Posted on 03/02/2009 9:05:37 AM PST by SolidWood
It seems that if despotism came to be established in the democratic nations of our day, it would have other characteristics: it would be more extensive and milder, and it would degrade men without tormenting them.
When I think of the small passions of men of our day, the softness of their mores, the extent of their enlightenment, the purity of their religion, the mildness of their morality, their laborious and steady habits, the restraint that almost all preserve in vice as in virtue, I do not fear that in their chiefs they will find tyrants, but rather schoolmasters.
I want to imagine with what new features despotism could be produced in the world: I see an innumerable crowd of like and equal men who revolve on themselves without repose, procuring the small and vulgar pleasures with which they fill their souls.
Above these an immense tutelary power is elevated, which alone takes charge of assuring their enjoyments and watching over their fate. It is absolute, detailed, regular, far-seeing, and mild. It would resemble paternal power if, like that, it had for its object to prepare men for manhood; but on the contrary, it seeks only to keep them fixed irrevocably in childhood; it likes citizens to enjoy themselves provided that they think only of enjoying themselves. It willingly works for their happiness; but it wants to be the unique agent and sole arbiter of that; it provides for their security, foresees and secures their needs, facilitates their pleasures, conducts their principal affairs, directs their industry, regulates their estates, divides their inheritances; can it not take away from them entirely the trouble of thinking and the pain of living?
(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...
Somehow I do not think we will put up with his socialism. As his backround is leaked out now the election is over will the public still like him? With pop up pelosi and Dingy Harry.
Bookmark!
Just, wow. Wow!
Barack Obama’s America
No such place exists.
Obama is entirely AntiAmerica.
America is not nor will it ever be Socialist.
We may have a Socialist Government taking over the land but they will rule their own Nation never America. America will survive Obama and defeat this attack on it.
His background is guarded more than Fort Knox. Dream on about that :)
They’ve got guts to put a cover like that out. Bravo!
Always liked the Weekly Standard, though some here malign it as “not really” conservative or “neocon”.
Isn't everything to those who use that term?
Amazing << Hear this. Feel this, and tell me that this isn't music.
Hey Barack HUSSEIN Obama, I went to Harvard too! That was the worst fieldtrip of my life, but I went there...
I hardly call the past 8 years of Barnes and Kristol conservative. I remember election night 2004 when Kristol look and talked with euphoric joy over the winner JFKerry. Who was it exactly that coined the word "neocon"? It is not my word and it apparently means different things to different people.
Alexis de Tocqueville is the author that the Weakly Standard now deems timely.
Obama is an abuser and America is the abused woman thinking she deserves the abuse—it is a sick situation
Allegedly coined by Kristol Senior. You are right that it means many different things from Liberal-turned-moderately Right wing to any Foreign policy hawk. I'd characterize them as mostly elitist RINO hawks. But I'm a hawk, and therefore don't reject their ideas completely. On Foreign Policy I agree with a good deal of the ideas they espouse, but their domestic views are democrat-lite.
Kristol, for all his faults, got it right on Iraq and he was an early and ardent supporter of Palin. I applaud him at least for that. Of the "neocons" he is easily the most likeable... (if we neglect his cackle and constant smirk.)
The Weekly Standard is by no stretch conservative on many issues, but I think it makes a good read nontheless, and they aren't afraid to pile on the Dems.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.