I wonder just how far off this is?
Exclusive B&R Advertisers
Buy this e-book from this Nationwide Concealed Carry ad and the publisher will make a donation to Black & RightLingerie, Sexy Lingerie and Plus Size Lingerie
Cheap Custom Vinyl Banners
Custom Political Signs
Genuine Style by DirectBuy
Hunting Knives
-
My oldest, now on iTunes
The discussion in the book is still VASTLY superior and goes in much more detail…
Fboiteau, you are correct. The screenwriters mangled it badly to suit their purposes.
When I read this (almost 35 years ago!) I cam away with what Heinlein was trying to impress upon the HS students, BEFORE they went into the MI: That only those who were willing to sacrifice for the common good were allowed to have the franchise, allowed to make decisions affecting their fellow wo/men because they clearly demonstrated that they had the interests of others over their own selfish wants/desires. This is a lesson that mad an almost instant Conservative (NOT a Republican) out of me, since I could see it clearly. I also agreed with it wholeheartedly and still follow it to this day.
Would that we have we could have politicians – check that, STATESMEN – like that today, and that the Great Unwashed Masses would vote for them instead of the venal and corrupt poly-ticks that we have now!
If you are truly interested in the concept, you might take a hard look at the real source of same, the writings of Winston Churchill.
Good starting point, “History of the English Speaking Peoples”
About which Winston once quipped, “The history of the human race is the history of war.”
He went on to explain that the very few times in which there were short durations of peace were very boring to him.
This is actually one of my favorites books. I totally agree with Fboiteau and Igor. Hard to believe something written in 56 still applies today. I loved the argument of Juvenile Deliquency. Maybe if all our politicans had to serve before being eligible to vote or serve as government we might have a more trustworthy society.
“All political power comes from the barrel of a gun.” – Mao Tse Tung is too simplistic. Sun Tzu goes further into the intelligent use of power and military force. Whereas violence and force coerce results, the real power resides with those who control the minds of those with the weapons, the multiple local powers and the persons capable of producing food, weapons and all other things. King Richard III of England died for the want of a nail.
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
Power is for the for the clever and the generator of thoughts which cause actions by others which produce results. Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire with approximately 48,100 soldiers, 6100 cavalry and great intellect. Democracy failed in Athens, when they lost to the Spartans. The Romans failed to maintain their Republic. Violence can be executed by a moron, but real power is the ability to control the acts of others.
“A republic, if you can keep it.” ~ Franklin
Now I have to read this book! I saw the movie when it first came out but I didn’t like it too much. I don’t remember this scene, probably because I was apolitical at the time. Now I appreciate it. A fuller copy of the scene is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsR4O4W0w&feature=related