March 19th, 2007

Obliviotocracy

Obliviotocracy

Americans, content with their American Idolism and bread and circuses, have largely fallen into what can best be labeled as an Obliviotocracy. Such a mentality is fostered when people fall into the common misconception (held by men throughout the ages and in different civilizations) that their elected leaders, wise and well-intentioned, will do the right thing.

In American Communications Association v. Douds, Judge Robert H. Jackson wrote:

It is not the function of our government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the government from falling into error. (via Quoty)

Such watchful vigilance is certainly the antithesis to everything today’s obliviotocracy stands for. Who has time for such an arduous task? There are episodes of Desperate Housewives and 24 to be watched, mind you!

Wendell Phillips, in a stirring speech before the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society in 1852, instructed us all on the price to pay for liberty:

Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty—power is ever stealing from the many to the few…. The hand entrusted with power becomes … the necessary enemy of the people. Only by continual oversight can the democrat in office be prevented from hardening into a despot: only by unintermitted Agitation can a people be kept sufficiently awake to principle not to let liberty be smothered in material prosperity. (via Quoty)

Eternal vigilance?! Who has time for such things? There are lakes to be visited and parties to be planned, mind you! After all, is liberty that important? Wise are the words of President Benson:

I don’t know how you feel, my brethren and sisters, but I’d rather be dead than to lose my liberty. I have no fear we’ll ever lose it because of invasion from the outside. But I do have fear that it may slip away from us because of our own indifference, our own negligence, as citizens of this land. And so I plead w/ you this morning that you take an active interest in matters pertaining to the future of this country. (via Quoty)

Or perhaps the condemning words of Patrick Henry might suffice to rebuke those of the obliviotocracy:

We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth… Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not…? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth. (via Quoty)

Plato offered a warning for those subscribe to such a mentality:

The penalty good men and women pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. (via Quoty)

We are seeing those words being fulfilled before our very eyes. Indifference and apathy, the fundamental principles of today’s obliviotocracy, will only lead to one destination: tyranny.

9 Responses to “Obliviotocracy”

  1. Kelly Winterton
    March 19, 2007 at 10:54 am #

    Some actual experiences of mine with obliviotoctracy – –

    from an immediate family member: I don’t worry about the Iraq War, because no matter what happens in the end, something good will come from it.

    from an in-law: I don’t worry about the mis-steps our elected representatives make, because I’m not judgemental. They are human and have way too many things to worry about and they’re doing their best.

    from another in-law: I don’t worry about those physical proofs like free-fall speed of all three towers and the molten metal in the subbasements of all three towers, because our elected officials know things that we don’t, and we normal people can’t handle the truth (!)

    from a neighbor: I don’t worry about pre-emptive war, because my friend had a dream about angels directing Bush in his war room because there would be temples covering the land of Iraq soon.

    from a contributor to a blog: I don’t worry about who’s on the ballot, because when I enter the voting booth, I invite the Spirit into it with me to guide me.

  2. Kelly Winterton
    March 19, 2007 at 10:56 am #

    and from a co-worker: I don’t care what is happening, because it is prophecied and I can’t change the prophecies – Bush is just helping the end-time prophecies come to pass.

  3. Kelly Winterton
    March 19, 2007 at 11:15 am #

    and from a Family History Center patron: My son-in-law is in Iraq and he gave away a Book of Mormon and is painting schools, so God’s will is prevailing whether we like it or not.

  4. latterdayteancum
    March 19, 2007 at 12:55 pm #

    Connor,
    How does one balance their loyalty to the United States with their disenchantment with its Government?

    I know that throwing President Bush under the bus is popular today, but what else can we do to help the Government move toward becoming what Americans want it to be?

  5. Connor
    March 19, 2007 at 1:01 pm #

    How does one balance their loyalty to the United States with their disenchantment with its Government?

    The first and foremost is to “awake to a sense of our awful situation” and understand “things as they really are.

    This can not be done by relying upon the mainstream media. No way, no how.

    Once informed on correct facts and figures, we are to “warn our neighbor”. Generate discussion. Raise awareness. Spread the word. Open people’s eyes. Start a blog, an email list, join a forum, whatever.

    On a higher level, there is active political involvement. Organize people. Spread fliers. Go to debates and lectures. Speak out. Make your voice heard. Write and call your congressmen. Don’t let them off the hook. Hold them accountable.

    Shall we not go on in so great a cause?

