What do you make out of the news that as of around 7pm local time in Britain on 6/25/2016---two days after the historic referendum (the third ever in Britain's long history) in Britain that resulted in a stunning outcome that around 52% of those who went to polling stations wanted Britain to leave the European Union---already there are 1.5 million voters who electronically signed on a petition to have another referendum on the Brexit issue? Apparently many voters who favored secession from the EU, faced with the immediate convulsions in the financial markets and the swift drop of the British pound, now have a buyer's remorse and want to reverse their decision.
The change of heart of these voters underscored the wisdom of the ancient Greeks in only granting the right to vote to free men and presumably of means. Slaves and women (because of general lack of education) were not allowed to vote. True democracy couldn't flourish in an environment of ignorance and stupidly since ignorant idiots would be easy prey to demagogues. Because politics has direct and pervasive effects on society, it brings out passionate views from everybody, but ignoramuses and idiots don't really know how to think so what they say and then act often are unwittingly against their own interests. In the U.S., this behavior explained why poor white Americans have voted for Republican Party. These gullible, poor white Americans voted Republican because the Republican candidates appealed to their base (used here as an adjective), emotional, visceral reactions to issues involving race, immigration, and "family values" like homosexuality and abortion. Currently the demagogue Donald Trump is still capitalizing on the base, emotional, and visceral issues of race and immigration while wisely promising to address the economic concerns. But Trump is a shameless lying businessman and an ignorant egomaniac who is using politics to promote his Trump brand and to satisfy his emotional needs for domination. A vote for Trump is a nod to ignorance and an embrace of irrationality, and will likely result in a buyer's remorse like what is happening in Britain regarding the Brexit vote.
In a moment of despondency, Nietzsche wrote in Part Four of The Gay Science: 'I do not wage war against what is ugly, I do not want to accuse, I do not even want to accuse those who accuse.' Of course he didn't act on his musing. He went on in attacking to the day he went crazy because of the cumulative effects of syphilis. He then stopped writing altogether but lingered on for about ten years before he died.
What Nietzsche wrote has values. His views have influenced many thinkers and writers. One of his views involved the herd, slave mentality of the masses who feast on resentment. He was into thinking to the ultimate of whatever the issue. Those who are interested in truths and the reasons why many cherished Christian beliefs considered by Nietzsche as farcical are encouraged to read him.
Believing in Trump is like believing in the nonsensical and unsubstantiated doctrines and dogmas of Christianity. It may make a believer feel good and righteous, but it robs the believer of true dignity (self-respecting humans don't believe in lies). A lie is a lie, whatever the shine it puts on. Those who believe in lies are weak-willed, ignorant, and idiotic, and pose a danger to True Democracy.
Thus Spoke Wissai
On 6/26/2016
In Lerwick, Scotland.
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