Do you recognize this quote?
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Strauss (
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October 11th, 2021
(Someone like that) will always be with us, waiting for the right climate in which to flourish – spreading fear in the name of righteousness. Vigilance…That is the price we have to continually pay.
Do you agree? Do you think it’s current? Historical? Theatrical?
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10 Answers
Don’t know the quote, and won’t google. I would say it is historical. Might be speaking of Savanarola in Florence.
It sounds historical but I think it can be applied equally to today. Savanorola – yes, but also Hitler and Trump.
The way I remember hearing it is, “Constant vigilance is the price of freedom”
I found this
Freedom and democracy are fragile. We have to be on the lookout for autocratic populists.
That is from Star Trek TNG. Specifically it is about Admiral Satie, in the episode “The Drumhead”.
I think the current situation is way beyond that. Most politicians are pawns of the oligarchy to one degree or another. The “culture wars” and fascist and racist and religious conflicts are all ways to use fear to distract from that and get people to give power to maniacs.
@Zaku Yes, but “one degree or another” can be the difference between inaction and ineptitude and hate speech and insurrection. Or in other words, I still see a big difference between Biden and Trump.
In a way it’s almost more comforting to believe that there is an over-reaching oligarchy in control than it is to realize that there is no captain in the chair and we are all collectively driving humanity off a cliff with nobody at the helm.
@janbb Well yes, of course.
Biden is an ordinary conservative-leaning establishment Democrat who is experienced, intelligent and competent, and is willing to correct at least the worst of the Trump damage, and is at least willing to act on Climate Change.
Trump was someone who never should have been able to get anywhere in the Republican Primary, if that party were sane, which shows how perverse our parties and news media are. And that the choices were between Trump and another candidate with a negative approval rating DESPITE the corporate media and party spins, shows how broken and un-democratic the two party system and first-past-the-post election rules are. Not to mention all the other effects of big money on politics.
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