Quote of the Day

From Imperial Twilight:

The lust for power, for the ability to play God with other people's lives, is an elemental human vice. It is the driving force behind the modern state. Expansion of power by political elites over non-elites is typical and virtually inevitable. What is unusual and unexpected in politics is the voluntary relinquishing of state power (This was the ideological core of Ron Paul's presidential campaign, and the reason why the elite's media shills attacked him when they could no longer ignore him).

Most voters, even of the highly educated sort, appear to have a tremendous emotional need to idolize their favorite politicians. It's akin to sports team fandom and celebrity worship. Actually, it's worse. Fans of athletes and celebrities aren't mystified when the objects of their adoration reveal themselves to be arrogant, contemptuous people.

That elemental vice is enabled by the fact we are disposed to seek leaders. We rejected God, and have been looking for Someone to make it all right ever since. And even when the objects of public affection are honorable, well-intentioned, or even right (these are not always synonymous), adoration by the masses can pull them off course just as surely as a gravitational field.