Re: evil people always figure they’ll be the one holding the whip
I am reminded of a conversation I had with a co-worker. I wouldn’t have called him evil back then. He seemed to be a genuinely nice guy. But in discussing politics he fancied himself to be a communist. He was naive and ignorant of history. I quickly gave him a synopsis of w…
Re: evil people always figure they’ll be the one holding the whip
I am reminded of a conversation I had with a co-worker. I wouldn’t have called him evil back then. He seemed to be a genuinely nice guy. But in discussing politics he fancied himself to be a communist. He was naive and ignorant of history. I quickly gave him a synopsis of what happened under Mao in China and all the people who were starved to death or massacred, and how the rest lost their freedoms of speech, religions, etc. In a “but these go to eleven” moment, he replied that it wouldn’t be a problem for him because he would be one of the people in charge under a communist takeover of our country. As you say, holding the whip. Never mind what happens to the masses. Needless the say, my history lesson made no impact.
A sorta high-stakes game of Musical Chairs, you say?
“The first lesson of economics is scarcity: There is never enough of anything to satisfy all those who want it. The first lesson of politics is to disregard the first lesson of economics.”
It never does in the moment, because he has to defend his side of the argument. Long-term though, with a bit more witness and experience of injustice, and his thinking on that score might evolve with help from the leaven you sowed.
That sounds just like one of my commie sociology professors in college. He painted a utopian picture of how we would all work some hours in the morning and then enjoy our free time in the afternoon. Then we would all be dancing together in the evening. And he really believed it.
Difference between heroic and messianic - the latter are authoritarians, thus prepared to enforce “the good” upon others; while the former lead by example.
Re: evil people always figure they’ll be the one holding the whip
I am reminded of a conversation I had with a co-worker. I wouldn’t have called him evil back then. He seemed to be a genuinely nice guy. But in discussing politics he fancied himself to be a communist. He was naive and ignorant of history. I quickly gave him a synopsis of what happened under Mao in China and all the people who were starved to death or massacred, and how the rest lost their freedoms of speech, religions, etc. In a “but these go to eleven” moment, he replied that it wouldn’t be a problem for him because he would be one of the people in charge under a communist takeover of our country. As you say, holding the whip. Never mind what happens to the masses. Needless the say, my history lesson made no impact.
What happens when there are far fewer "whip-holder" positions available than applicants for the job? I hear it's violently competitive.
A sorta high-stakes game of Musical Chairs, you say?
“The first lesson of economics is scarcity: There is never enough of anything to satisfy all those who want it. The first lesson of politics is to disregard the first lesson of economics.”
― Thomas Sowell, Super Seriously Smart Guy
Yo *fist bump*
It never does in the moment, because he has to defend his side of the argument. Long-term though, with a bit more witness and experience of injustice, and his thinking on that score might evolve with help from the leaven you sowed.
"he replied that it wouldn’t be a problem for him because he would be one of the people in charge under a communist takeover"
Or first up against the wall.
Some even don't even want to be in charge. They think it's all just going to be FREE:
https://ifunny.co/picture/hey-hey-heyhey33810158-id-what-are-y-all-going-to-98vhYZwRA
That sounds just like one of my commie sociology professors in college. He painted a utopian picture of how we would all work some hours in the morning and then enjoy our free time in the afternoon. Then we would all be dancing together in the evening. And he really believed it.
+1 Drum Circle
"he replied that it wouldn’t be a problem for him..."
That's evil, right there - - to have so little regard for one's fellow citizens.
Difference between heroic and messianic - the latter are authoritarians, thus prepared to enforce “the good” upon others; while the former lead by example.