"Anybody who doesn't know that politics is crime has got a few screws loose"

This quote by James Ellroy is a commentary on the state of politics in the modern world. It implies that those who are unaware of the corruption and criminality that often exists in politics are naive and out of touch with truth. Ellroy is recommending that politics is not a noble occupation, but rather a field of dubious negotiations and backroom deals. He is implying that those who are uninformed of this are not well notified and might be missing out on crucial information. This quote is a tip that politics is not always as it appears and that it is very important to stay educated and familiar with the potential for corruption and criminality. It is a warning to be wary of those in power and to be familiar with the capacity for abuse of power.