[extropy-chat] FWD [forteana] Quality rant from Kurt Vonnegut

[Terry W. Colvin]

< http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/cold_turkey/ >

Cold Turkey
By Kurt Vonnegut

Many years ago, I was so innocent I still considered it possible that
we could become the humane and reasonable America so many members of
my generation used to dream of. We dreamed of such an America during
the Great Depression, when there were no jobs. And then we fought and
often died for that dream during the Second World War, when there was
no peace.

But I know now that there is not a chance in hell of America's
becoming humane and reasonable. Because power corrupts us, and
absolute power corrupts absolutely. Human beings are chimpanzees who
get crazy drunk on power. By saying that our leaders are power-drunk
chimpanzees, am I in danger of wrecking the morale of our soldiers
fighting and dying in the Middle East? Their morale, like so many
bodies, is already shot to pieces. They are being treated, as I never
was, like toys a rich kid got for Christmas.

[lots more on a variety of subjects at URL]

Rob


-- 
"Only a zit on the wart on the heinie of progress." Copyright 1992, Frank Rice


Terry W. Colvin, Sierra Vista, Arizona (USA) < fortean1 at mindspring.com >
     Alternate: < fortean1 at msn.com >
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