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To: STE=Q
I have faith in the American people to do what is good and right — provided they are so informed.

OK. That is a sincere answer. I believe it is greatly Utopian. I believe that historically it has never occurred. And I believe that putting our fate in an "informed" electorate when no such body exists in practice is akin to suicide. But I do get it. I know exactly where you are. You once slept, you are now awake and desire to wake others that they may join you in the call to action. I do know that theory. I submit it is utter fantasy and that reason, history and direct knowledge will show you that the majority always sleeps and the remnant alone wakes.

439 posted on 08/01/2010 10:39:01 PM PDT by RachelFaith (2010 is going to be a 100 seat Tsunami - Unless the GOP Senate ruins it all...)
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To: RachelFaith
... "I believe that putting our fate in an "informed" electorate when no such body exists in practice is akin to suicide"

Permit me to go with the "Utopian" wisdom of Thomas Jefferson, as follows:

"I know no safe depositary of the ultimate powers of the society but THE PEOPLE themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to INFORM their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power." --Thomas Jefferson

(emphasis mine)

AND

"The most effectual means of preventing [the perversion of power into tyranny are] to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large, and more especially to give them knowledge of those facts which history exhibits, that possessed thereby of the experience of other ages and countries, they may be ENABLED to know ambition under all its shapes, and prompt to exert their natural powers to defeat its purposes." -- Thomas Jefferson

(emphasis mine)

Now I REALLY do have to go to bed!

STE=Q

461 posted on 08/02/2010 12:24:11 AM PDT by STE=Q ("It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from its government" ... Thomas Paine)
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