Chapotraphouse

The only thing I remember from that book is de Tocqueville says the only Americans who seem to care about national politics are either very rich or complete cranks. And he says the very rich ones have very petty, minor disagreements with one another because rich people live in little secluded mansions completely separated from normal society so their political concerns don't seem to match what's actually happening in the world. And despite all that, their disagreements are really bitter and aggressive. This book was written in 1835.

I think I remember something else where he talks about how politicians in America are less likely to do direct corruption, like clear cut bribery, and more likely to leverage their political power to gain connections and wealth, then when they transition to private life they retain those connections to both wealthy people and government power. Something like that? I read this book 20 years ago. Also he was very clear that America is lying about the freedom and liberty stuff because of slavery and the genocide of indigenous Americans.