Thread by @RadioFreeTom

I HAVE no intention of explaining how the correspondence which I now offer to the public fell into my hands. I found it in a dumpster outside the Old Executive Office building. /1

The sort of script which is used in this book can be very easily obtained by anyone who has once learned the knack; but disposed or excitable people who might make a bad use of it shall not learn it from me. /2

My Dear Wormwood:

Your last letter concerns me. Your rapturous reports of backstabbing and double-dealing among the White House staff are juvenile and worse than useless. Their arguments, at least in terms of substance, mean nothing to us. /3

Most of them are already destined for Our Father’s House, and where they stand on any one squabble will hardly alter their already rather full ledgers down here. Of course, I understand that human venality and anger are heady brews for you, but they merely appetizers. /4

These petty fights have not flared into full hatred, blackmail, or even murder. (Yet.) They are unlikely to do so, and such operations, if approved by the Lowerarchy, would be sourced to more senior, and I feign, more competent devils than you. /5

Instead, I want you to get clear in your mind that their arguments over “policy” are trivial sins compared to the state of mind in which they conduct their every waking moment. I fear that you have become infected by our own propaganda about “good” and “bad” policies.” /6

This is why I am specially worried that you even should ask me which "policy positions" you must encourage among the White House staff. Really, Wormwood, that's the kind of question one expects *them* to ask! /7

Leave it to them to discuss whether child molesters or tariffs or due process are “good” or “bad”. Can't you see that among humans without fixed principles, or who have compromised themselves for the sake of power - or even just a reflected glow of power - there's no answer? /8

Nothing matters except the anger and the likelihood of sin. This is not difficult. I have been in contact with Smegmulcher, who has the Old Man firmly in hand. Smegmulcher assures me that the Old Man's narcissism is as predictable as a sunset if you approach him properly. /9

For our purposes, nothing matters at all except how a leader in a given state of mind, in given circumstances, moves large groups of the public either toward the Enemy or toward us, to disgusting comity or realistic, dignified hatred of each other. /10

If the Old Man gets it into to his head, for example, to limit weapons in order to decrease murders and suicides - and might I say our Suicide Experts in recent years have done fine work - then this should be squelched immediately by tweaking his fear of appearing weak. /11

If, on the other hand, the goal is to rile up the Old Man and get him to take guns in a narcissistic rage driven by a smug journalist appearing on the television we have taught him to love, and thus sow hate and violence, by all means, let him issue a decree. /12

You see? The "good" or "bad" of the policy really matters little; it is but one more means of catching souls, from the top to the bottom of this strange and decadent society. We provide the cheese; it is left for the mice to spring the trap. /13

I do not see that it betrays a confidence or classified information to tell you that the Old Man is a difficult case. His self-awareness is low even by human standards, but still requires delicate handling. /14

If we allow him to descend to paranoia and a complete disconnect from reality, he loses the moral sense that allows his damnation. If we raise him too far up, we risk that he might see in his wife or children something he once was or wanted to be. This could lead anywhere. /15

This would be bad, for it would risk that horrid, asphyxiating thing we call "Grace" coming within reach of the patient. (Yes, Wormwood, it would still be available even to this one, despite his titanic sins, and would be a massive defeat for us.) /16

Your job is to ensure that this never happens. A steady stream of rage and paranoia, packaged as “policy” must be proffered for the worst reasons, delivered in the most venal way, and executed so as to cause the greatest spiritual harm. Work with Smegmulcher on this. /17

But remember always each soul, from the Old Man on down, is equally valuable to the Enemy. You might think souls such as these fall into hell like snowflakes, but each has to be wrangled away like a wild boar. Once subdued, of course, you may feast on their anger eternally. /18

In the meantime, get it clear in your own mind that this state of office warfare is not, in itself, necessarily favorable either to us or to the other side.The Enemy, too, sees opportunities here for his depraved notions of forgiveness, repentance, shame, and enlightenment. /19

You must prevent all that by keeping them busy. "Policy," like most of the other things which humans are excited about, such as health and sickness, or war and peace, it is, from the point of view of the spiritual life, mainly raw material. Nothing is naturally on our side. /20

So pay attention to your work, nephew: Bring us food or be food yourself. If you claim that you were hindered by the machinations of K Street or the depredations of Georgetown I am not sure a charge of heresy does not lie against you and I cannot - and will not - protect you. /21

And remember: you have three years, maybe fewer, and we expect it to be a time of unbroken success, just as mine was in the European Sector a century ago. So keep your mind on your work, please. /22

And pray do not fill your future letters with what horrid things these people are doing. That they were going to run up a butchers bill of sin I knew already. Whether those sins will still cling to them like wet, defiled rags for eternity, I will find out on this end later. /23

Of course, there is an entirely separate question of how ordinary people react to all this, much as deciding how polluting a river kills some of the animal life while strengthening others. But this is too much for the end of a letter. More of this in my next. /24

Your most affectionate Uncle,

Screwtape

(with apologies to the great CS Lewis)