Ike is President Dwight Eisenhower, who, as he left office in 1961, said it would take “an alert and knowledgeable citizenry” to navigate the future course of America in light of the A-bomb and growing technology.

Edith is Edith Hamilton, the Greek mythologist, who, in the introduction to her classic “Mythology” said this about the oldest Greek literature: “... men were striving to express themselves with clarity and beauty, an indisputable proof of civilization.”

Groucho, of course, is Groucho Marx, who said this about America: “In America you can go on the air and kid the politicians, and the politicians can go on the air and kid the people.”

Of the three, Edith is the one who actually used the word “clarity” in the quote attributed to her, but Ike and Groucho were talking about clarity too. Ike said the American people would need clarity to keep from stepping off a precipice in the future. Groucho said that politicians by nature aren’t in the business of dispensing clarity but double-speak, “joshing” and cajoling. At least, that’s my interpretation of what he was getting at.

Fifty years after Ike’s farewell address I don’t know of too many straight-thinking Americans who would give us a passing grade on navigating the future to this point. Clarity is a victim of the times because, as Groucho said, politicians not only kid us but treat us as kids. Couple that with our naivete and lack of alertness and knowledge and I can only conclude our civilization is in danger.

Here’s what got me to thinking about Ike, Edith and Groucho. The Center for Public Integrity recently reported on “Dark money buys state supreme court races.” CPI looked into 10 “high-profile” state supreme court elections held in 2012 and 2013. They concluded that one-third of the $11.7 million spent by independent groups in those elections originated OUTSIDE the election states. According to CPI, most of the outside money came from “Washington, D.C.-based organizations.”

That’s the lack of clarity in question; that’s the threat. You can’t have something called “dark” money and have clarity. It might be called the “Mississippi State Supreme Court” election (and Mississippi was one of the races CPI looked into) but CPI concluded that out-of-state influence (dark money) likely decided the race. Today any group anywhere can run attack ads in any state and never have to disclose themselves. It not only lacks clarity but the “beauty” of democracy is tarnished as well.

The secret word is “clarity.” Say the secret word and win $100. Yes, I’m old enough to remember “The Groucho Marx Show” ... and I’m old enough to remember Ike ... but I’m still alert enough to know things stink to high heaven in the State of America.

Bob Morgan is a retired, award-winning journalist and an author.