Politics As Theater

Shaan Puri shares his perspective on politics, viewing it primarily through the lens of marketing and theater rather than policy. He finds the performative and strategic aspects more fascinating than the actual governance.

Key Points:

• Political Interest is Marketing-Based:

  • Only interested in politics from a "marketing point of view"
  • Views it like watching a movie - fascinating to see how things play out in real life
  • More intrigued by the theater of politics than policy implementation

• Trump Rally Analysis:

  • Watched a full rally to understand the production elements
  • Noticed specific musical choices (Macho Man, YMCA)
  • Fascinated by the pre-show playlist and crowd warm-up tactics
  • Views it as carefully orchestrated performance

• Real Politics Behind Closed Doors:

  • Attended private meeting with SF Mayor Ed Lee and tech leaders
  • Observed politicians saying "a lot of words that don't mean a whole lot"
  • Noticed disconnect between public promises and private actions
  • Found that even in private meetings, politicians avoid substantial commitments

• Bureaucratic Reality:

  • Recognizes that real change is difficult due to bureaucratic forces
  • Compares it to working in big companies where making changes is extremely difficult
  • Understands why politicians often default to vague responses
  • Notes how the "forces of bureaucracy" weigh down attempts at real change

• Personal Takeaway:

  • Views political engagement through entertainment value rather than policy impact
  • Prefers studying the marketing and performance aspects
  • Maintains distance from actual political involvement
  • Treats it as an observer studying theater rather than a participant in governance