I still marvel at Alexandre de Tocqueville whenever I read American history and politics.
de Tocqueville was quite possibly the most interesting and prescient commentator of American life and democracy.
Exaggeration?
"America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."
"Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude."
"The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money."
"The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults."
"The whole life of an American is passed like a game of chance, a revolutionary crisis, or a battle."
"There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle."
I like the last quote. It is true that many people have principles within their respective parties, but it is their party that manipulates them into disbanding their core-beliefs.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that while you are trying to make the people who elected/voted you into office happy, you are also trying to win over the rest of your party. Split between these two 'groups,' a politican loses him/herself in the turmoil that ensues from a fractured consciousness.
They eventually end up becoming solely enveloped in party politics, and ignore the public because in reality, once you are elected the party is all that matters. It is sad, and I wish I could change it, but very true all the same.