George Rebane
“It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once.” David Hume
Nobelist F.A. Hayek wrote the 1944 classic The Road to Serfdom which is strongly recommended to all Americans, including non-calcified progressives, who care about the path our nation is on today. Friend and RR reader Tony Medler sent me the following email which is reproduced here with his permission including the passages from Chapter 10 of the book.
While several of our group have previous exposure to the writings of Mr. Hayek, I feel fortunate to be reading him at a time when Obama and the socialist views bring home many of the points he makes. In his chapter “Why the Worst Get on Top” the following two paragraphs really describe Obama’s base and a reason for his election:
“If, however, a potential dictator had to rely entirely on those whose uncomplicated and primitive instincts happen to be very similar, their number would scarcely give sufficient weight to their endeavors. He will have to increase their numbers by converting more to the same simple creed.
Here comes in the second negative principle of selection: he will be able to obtain the support of all the docile and gullible, who have no strong convictions of their own but are prepared to accept a ready-made system of values if it is only drummed into their ears sufficiently loudly and frequently. It will be those whose vague and imperfectly formed ideas are easily swayed and whose passions and emotions are readily aroused who will thus swell the ranks of the totalitarian party.”
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