Bertrand Russell's Ten Commandments for Living in a Healthy Democracy

[underpants]

Love this site
https://www.openculture.com/2021/11/bertrand-russells-ten-commandments-for-living-in-a-healthy-democracy.html

Bertrand Russell saw the history of civilization as being shaped by an unfortunate oscillation between two opposing evils: tyranny and anarchy, each of which contain the seed of the other. The best course for steering clear of either one, Russell maintained, is liberalism.

But the liberal attitude does not say that you should oppose authority. It says only that you should be free to oppose authority, which is quite a different thing. The essence of the liberal outlook in the intellectual sphere is a belief that unbiased discussion is a useful thing and that men should be free to question anything if they can support their questioning by solid arguments. The opposite view, which is maintained by those who cannot be called liberals, is that the truth is already known, and that to question it is necessarily subversive.


1: Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.

2: Do not think it worthwhile to produce belief by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light.

3: Never try to discourage thinking, for you are sure to succeed.

4: When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children, endeavor to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.

5: Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found.

6: Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will suppress you.

7: Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.

8: Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent than in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter.

9: Be scrupulously truthful, even when truth is inconvenient, for it is more inconvenient when you try to conceal it.

10. Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool’s paradise, for only a fo

[Moostache]

1. Here's reality though...

Truth, honesty, integrity...all have been drummed out of politics today. 40% of the electorate LOVE Trump and Trumpism which is antithetical to all of those values.

Congressional subpoenas only matter when law abiding citizens FORCE them to matter...and there are no consequences to stonewalling now.

The Big Lie is still making the rounds a year after the election and nearly 10 months into the Biden administration.

Sophomoric nonsense like "Let's Go Brandon" are the calling card of the insane clown party.

Lofty ideals and genteel tradition only looks like weakness and an easy mark in today's toxic public square. A bloodletting is coming and to pretend otherwise is only going to increase the death tolls. When insane people are allowed to go unchallenged for too long, you get to the precipice we reside on today. The real question is when will people start pushing back HARD? (and strongly worded letters to the editor don't really count any longer)

[janterry]

2. I like this as well

Classic liberal values are the only way forward.