Alexis de Tocqueville

**CountryBoy** · 05-11-2009, 04:51 PM

In "Democracy in America," Alexis de Tocqueville anticipated people being governed by "an immense, tutelary power" determined to take "sole charge of assuring their enjoyment and of watching over their fate." It would be a power "absolute, attentive to detail, regular, provident and gentle," aiming for our happiness but wanting "to be the only agent and the sole arbiter of that happiness." It would, Tocqueville said, provide people security, anticipate their needs, direct their industries and divide their inheritances. It would envelop society in "a network of petty regulations -- complicated, minute and uniform." But softly: "It does not break wills; it softens them, bends them, and directs them" until people resemble "a herd of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd."

Thus the term Sheeple.

Damn that sounds like today, a clear and concise explanation of what is happening to this country right now. We are seeing it come true. Our offspring will live in this type of society, because of the American people didn't vote for the future but what the government can do for them.

CB
The crazy uncle in the attic

**Steadygain** · 05-11-2009, 05:53 PM

http://books.google.com/books?id=gTX...esult&resnum=7

Thanks CB,
A book from 1835 - timeless and priceless.

This is the kind of stuff I really enjoy because it would take such an incredible mind to piece this all together and see how things will play out in time. This is truely amazing.

**CountryBoy** · 05-11-2009, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Steadygain

http://books.google.com/books?id=gTX...esult&resnum=7

Thanks CB,
A book from 1835 - timeless and priceless.

This is the kind of stuff I really enjoy because it would take such an incredible mind to piece this all together and see how things will play out in time. This is truely amazing.

Hi Steady,

Yeah this guy was way ahead of himself and could see the potential downfall or short comings that will bring about the downfall of great societies or maybe he just knew society would get lazy and eat itself. Another one that I like by him is;

“The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money”

And that sure is going on now.

Have a good one,
CB

Heading to Cincy tomorrow with my daughter to check out heer Apt. Her moving out is getting closer.

**nnuut** · 05-11-2009, 07:31 PM

Oh the dejavu is hitting hard. I did an essay on Mr. Alexis de Tocqueville and his visit to America in College!!! Amazing!

**Buster** · 05-11-2009, 07:40 PM

I like the car too..

**nnuut** · 05-11-2009, 07:56 PM

Is that the Lexis or the Queville?

**Elgallo** · 05-11-2009, 09:12 PM

""""Damn that sounds like today, a clear and concise explanation of what is happening to this country right now.""""

Check out the "Obama Deception" by Alex Jones. If half true we have been had!

Not slamming either side here so don;'t go there.

**PessOptimist** · 05-12-2009, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by CountryBoy

Heading to Cincy tomorrow with my daughter to check out heer Apt. Her moving out is getting closer.

I remember like it was yesterday moving my daughter in to her apartment in Cincinnati in 1990.

Moving to Cincy, de Toucqueville, crazy Uncles, Obama and "Quoupe" DeVille's all in the same thread.

These eclectic conversations are why I enjoy this board so much!

**CountryBoy** · 05-12-2009, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by PessOptimist

I remember like it was yesterday moving my daughter in to her apartment in Cincinnati in 1990.

Moving to Cincy, de Toucqueville, crazy Uncles, Obama and "Quoupe" DeVille's all in the same thread.

These eclectic conversations are why I enjoy this board so much!

Yep the eclecticity (is that a word ?) does make for a great board.

I just got back from Cincy and old Dad is satified with everything. Nice area for the Apt, easy to get to work and the folks we met were nice, including the gun shop owner. Unfortunately walked awya empty handed from there, I have to pay off my latest buy and my daughter said Mom would kill me if I bought it home.

And eclectice is my middle name, ya gotta see my taste on music... from Beach Boys to Moody Blues to CW.

And best of all my daughter and I had a great time.

CB

**Viva La Migra** · 05-13-2009, 06:00 AM

Originally Posted by CountryBoy

Hi Steady,

Yeah this guy was way ahead of himself and could see the potential downfall or short comings that will bring about the downfall of great societies or maybe he just knew society would get lazy and eat itself. Another one that I like by him is;

“The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money”

How about this little gem, which I dedicate to our Secretary of the Treasury: "A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it."

**James48843** · 05-13-2009, 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by CountryBoy

Hi Steady,

Yeah this guy was way ahead of himself and could see the potential downfall or short comings that will bring about the downfall of great societies or maybe he just knew society would get lazy and eat itself. Another one that I like by him is;

“The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money”

And that sure is going on now.

.

Sorry CB- but Tocqueville NEVER said that.

You'll find that quote attributed to him on thousands of right-wing blogs, in republican writings, and more. The first time that quote shows up is about the middle of 2007, on some supporters of Ron Paul's websites. Then it blazes around on right-leaning websites across the web, from libertarians, to "Free Republic" and "World Net Daily". So, BOOM- it's accepted as fact by huge numbers of people as evidence. Do a google search on that phrase, and you'll find hundreds of right-learning web pages using that quote, and attributing it to Tocqueville.

Except for one small little fact.

That quote does not appear in ANY of Tocqueville's writings.

That's part of the problem with the internet.

Post something out there, and the next thing you know, hundreds of thousands pick it up and run with it, and claim it as fact, but no one actually READS Tocqueville to see what he actually said.

What a great world we would have if people only checked out the facts, and learned what Tocqueville REALLY said about America of the 1830's.

Thanks, Steady, for the link:
http://books.google.com/books?id=gTX...snum=7#PPR7,M1

where you can read for yourself what Alexis de Tocqueville observed about American culture in 1835.

It's a great read. Every American should spend some time reading it. Gives a great perspective on why we are how we are.

**CountryBoy** · 05-13-2009, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by James48843

Sorry CB- but Tocqueville NEVER said that.

You'll find that quote attributed to him on thousands of right-wing blogs, in republican writings, and more. The first time that quote shows up is about the middle of 2007, on some supporters of Ron Paul's websites. Then it blazes around on right-leaning websites across the web, from libertarians, to "Free Republic" and "World Net Daily". So, BOOM- it's accepted as fact by huge numbers of people as evidence. Do a google search on that phrase, and you'll find hundreds of right-learning web pages using that quote, and attributing it to Tocqueville.

Except for one small little fact.

That quote does not appear in ANY of Tocqueville's writings.

That's part of the problem with the internet.

Post something out there, and the next thing you know, hundreds of thousands pick it up and run with it, and claim it as fact, but no one actually READS Tocqueville to see what he actually said.

What a great world we would have if people only checked out the facts, and learned what Tocqueville REALLY said about America of the 1830's.

Thanks, Steady, for the link:
http://books.google.com/books?id=gTX...snum=7#PPR7,M1

where you can read for yourself what Alexis de Tocqueville observed about American culture in 1835.

It's a great read. Every American should spend some time reading it. Gives a great perspective on why we are how we are.

Thanks for the correction James,

It won't be the last time I'm wrong about something and thank you steady,just one less alarmist and wrongly attributed story you'll have to suffer thru from me. Ahhhh, just put me on ignore. Although whoever said it, you can't deny it sure rings true, but wait, you can deny it. My bad. Thank God for the left wing who is never wrong.

Oh wait, thank some godless diety.

CB