Despotism - a 1946 Encyclopaedia Brittanica Film. Watch it now.

[Jim Sagle]

Timelier than ever now.

Measures how a society ranks on a spectrum stretching from democracy to despotism. Explains how societies and nations can be measured by the degree that power is concentrated and respect for the individual is restricted. Where does your community, state and nation stand on these scales?

View stills from the movie.

Watch the film now (11 minutes long).

How achingly sad that we know, understand, and care so much less than we did in 1946.

We were so much wiser then.

[Jim Sagle]

1. Sorry to be a nag, but you're really missing something if you don't

check it out.

[ramblin_dave]

2. Things have changed

and it was amusing to see the images we had of ourselves just over 50 years ago. But the priciples of this film are worth keeping in mind.

I noted that the pledge of allegiance did not have "under God" in it.

[Jim Sagle]

4. I'm old enough to remember the change. It happened in 1954, with no

fanfare. As an agnostic, I just didn't say those two words. Several classmates didn't either.

[americanstranger]

3. I saved that one when I saw it.

I even used parts of it in a flash for TBTM. Good stuff.

-as

[Jim Sagle]

5. Amazingly so considering that it's almost 60 years old.

[thebigidea]

11. ha! Me too. The Prelinger archives are fantastic for this sort of thing

geez, I remember having to actually write him letters and stuff to get tapes. Now its all online!

[Jim Sagle]

6. Shameless self-promotional kick.

[JCMach1]

7. Added a blurb on my website so this won't

drop down the memory hole for awhile.

[Jim Sagle]

10. Thanks! Each one, teach one.

PS - you tried to link directly to the film, but your link doesn't work (at least not for me).

[Nlighten1]

8. Great link.

[Q]

9. Good thread and link...

...what America could have been...should have been.

Thanks.

- And by the way...while you're there take a look at the 'image' archives. Interesting stuff.