Wow, was he wrong

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John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776

 

Fear is the foundation of most governments; but it is so sordid and brutal a passion, and renders men in whose breasts it predominates so stupid and miserable, that Americans will not be likely to approve of any political institution which is founded on it.

 

 

[Malsua 1,422]

John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776

 

Fear is the foundation of most governments; but it is so sordid and brutal a passion, and renders men in whose breasts it predominates so stupid and miserable, that Americans will not be likely to approve of any political institution which is founded on it.

 

It's entirely forgivable on his part. The execrable Karl Marx hadn't been born yet so the world wasn't infected with communists who's entire goal is to create governments that rule by fear.

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Good point malusa... But the part he was wrong about was the Americans approving of it. An institution need not be violent to invoke fear, say for instance, the Media. I'm sure that media as it is today, wasn't in the mind of Adams either. It doesn't mean that he didn't underestimate the lack of will Americans would have to fight the fear in society. Fear is a disease. Unfortunately, a very communicable one.