@cstross The Laundry needs some modicum of peace, government, and good order to exist as a thing in a context, and the Black Pharaoh does provide.
The current crop of politicians aren't arguing about how to do the thing; they're arguing about what other thing should be done instead, if only people can be compelled to be good, righteous, moral people who understood their duty to die uncomplaining in specific ways with specific timing, lest the incumbents face alteration of circumstances.