I'm reading Al Gore's "The Assault on Reason"; This paragraph kind of says it all:

[marmar]

"The derivation of just power from the consent of the governed depends upon the integrity of the reasoning process through which that consent is given. If the reasoning process is corrupted by money and deception, then the consent of the governed is based on false premises, and any power thus derived is inherently counterfeit and unjust. If the consent of the governed is extorted through the manipulation of mass fears, or embezzled with claims of divine guidance, democracy is impoverished. If the suspension of reason causes a significant portion of the citizenry to lose confidence in the integrity of the process, democracy can be bankrupted."

Sounds like the United States of America, Nov. 7, 2000-present.... :cry:

[ThomWV]

1. Sounds like the words of a learned man, who should be President, and will be.

[proud patriot]

2. It sure does

:cry:

[Frogger]

3. Sounds

like the US, or any democracy. You can't expect honest discourse from any politician. Not Democrats, and certainly not Republicans.

It is the duty of the citizens to see through the bullshit and elect the least bad candidates.

[xchrom]

4. ...

to the point! --:applause:

[TahitiNut]

5. A similar observation could be made regarding the "volunteer" military and recruiting.

:shrug:

[blm]

6. KnR. Assault on Reason proves Gore has joined the open government wing

of the Democratic party and turned his back on the secrecy and privilege of the elite powerbrokers.

[Uncle Joe]

7. "The Assault on Reason" is a most empowering book!

Thanks for the thread marmar.:hug:

[marmar]

9. You're welcome, Uncle Joe....

and yes, it is empowering.

[flakey_foont]

8. I am about halfway through that book

think it's great! Love that quote

[Bake]

10. The words of a true statesman.

No longer a politician. Al is a STATESMAN, and they are damn few and far between.

AL: YOUR NATION NEEDS YOU. DESTINY CALLS.

Bake

[alcibiades_mystery]

11. No government in the history of huimankind has ever received

"reasoned" consent of the governed.

A nice dream, but a historical joke.

[OneBlueSky]

12. Al Gore can act on this message by running for president with NO corporate money . . .

the only way any real change is going to happen is if we elect a president who is not in the grip of the corporate oligarchy . . .

if Gore announced that he was running with ONLY contributions from the American people, and NO corporate money of any kind, he'd raise a shitload of money and win in a landslide . . .

[Hubert Flottz]

13. I agree and I think Al is about the only one who can lead America

out of the wilderness and back to the land of Government Inspected Milk and Honey!

[Hubert Flottz]

14. Kick...

Didn't mean to kill your thread...so I'll give it a :kick:

[FogerRox]

15. Fine fine quote. KnR

[porphyrian]

16. It seems we agree it's broke. How in the fuck do we fix it before it's too late?

Does he answer that in there? Does anyone know the answer to that?