Originally posted by: Edso
We are definitely seeing now why Washington warned the nation about the danger of politicial parties in 1796.
From Washington's Farewell Address:
"I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the state, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally.
This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.
The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty."
In the bolded part at the end, that sure sounds like MAGA. Thoughts?
Certainly an eloquent statement, and one of a simple truth. While I don't want to track down other quotes right now, I'm fairly sure that many statesmen and authors (Churchill and Asimov come to mind) have said the same thing: People are often quite willing, sometimes eager, to forfeit their freedom in exchange for security,
Ben Franklin: "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
So that's why so many MAGA morons are willing to ignore Trump's boatload of horrid qualities: they can be pretty sure that he wants to be and will be a dictator and that their freedoms will diappear. That is very appealing to them. Sad and kind of inexplicable, but true.
However, that isn't really the source of what bothers Jerry. For one thing, his estimation that "the system" has produced two terrible candidates is wrong. It has produced one lousy candidate and one existentially horrible candidate. To explain that, one only has to take a look at the spoken philosophies of both political parties.
Without expounding too much on the above, I just want to point out, as an example, the gulf between how each group regards people who are "different" (gay, non-white, transgender, immigrants) and how they should be treated:
Republicans: These people make me feel icky and therefore, they should be exterminated.
Democrats: These people are often discriminated against and therefore, should be protected.
And we nominate and elect candidates who support one or the other of these divergent points of view.