  6. Michael L. McKee
    March 20, 2007 at 7:27 am #

    Connor

    Your suggestions, as well as the examples you set are exactly what we must do, and I believe I am trying to do my part, albeit I do, at times, feel rather lonely considering so many are firmly planted in their beliefs that “all is well in Zion.” I know that the heightened tensions involved in the RP vs. MR so-called debate, at least on my part, is that I cannot seem to grasp the possibility that members of the Lord’s Church do not “get it.” I believe I possess a strong, valiant testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but my testimony of the reality of what is already “above us” is equally solid. I know that my tendency to lower myself to sarcasm at times is directly related to the stubborn behavior I feel is being demonstrated by people I love with all my heart. I desire to emulate the Savior in all that I do, but I will declare, emphatically, that I am a long way off from possessing the ability to have patience with those who do not seem to respond to gentle persuasion, and rational understanding. It seems many want to “debate” continually, and I fear we do not have time to talk about that which is so obvious to me, and I do not mean “me” in the classical self-absorbed sense of the word. I know with every fiber of my being that we are in a desperate situation as a nation, and I feel, quite frankly, that we are faced with a “do or die” scenario, and I do mean that most literally and emphatically. In reality, the good people in the United States far outnumber the evil and the gullible, but they seem so far better organized, and I am afraid we do not have ample time to casually become better organized. I know that I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time, (and I have a great deal of free time,) following the activities of a myriad of groups who all seem to demonstrate the same desires, but they are single entities clamoring for my financial support, and prayers. I wish they would all, for the most part, get connected into one powerful voice united in the cause so I could spend more time doing things which will make a difference in the outcome desired. I am convinced that we must be actively engaged in action rather than debate.

    By the way I just received a packet of information from Phyllis Schlafly to begin an “Eagle Forum Study Group.” I am a member of the JBS, and I believe their cause is just, but I seem to have problems here in Mount Vernon getting my chapter off the ground so I am going to give this possibility a chance since it is very similar to the JBS. Perhaps you could start another site devoted solely to a forum of this type where we (I) hopefully will not find ourselves getting off-topic so frequently. I guess I mean as the administrator you have the right to determine the topic, and how it evolves by requesting only the like-minded participate. Just a thought.

    The greatest struggle I have is when I consider the words of Article 12, and try to balance my feelings of revolutionary proportions. I find myself looking to General Maroni, and desiring to remove the “king-men” from their places through whatever method is necessary. While we know that there will never be a king ruling over this land, I am unable to see the difference in the behavior of those who would deliberately destroy our constitutional freedoms to usurp the power vested in the people. I also find myself reading, and re-reading Alma 60-62 while at the same time anguishing over my brothers and sisters (both within and without the Church) who support these nefarious actions by supporting socialistic policies specifically designed to bring about any form of government which is antithetical to that which our Constitution provides.

    I have mentioned before that the debate, as far as I am concerned, ended when Lucifer and his followers were cast out. We are at the critical juncture of “no return,” and we must take a firm and decisive stand for our Savior Jesus Christ. I realize we may not all be at the same level of understanding, but those differences are secondary to the eternal perspectives with which all men are faced, and we are certainly no exception unless, of course, as members of His Church, we remember “to whom much is given, much is required.” We know that we are called to the work of taking the gospel to all men notwithstanding his level of understanding or belief, but we must do so while striving to maintain our lives while being immersed in a sea of Luciferian power never before witnessed upon the earth, and especially in the United States of America. I believe only the most valiant, and patriotic men and women among us will be able to call upon the powers of the Lord to aid us in our quest to “be about our Father’s business.”

  7. Kelly Winterton
    March 20, 2007 at 9:12 am #

    Michael,

    Do you consider our country to the point of the prophecy wherein it implies that our Constitution will hang by a thread before being saved by good people, if at all?

    And, I think that GW Bush is as close to a “king” as our Nation has ever seen.

  8. Michael L. McKee
    March 20, 2007 at 4:05 pm #

    Kelly

    Yes, I certainly do believe it has reached the point of no return, which is to say we must burn the bridge behind us so we cannot retreat to the “ship of complacency,” and return to the city of “all is well in Zion.” The Lord will, I believe, continue to strengthen us so long as we are doing all we can to save the original foundational principles of the Constitution which He inspired and blessed. That also means we must work valiantly to install political leaders who will work toward reversing such things as Roe v. Wade.

    You are correct about President Bush, however, even he is pretty much just one of the dupes being manipulated by others higher up who are, I believe, grooming someone who will make President Bush seem like a “bat boy” by comparison. Keep in mind they are looking for a King for the entire planet, and I am convinced it is not President Bush.

  9. fontor
    March 28, 2007 at 3:34 am #

    Connor:

    You can’t stand Bush/Cheney, you’re linking to Ted Rall cartoons, and you’re reading Glenn Greenwald.

    You’re coming perilously close to becoming a liberal. I’m telling your Mom.

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