Posted on 12/21/2005 7:20:48 AM PST by Marxbites
Tocqueville foresaw a new soft despotism coagulating around the lower classes, with their low tastes and their resentments of anybody supposedly better than they are. They will want everybody pulled down, controlled, regulated, to enforce a leveling equality. The passion behind this machinery of repression will be envy. Here is how he describes it:
I am trying to imagine under what novel features despotism may appear in the world. In the first place, I see an innumerable multitude of men, alike and equal, constantly circling around in pursuit of the petty and banal pleasures with which they glut their souls. Each one of them, withdrawn into himself, is almost unaware of the fate of the rest....
Over this kind of men stands an immense, protective power which is alone responsible for securing their enjoyment and watching over their fate. That power is absolute, thoughtful of detail, orderly, provident, and gentle. It would resemble parental authority if, fatherlike, it tried to prepare charges for a man's life, but on the contrary, it only tries to keep them in perpetual childhood. It likes to see the citizens enjoy themselves, provided that they think of nothing but enjoyment. It gladly works for their happiness but wants to be sole agent and judge of it. It provides for their security, foresees and supplies their necessities, facilitates their pleasure, manages their principal concerns, directs their industry, makes rules for their testaments, and divides their inheritances. Why should it not entirely relieve them from the trouble of thinking and all the cares of living? .............
Oops - forgot to check excerpt.
See the whole article here please:
http://www.nationalreview.com/novak/novak200512210809.asp
The paleo-Coms of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s obviously read DeToqueville. They knew exactly where and how to strike to weaken our Republic.
What would he think of his own homeland???
He did. Now given the circumstances, would you rather be in the ruled class or the ruling class?
"What would he think of democracy in today's America?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He wouldn't recognize it.
Read the article!
Reminds me of the people Wells invents in "The Time Machine."
Just that excerpt alone is perfectly written, and right on the money.
I guarantee you my high school son's history teacher hasn't read him, and wouldn't in a million years teach him in his class.
T's prescient pontificating has me thinking along the lines of the DNC planks with a supporting role by the rinos of the gop...
Thanks!!!
Sad but oh so true.
I am self employed but I have this yearning to teach among the socialists and stir up some trouble, smash some myths and help create a better world for my grandkids.
My own kids avoid Dad's constant harangue against unlimited Govt, but they do get it, just tired of hearing about it - and that's too damn bad!
Good luck with yours - and take that teacher a copy of "Road to Serfdom" RWR's favorite.
Most districts are desperate for Subs. Get certified, and become a sub.
This is what I'm going to do in the next few years.
Good luck to you and your family, and have a nice Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you an yours too.
Thanks!
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