I honestly don't much care that George H. W. Bush died

I didn't know him, and neither did you. He was a president--and not a very good president at that. You are responding to the PR, and that's it.

Moreover, the instant and ever-deepening Byzantine-funeral orgasm whenever any Powerful Person dies is deeply antidemocratic. When a society departs from reality, ritual gains in importance and elaboration. Not my cup of tea.

No, I'm not "happy" he died--but I will be when some Powerful People die, like his son, a mass murderer that puts Poppy to shame, no matter how much Ellen hugs him now.

Simple question: Would H.W. be thrown for a loop like this if, say, you died and he heard about it?

Cogitate on that. That's exactly how undemocratic we are.