- Joined
- Apr 22, 2019
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Someone wants to screw the country. To hurt it, hurt its people, selfishly - or help powerful interests do so.
They need something to say to hide it.
And that is why, in 1775:
"Patriotism having become one of our topicks, [Samuel] Johnson suddenly uttered, in a strong determined tone, an apophthegm, at which many will start: ‘Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.’ But let it be considered, that he did not mean a real and generous love of our country, but that pretended patriotism which so many, in all ages and countries, have made a cloak for self-interest."
It's remarkable how effective this con job is. It could hardly be more obvious: right-wingers who support oligarchy, use faux patriotism to hide it. They can't shut up about patriotism, and the flag, and the national anthem. At trump's recent rally he read the pledge of allegiance while his mob in jail sang the national anthem to a crowd wearing all sorts of flag apparel.
Trillions of dollars are taken and people don't care because they are so conned by people chanting patriotism and attacking Democrats as unpatriotic they're blind to it. It wasn't new in 1775, and it still works. There's something fundamental that makes many gullible to the con.
They need something to say to hide it.
And that is why, in 1775:
"Patriotism having become one of our topicks, [Samuel] Johnson suddenly uttered, in a strong determined tone, an apophthegm, at which many will start: ‘Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.’ But let it be considered, that he did not mean a real and generous love of our country, but that pretended patriotism which so many, in all ages and countries, have made a cloak for self-interest."
It's remarkable how effective this con job is. It could hardly be more obvious: right-wingers who support oligarchy, use faux patriotism to hide it. They can't shut up about patriotism, and the flag, and the national anthem. At trump's recent rally he read the pledge of allegiance while his mob in jail sang the national anthem to a crowd wearing all sorts of flag apparel.
Trillions of dollars are taken and people don't care because they are so conned by people chanting patriotism and attacking Democrats as unpatriotic they're blind to it. It wasn't new in 1775, and it still works. There's something fundamental that makes many gullible to the con.