"In every age the vilest specimens of human nature are to be found among demagogues."
To save some of you dashing for the dictionary, a demagogue is a political leader who courts popularity by arousing the emotions, passions and more particularly the prejudices of the people.
Inarguably true when Macaulay wrote it, yet even more painfully accurate today when applied to the slimy, sleaze-smeared leaders of all three of England's main political parties as they thrashed about in so undignified a manner in a vain attempt at forming a government that will be anything more than a pathetic mockery.
Three parties bereft of policies, principles and - after this week's disgraceful display - any shred of decency have left the concept of democracy indelibly stained with their shameful (or more accurately, shameless) hypocrisy as they publicly wrestled in a festering pismire of lies and deceit for a position at the trough.
The vilest specimens indeed.
Inarguably true when Macaulay wrote it, yet even more painfully accurate today when applied to the slimy, sleaze-smeared leaders of all three of England's main political parties as they thrashed about in so undignified a manner in a vain attempt at forming a government that will be anything more than a pathetic mockery.
Three parties bereft of policies, principles and - after this week's disgraceful display - any shred of decency have left the concept of democracy indelibly stained with their shameful (or more accurately, shameless) hypocrisy as they publicly wrestled in a festering pismire of lies and deceit for a position at the trough.
The vilest specimens indeed.
So it is to the magnificent Macaulay we look for this week's sentence.
It might well have been his astute (and tragically funny) observation that "The Puritan hated bear baiting not because it gave pain to the bear, but because it gave pleasure to the spectators."
But instead I have chosen (as it lends itself more to storytelling): "The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out."It might well have been his astute (and tragically funny) observation that "The Puritan hated bear baiting not because it gave pain to the bear, but because it gave pleasure to the spectators."
You know the rules. Dive in and do your worst.
PS:
Aren't you proud of me for not swearing? Because believe me I want to.
10 comments:
Sounds like politics over there are about as bad as they are here, Dive. Have they become worse lately?
Very probably, Katherine.
I've been hoping for a comment from you regarding the political fallout in your recent election. I'm not disappointed, but I did think it wasn't quite ranty enough. What's up? Have you sworn off swearing?
Lupine Lady: I am not angry with them so much as disappointed. They are not worth the bother of a good, sweary rant.
"We would like to apologize for the way in which politicians are represented in this programme. It was never our intention to imply that politicians are weak-kneed, political time-servers who are more concerned with their personal vendettas and private power struggles than the problems of government, nor to suggest at any point that they sacrifice their credibility by denying free debate on vital matters in the mistaken impression that party unity comes before the well-being of the people they supposedly represent, nor to imply at any stage that they are squabbling little toadies without an ounce of concern for the vital social problems of today. Nor indeed do we intend that viewers should consider them as crabby ulcerous little self-seeking vermin with furry legs and an excessive addiction to alcohol and certain explicit sexual practices which some people might find offensive.
We are sorry if this impression has come across."
Monty Python
Hahahahahahahahahahaha!
Ah, thank you for making my day, Vanda.
I did it! And it's probably not what you expected.
Yay, Vanda! I'll be over once I've got mine finished. Well done!
Robyn: Demagoguery is indeed alive and well and thriving in US politics; in fact it seems to be the only thing that keeps the right wing going.
It seems that politics hasn't changed much over the centuries and I applaud your efforts in not swearing dear. Very well written essay on the elections and that sentence is provocative indeed. I can't wait to see what comes out of this week's wordfest!
Mme: As if the election was not appalling enough, the weasly wholesale abandonment of policies and promises once it became apparent there would be a hung parliament was simply sickening. Seeing these dreadful people betray their electorate by shamelessly abandoning long-held principles for a chance to shove their snouts in the trough has made me lose hope in democracy. They make two-faced liars look like saints and they do it with glee and in front of us all. What a disgrace.
As for the sentence: there are so many Macauley quotes it was difficult to choose, but I do like this one. He is such a brilliant writer that he can make absolutely anything a thrill and a joy to read.
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