I've mostly enjoyed watching the Netflix series House of Cards. Especially in its first season, the show did a good job, whether intentionally or not, of showing the kind of people who seek and thrive in positions of political power.

One of the best lines from the early seasons comes from Frank Underwood, the main character, who offers the following shut-up argument to an ultra-rich businessman who's trying to mess up Underwood's plans to grab the presidency: "You may have all the money, but I have all the men with guns." Exactly!

But it's not all good. Last season's flirtation with creating a massive welfare state — America Works — is one case in point. Intended to "create" 10 million jobs, the writers didn't worry about the program's impact on incentives, efficiency, or indeed any public-choice considerations. Apparently, you can pull-off an enormous redistribution scheme on willpower, alone.