Welcome to The New Dark Age

It is not a difficult matter for the government to command the allegiance of the people. Besides the threat of force there exists, in each of us, the primitive urge to run with the herd for its survival benefit. Convince people that theirs is the good side and the force seldom has to be used.
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"A government is not the expression of the will of the people, but rather the expression of what the people will tolerate."
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An individual sprays gunfire on a group of strangers. We regard such an individual as crazed. The highest political officials in the land spray fire upon an entire country of strangers. Some individuals call for the arrest of the criminal perpetrators. We regard such individuals as crazed.

Full essay.