A rather prophetic quote from Abraham Lincoln

[Son of the Morning]

"As a result of the war, corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to protect its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.” -- Abraham Lincoln, 1864.

Considering this isn't technically the debate board, I don't feel as obligated to write out a long explanation of my own stance... let's just say... I agree.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

It's a nice quote, But I don't see it happening now. I suppose if ALL big corporations and wealthy people were evil, which, FYI, they aren't, then maybe I'd see it differently.

 

[caitycaity]

hmmmm... interesting quote.

i'm not sure that i agree that the end result will be the destruction of the republic, but i do agree that i see that kind of thing happening.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I think it's always happened with a select few nasty people. If they weren't rich and nasty, they be poor and nasty. Not everyone who works for big business is a monster.

 

[Son of the Morning]

Originally posted by EsmeraldaX
I think it's always happened with a select few nasty people. If they weren't rich and nasty, they be poor and nasty. Not everyone who works for big business is a monster.

It isn't an issue of how the power is used inasmuch as it is the fact that the power has been shifted.

 

[ripleysmom]

Yeah what caity said!

 

[gallaj0]

Sorry folks, check your facts:
Snopes investiagtes Lincoln quote


Of course, you may agree with it anyway, but you may find that believing every email forwarded to you by your sister's cousin hairdresser may be the best to to form important political opinions.

 

[Eeyore1954]

Wowzers -- Lincoln was a real optimist!

Since the republic has managed to survive and even thrive/flourish for nearly 140 years since this quote, I don't put a lot of stock in President Lincoln's prophetic ability. While there are a few who are extremely wealthy, wealth in itself is not completely "aggregated" in just a "few hands" today. I believe the republic has found a way to enable people to acquire/build wealth while maintaining a semblance of balance at the same time. I just don't have a similar pessimistic view of our current or future socio-economic-political condition.

 

[caitycaity]

Not everyone who works for big business is a monster.

you're making a leap of logic there. no one said everyone who works for big business is a monster.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by caitycaity
you're making a leap of logic there. no one said everyone who works for big business is a monster.

Well the quote mentions power being shifted to corporations and this being a bad thing. I do not see any evidence of that happening around me.

 

[caitycaity]

Originally posted by EsmeraldaX
Well the quote mentions power being shifted to corporations and this being a bad thing. I do not see any evidence of that happening around me.

how are you getting power shifting to corporations=everyone working for big business is a monster?

people can work for big business and not be one of the elite.

 

[Son of the Morning]

Originally posted by gallaj0
Sorry folks, check your facts:
Snopes investiagtes Lincoln quote


Of course, you may agree with it anyway, but you may find that believing every email forwarded to you by your sister's cousin hairdresser may be the best to to form important political opinions.

Thanks.

For the record, I found it while digging through a political quote archive: It didn't influence my position as much as demonstrate it.

Oh well.

 

[ToriLammy]

Originally posted by gallaj0
Sorry folks, check your facts:
Snopes investiagtes Lincoln quote


Of course, you may agree with it anyway, but you may find that believing every email forwarded to you by your sister's cousin hairdresser may be the best to to form important political opinions.

Snopes.com should be in everyone's favorite places. That way they can check all those emails that have FW:FW:FW RE: in the title and stop sending them to everyone they know (especially to me)