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The ordinary
politician has a very low estimate of human nature. In his
daily life he comes into contact chiefly with persons who
want to get something or to avoid something. Beyond this
circle of seekers after privileges, individuals and
organized minorities, he is aware of a large unorganized,
indifferent mass of citizens who ask nothing in particular
and rarely complain. The politician comes after a while to
think that the art of politics is to satisfy the seekers
after favors and to mollify the inchoate mass with noble
sentiments and patriotic phrases.
-- Walter Lippmann
1889-1974, American
Journalist
Successful
democratic politicians are insecure and intimidated men.
They advance politically only as they placate, appease,
bribe, seduce, bamboozle, or otherwise manage to manipulate
the demanding and threatening elements in their
constituencies. The decisive consideration is not whether
the proposition is good but whether it is popular -- not
whether it will work well and prove itself but whether the
active talking constituents like it immediately. Politicians
rationalize this servitude by saying that in a democracy
public men are the servants of the people.
-- Walter Lippmann
1889-1974, American
Journalist
The chief
element in the art of statesmanship under modern conditions
is the ability to elucidate the confused and clamorous
interests which converge upon the seat of government. It is
an ability to penetrate from the naïve self-interest of each
group to its permanent and real interest. Statesmanship
consists in giving the people not what they want but what
they will learn to want.
-- Walter Lippmann
1889-1974, American
Journalist
Politicians
say they're beefing up our economy. Most don't know beef
from pork.
-- Hariold Lowman
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