H.L. Mencken is often regarded as one of the most influential American writers of the early 20th century. Here are some of his timeless quotes on politics, democracy, government and elections.
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The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.
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Government is a broker in pillage, and every election is a sort of advance auction in stolen goods.
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Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
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Democracy, too, is a religion. It is the worship of jackals by jackasses.
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Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage.
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Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.
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Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under.
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If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner.
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As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.
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All government, of course, is against liberty.
As far as completely fake votes (computer generated synthetic votes or flips), I agree with Shiva.... 4.2% 😉
As far as the election laws violated, it really doesn't matter. The whole "outcome determinative" judicial standard is nonsense, especially when the true vote totals simply cannot be reliably ascertained (evidence has already been deleted... at least so we are told).
Because "manipulation" isn't the same thing as fabrication, which is quite literally fraud.
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That sneaky right of freedom of speech. Granted, libel, slander, malice, defamation etc are already criminal acts... but how often are lies actually prosecuted, let alone successfully? Must prove damages... there's the rub
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So long as there is democracy, there will be attempts by politicians, parties and puppet masters to manipulate and con voters. Can't stop it. Can't outlaw it. Can only fight evil propaganda with good propaganda.
But the more important issue, is the blatant violation of the law, of the Constitution, of fraudulent elections, of incompetent, negligent, and malicious representatives and officials. The draining of that swamp is absolutely necessary if there is to ever be any real change.
He was, multiple times. Democracy, eh?
Two wrongs don't make a right. How we win matters. Sometimes the people are stupid and they...
https://youtu.be/Ef9QnZVpVd8
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So if the methods are different, what is different about them? You seem less concerned about the nature of each method, as opposed to the results and their potential misuse. Manipulation is deception, which can be grey and used to achieve good or evil results. But fraud is always evil because it's not merely deception, but blatant cheating.
If I convince you to give me $10, that's on you for allowing yourself to be persuaded to give me $10. If I beat the shit out of you and steal your $10, the same result is achieved, I now have your money. You really see no difference in the nature of the methods utilized?
Manipulation, is not the same as fraud. Regardless of the outcome, how one wins, matters.