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John Adams: "Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that didn't commit suicide".
IMO, we've never had true democracy in this country, it's been counterfeit all along.
But just the same, what do you think? The democracy we do have in this country, how much longer is it going to last? What will bring about its last act of suicide?
We are also a democracy I the way we decide on governing. No democracy is in great shape as we allow the elections to decide. We also have clear choice as one can see form the clear difference in parties. Many western Democaries have had numerous parties with only difference being how much free stuff they promise. Some will face continuing problems of growth for decades to come likely.
We are not, and never was a democracy. We are a republic...
I understand what the OP meant, as this is a democratic republic.
As far as the OP's question, there are many who'd like to see draconian restrictions on just about every constitutional right. Forget those who'd love to see the 2nd Amendment repealed, just consider those in favor of "hate-speech" laws.
John Adams: "Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that didn't commit suicide".
IMO, we've never had true democracy in this country, it's been counterfeit all along.
But just the same, what do you think? The democracy we do have in this country, how much longer is it going to last? What will bring about its last act of suicide?
John Adams just pulled that from his arse, since democracy (simple representative democracy not speaking of the direct democracy) never was a popular social arrangement prior to 1776 (or even 1976).
Since the times of ancient Greece, "democracy" meant that wealthy mercantile class felt that it's oppressed by kings and nobility limiting their decision making freedoms. Merchant class got rid of the kings to settle issues by means of politicking among themselves (using mobs, assassinations and poisons among other tools of democracy. Elections and voting you associate with democracy were not that popular).
Virtually ALL more or less "democratic" (for the wealthy at least) arrangements prior to 1776 ceased to exist because plebeians saw no point in dying/working/serving for their rapacious and "democratic" upper caste. Most importantly, collective policy making (by the wealthy) was not as efficient as those of the totalitarian states ruled by kings. To put it simply the wealthy ancient democrats spent way too much time killing each other while jockeying for a position of power (and wealth) at the time their totalitarian neighbors built up armies and supplies. It's not like kings didn't squabble for power, but known ancient "democracies" are absolutely the worst.
So here is democratic pattern Adams should have known about: The wealthy class gets super rapacious in robbing plebeians of their livelihood and property (did you know that free peasantry simply ceased to exist in the democratic Athens?), the wealthy democrats spend way too much time, blood and energy trying to secure positions of power, plebeians saw no point in defending such a beacon of freedom, democratic mercantile class was too inept (and absorbed by the power struggles) to force plebians to fight their wars. The end.
Now you see why state & corporate propaganda spends so much time to promote "cohesiveness" in the deeply class divided societies. They learned a lesson.
I have lived through 12 presidencies & have always been interested in history & politics. I do not know if things are really worse than they were 200 years ago or if it is the instant communications & constant news updates that make it seem worse.
My main concern is the majority of people seem to have the attitude "I am right & everyone that disagrees with me is wrong".
I just do not remember the past as having all this ranting & raving we hear now.
I enjoy talking politics even with people I disagree with if they are civil & just talk about the disagreements.
John Adams: "Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that didn't commit suicide".
IMO, we've never had true democracy in this country, it's been counterfeit all along.
But just the same, what do you think? The democracy we do have in this country, how much longer is it going to last? What will bring about its last act of suicide?
I think if we can get the capitalists out of the system, especially in healthcare and energy Democracy has a much better change of surviving.
John Adams: "Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that didn't commit suicide".
IMO, we've never had true democracy in this country, it's been counterfeit all along.
But just the same, what do you think? The democracy we do have in this country, how much longer is it going to last? What will bring about its last act of suicide?
John Adams wasn't saying that we have or should have a democracy.
"Democracy has never been and never can be so durable as aristocracy or monarchy; but while it lasts, it is more bloody than either."
The economy is already so hollowed out that it can't support half the adult population with steady work. This great shift of jobs to Asia was done so that the one percent in America can make a few more dollars on their stock holdings.
A third of the population is paying all the taxes and working 50 hours or more per week to do it. Most of those jobs are in the FIRE, health care, government or education sectors, where Bulls*it reigns supreme and the benumbed employee brains make them walking zombies. Don't worry, there's medication for that. If you have health insurance.
While they've been busy turning America into a post industrial wasteland, they also financialized our economy, running Ponzi schemes and other rackets, taking the money, and dumping the asset backed toilet paper in the banks and pension funds to be bailed out by - the shrinking taxpayers. Once every cent of actual productive wealth is wrung out of the system, they'll move on, like locusts.
Our politicians are completely bought and paid for by the rich. Both parties. Our current crook in chief has a race fetish that is causing him to cause as much division as possible amongst the population in the hopes of creating a race war. He is Nero fiddling, while the one percent burn Rome.
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