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Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce
So you don't believe power corrupts? And absolute power corrupts absolutely?
I sure as hell do. I've seen it too many times not to believe it.
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Well, yes. But here's the saving grace in how we do things: it's remarkable how the basic American political trait, that power shall be limited in scope and in duration, does such a good job of reducing that corruption. You're leader of the Free World for ten years, tops, by statute; et cetera et cetera on down the line to harbor commissioner and justice of the peace.
I've read enough political commentary for enough years to note how very often someone declares the sky will fall, is falling, or occasionally has fallen. It's like once a month! These criers notwithstanding, the sky is still about where it was. Maybe more or less clouded, maybe striking with lightning -- but I have faith in the country. I really do. I think some of my countrymen are pretty dumb, and could wish them otherwise, but for all the cries about things falling apart and the center can't hold, the advertised disasters never seem to come. There's a stability in how humans interact that the excitable columnists and talk radio hosts never seem to take into account. It is more stability, I think, than can be accounted for as people taking warning from the Chicken Littles.