…and this does not surprise, given that the so many of the Teeming Millions are addled and credulous. Somewhere (around eight or ten years ago, I think) I ran across an observation to the effect that the left has to get over the idea that Americans are decent, goodhearted folks who are being manipulated by cynical plutocrats, and realize instead that Americans are vengeful jerks who are being manipulated by cynical plutocrats. These conditions are clearly not unique to North America.
This said, how are we to organize society? We might have better luck under an enlightened despot than under the “popularly” elected Donald J. Trump, but where does one find an enlightened despot, much less a reliable supply of these? And, of course, “enlightened” by whose, er, lights? The social and economic scheme under which you might prefer to live would likely be abhorrent to the Christian reconstructionist down the block, and vice-versa.
As my old acquaintance Henry (probably Heinrich), a veteran of the Wehrmacht’s drive into the USSR in 1941-42 (luckily injured at a point in the campaign when it was still practical to evacuate casualties back to Germany) observed to me once, “the most depraved street criminal is not more ruthless than the wealthy in defense of their privilege.” It’s difficult to imagine a system that the rich will not strive to corrupt to their exclusive advantage.
A conundrum.
cordially,
This said, how are we to organize society? We might have better luck under an enlightened despot than under the “popularly” elected Donald J. Trump, but where does one find an enlightened despot, much less a reliable supply of these? And, of course, “enlightened” by whose, er, lights? The social and economic scheme under which you might prefer to live would likely be abhorrent to the Christian reconstructionist down the block, and vice-versa.
As my old acquaintance Henry (probably Heinrich), a veteran of the Wehrmacht’s drive into the USSR in 1941-42 (luckily injured at a point in the campaign when it was still practical to evacuate casualties back to Germany) observed to me once, “the most depraved street criminal is not more ruthless than the wealthy in defense of their privilege.” It’s difficult to imagine a system that the rich will not strive to corrupt to their exclusive advantage.
A conundrum.
cordially,