Tolkien drops Grond on Democracy
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CS Lewis still wins the record for best summary of things today:
Nietzsche also did a good job of summing up today's insanity.
Because people see it as a proclamation, not a lament.
I have so many quotes saved that I really enjoy. I know living back then came with some serious difficulties, as well as the lack of many modern conveniences; however, it must have been a real pleasure to gather and discuss philosophy and such in free time.
One to add to this excellent collection:
Sir Thomas More, A Man for All Seasons.
I like the Sam Addams quote, only, it also holds true to minorities pushing evil.
It can, yes. However, that's very unlikely if people are raised with a strong moral and ethical foundation. That's how I see it at least.
Sadly, that seems to be sorely lacking these days. A huge amount of children are being raised by the soft light of a glowing screen that their parents put in their hands to keep them out of their hair. Children are being raised on a nonstop diet of vacuous consumerism. It's seriously disappointing.
I feel like its poison to let corporations and entertainment culture raise children and inculcate into their minds whatever their beliefs are.
At the very least, parents need to take a much more active role in ensuring their children have a very strong moral and ethical foundation that's built on good values. They also need to make sure they don't end up like solipsistic activist nutsjobs who try to force crap onto others because they never learned empathy.
I'm not even full blown anti-democracy as I believe representative government, if not a Lower House, is very useful for involving the public in the political system and preventing alienation.
However, maybe universal suffrage wasn't quite the way to go about it...
Universal suffrage is a front for oligarchy. Saying that anyone can vote is pretty on paper, just like saying women are equal to men. Reality, however, is not pretty, and trying to beautify a beast leaves you mauled on the floor.
I wouldn't call it a "front" more so an unfortunate side effect. These ideas sound great in the ivory towers but when they impact reality, it's a bit messy.
One form of equality that I think is good is equality before the law, though. I do think its only fair that everyone is entitled to a trial by a jury of their peers, and legislating on unalterable characteristics is a bit unforgiving, if not cruel.
Have to go with Ahaus on this one, it took me a while to accept that it has always been a front. It's part of the modern day bread and circuses. Why have we not had multiple revolutions since the civil war? Are we morally superior to our elders? Did we figure out a totally free system that no longer needs Jefferson's regular tree watering? No it's because they've devised a game where we think we are replacing government every few years, so it pacifies us into outsourcing our civic responsibility to them.
I will agree on your other points, if only for social cohesion and stability. Obviously democratic principles are important on a small scale, like your local city council, or the PTA. It can work in a small country with a homogeneous population. It's less important who rules than how much power they're allowed to wield. If we sufficiently limit the scope of government, and keep it limited through not letting them take our money, it doesn't matter if we have a pure democracy or a lifetime dictator. They can make whatever silly decrees they like as long as it doesn't affect me. If anything politics is probably a good sink for sociopathic narcissists - just keep them trapped in their corrupt bubble and unable to affect much change.
("Fair courts" are another myth however, and IMO should be replaced with competitive legal systems.)
The mistake isn't letting females vote, it's letting actual retards vote. As if they're equal to any living thing.
I know we're all posting quotes and such, but I'll point out there's a reason that old sayings stick around; they tend to be true. In this case, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."
We need to replace all literature and "social studies" classes with teachings from the great masters.