for the Underwoods' own goals,

就業機會的船廠，轉而支持他的綠色計畫

with only a fig leaf of public interest. Unlike the market, where mutually beneficial exchanges

選民的利益便因此大幅的減少。市場交易和政治交換的不同在於

tend to produce unintended benefits for society, the consequences of political exchange are

市場交易中的利益能帶給社會福利；然而政治交換的結果

often harmful.

卻通常是百害而無一利

Number three, politics attracts those who are especially skilled at public relations,

三：政治特別吸引那些善於打交道、

favor trading, and power plays, not necessarily those who best further the public interest.

著迷於權力遊戲與利益交換的人們，而不是為公共利益著想的正義之士

Where the object is to manipulate other people into doing your bidding and to look good publicly while doing it,

他們的目標就在於操弄別人服命令，並不讓大眾起疑

those who have a comparative advantage in wielding this ugly form of power

那些比較之下更長袖善舞，能將這醜惡規則運用自如的人

will rise to high office.

便更有機會一步一步爬上大位

As the economist F. A. Hayek put it in his book The Road to Serfdom, this is why the worst get on top.

正如經濟學家 F. A. Hayek 在自己的著作《奴役之路》中所說的，這就是為什麼相對差勁的人能夠當上領導

If we want to prevent more Frank Underwoods from climbing the political

如果我們想要預防更多像 Frank Underwoods

ladder, we need to change the incentives of politics in order to reduce the power of politicians.

這樣的人爬上位，我們必須降低政治行為的利益所得，以此削弱其權利

We need a more limited government without the possibility of dealing in these kinds

我們需要更小的政府，以此避免可能遇到的

of special favors.

利益交換問題

Though some might call House of Cards deeply cynical, it's better described as an unromantic

雖然有人形容《紙牌屋》是部過於憤世嫉俗的影劇，但更好的描述應該是它成功地描寫出

and realistic view of politics, and one that finds support in political and economic theory.

了政治的現實面，且得到政治及經濟理論的認可

You can learn more about this in our interactive Learn Liberty Academy taught by yours truly

若想知道更多，你可以到 Learn Liberty Academy 的互動網站

and fueled by passionate Facebook discussions and riveting content. And we might even be

或是到我們的 Facebook 去參與討論或觀看更多有趣的內容。我們甚至可以

able to provide you with some ideas on what you can do about the problems raised in House of Cards.

提供一些想法，或者是解答你對《紙牌屋》裡的疑問。

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