Is the author talking about a true democracy, or a democratic dictatorship?
I don't think that historians quite imagined the US political system when researching democracies.
I really enjoyed the insight about the people realizing that they can vote themselves gifts from the public treasury. I wince when I think about the special interest groups and lobbyists doing that very thing today.
JFK really turned it back on the populace, telling the people to answer the call and about "..what you can do for your country." The apathy that abounds today is tempered by fanatics and watchdogs; we are lucky to have people passionate about their homes and future.
Well, I have to agree with Ustwo about where we are on that slippery slope. From complacency to apathy is a really bad place to be.
Yes, the government system will change when a pandemic or another orchestrated terror attack occurs, and not for the better. The liberties and freedoms that were lost in the aftermath of September 11th, 2001 will not return without stong will or (dare I say) bloodshed.
A benevolent dictatorship was the highest level of government a state could achieve in ancient philosophy. Just because all of the modern dictators have been really bad does not mean that the dictatorial system is flawed. What if there was a person who loved the country, its people, and had the public's best interest in mind at all times? Would you not want to have that person run the country?
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Hey, if you are impressed with my memorizing pi to 10 digits, you should see the size of my penis.
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