Addressed to: E. ALLEN SMITH <EALLENSMITH@ocelot.Rutgers.EDU> Cypherpunks <cypherpunks@toad.com> ** Reply to note from E. ALLEN SMITH <EALLENSMITH@ocelot.Rutgers.EDU> 05/06/96 8:47pm = To: attila@primenet.com = = From: IN%"attila@primenet.com" "attila" 5-MAY-1996 21:36:54.93 = = > how many _truly_ "populist" presidents have we elected? = = SMITH: = Given the numbers of times that a democracy has done more harm than = good to civil liberties (Prohibition, the election of Islamic Fundamentalists = in Algeria, etcetera), we don't _want_ a "populist"/demagogue president. We = want someone in charge (to whatever degree that someone has to be in charge) = who will respect civil liberties. The masses aren't going to elect such a = person; they prefer protection to liberty and always will. = = ATTILA: democracy is _never_ the ideal government. the difference in the American government is that it is a _republic_. the problem with a republic in the techno age is that the press and/or advertising creates the images --and can be bought, stolen, coerced, etc. my intent is to "lament" that the American voters do not influence the choice of candidates --who are vetted my money, or money's interests. most mat not wish to consider the hidden importance of the CFR and related groups --it is not a conspiracy; it is just another group with an agenda --except they have the money and influence to _buy_ the agenda over time --amd on their schedule. = > ATTILA: = > "They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little = > temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." = > --Ben Franklin (Historical Review of PA -1759) = > = > and, the bottom line is: = > = > "It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen = > from falling into error; = > it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government = > from falling into error." = > --Robert H. Jackson (1892-1954), U.S. Judge = = Quite. = -Allen -- Overseeing first-rate programmers is a managerial challenge roughly comparable to herding cats.