"even if we can't prevent the forces of tyranny from prevailing, we can at least "understand the force by which we are crushed." Simone Weil
Even if I am on a sinking ship called America, it is at least partial compensation to understand why and the reason for the attraction to statist slavery.
I admire Alexis de Tocqueville as a man with a profound understanding of what has made America a truly great experiment. If it fails it is only because of the fallen human condition.
Alexis de Tocqueville understood what John Adams understood which is that the goal of freedom furthered in the Constitution is impossible without the religious influence. Even with its faults the overall effect of the religious influence opens people to the benefits of higher values. It is what makes people “good.” Without it, America can never be great.
“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers – and it was not there . . . in her fertile fields and boundless forests and it was not there . . . in her rich mines and her vast world commerce – and it was not there . . . in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution – and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.”
― Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America
This is the main reason that the modern progressive influence must replace the religious influence with the statist influence. It is only through the statist influences that people can be conditioned to accept slavery in equality
“Democracy extends the sphere of individual freedom, socialism restricts it. Democracy attaches all possible value to each man; socialism makes each man a mere agent, a mere number. 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.”
― Alexis de Tocqueville
Where freedom seeks to limit the government’s power, the progressive influence entices people to give the government power in exchange for rights. It can continue until the government runs out of your money.
“The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.”
― Alexis de Tocqueville
Certain concepts essential for freedom and the ideals America was founded upon and what gives it the potential for greatness is the concept of blind justice: equality under the law. At the same time it is the antithesis of communism since it believes it alone can define justice. So by definition it cannot be blind
The Preamble to the Declaration of Independence states in its defense of freedom:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
The modern progressive belief is that rights are given to you by a government and it alone decides who is worthy of what rights. Under these circumstances the concept of blind justice has to go along with any objective distinction between what is legal and illegal. It all changes as the government decides what is and what is not PC.
Obviously there is a certain satisfaction in striving for equality in slavery as opposed to the benefits of liberty. I just don't understand it.
