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Dysfunctional Government/Dysfunctional Family
Carolyn Baker
Posted Feb 16, 2007
{....}
"We prefer to assume that our government is incompetent, inept, and wasteful
because it is not as excruciating as the reality that we are its next meal.
Each day upon awakening, we have the option of continuing to perpetuate this
delusion, or dig deeper. While the incompetent/inept/wasteful fantasy
"feels" better, it is ultimately more dis-empowering, for as Larry Clow
writes in his fabulous System Breakdown article, ".the thought of a
malicious government that's actively out to manipulate us is an enemy we can
fight, which is somewhat more comforting than the alternative-a series of
bungling, incompetent institutions that have failed us, and will fail us
again, just when we need them the most." In other words, denial is more
soothing, but so is heroin."
{.....}
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"The wily Shafts of state, those Juggler's Tricks
Which we call deep Design and Politicks
(As in a Theatre the Ignorant Fry,
Because the Cords escape their Eye
Wonder to see the Motions fly) . . .
Methinks, when you expose the Scene,
Down the ill-organ'd Engines fall;
Off fly the Vizards and discover all,
How plain I see thro' the Deceit!
How shallow! and how gross the Cheat!. . .
Look where the Pully's ty'd above!
Oh what poor Engines move
The Thoughts of Monarchs, and Design of States,
What pretty Motives rule their Fates!. . .
Away the frighted Peasants fly,
Scar'd at th' unheard-of Prodigy. . .
Lo, it appears!
See, how they tremble! How they quake!"
Swift, Ode to the Honourable Sir William Temple, 1689. |
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