Hey Chris Matthews, Machiavelli called - he wants his book back

Chris Matthews was on The Daily Show this week shilling his new book "Life's a Campaign."  And I loved Jon Stewart's comment -- definitely destined to be a classic, "I'm not trashing your book, I'm trashing your philosophy of life."  (I have a few people I'd like to use that on starting with Ann Coulter and working my way down to my boss.  "I'm not trashing your business plan ... ")

But, here's the thing.  Chris Matthews represents the type of person who, like my boss, not only elected Bush, but actually thinks we should continue to follow his lead unquestionably, in order for his kind (white, male, over-privileged, huge chip on shoulder), to stay in power.

Unfortunately, Matthews is writing for that crowd, and his book is described as follows:

The big payoff in Life's a Campaign is what you'll learn about human nature:

• People would rather be listened to than listen.
• People don't mind being used; what they mind is being discarded.
• People are more loyal to the people they've helped than the people they've helped are loyal to them.
• Not everyone's going to like you.
• No matter what anybody says, nobody wants a level playing field.

Yep. That describes my boss and his friends.  But, doesn't that book premise reek of something familiar?  Hmmmm.  I think someone already wrote that book - his name was Machiavelli.  Here's an excerpt from the Wikipedia summary of The Prince (emphasis mine):

All a hereditary prince needs to do is carefully maintain the institutions that the people are used to; a new prince has a much more difficult task since he must stabilize his newfound power and build a structure that will endure. This task requires the Prince to be publicly above reproach but privately may require him to do things of an evil nature in order to achieve the greater good.

***

A wise prince is one who properly exercises this proper balance. Pragmatism is a guiding thread through which Machiavelli bases his philosophy. The Prince should be read strictly as a guidebook on getting to and preserving power. In contrast with Plato and Aristotle, the ideal society is not the aim. In fact, Machiavelli emphasizes the need for the exercise of brute power where necessary and rewards, patron-clientalism etc. to preserve the status quo. Machiavelli's assumption, that human nature is fundamentally flawed, is also reflected in the need for brute force to attain practical ends.

Can Machiavelli sue posthumously for plagiarism?