Thought for the day
Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it.
-Milton Friedman
-Milton Friedman
56-60, F
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@redredred He was an earlier version of Paul Pelosi who luckily survived. Not that Paul was / is a Marxist, but was attacked in a similar manner.
irishmolly72 · 56-60, F
@redredred Uh huh. Trotsky had plenty of good intentions and concentrated power along with Lenin early on in the revolution.
Lenin and the Bolsheviks wanted the Communist Party to be led by a small, highly organized group who were loyal to the Party. Trotsky and the Mensheviks wanted the Communist Party to be larger, more inclusive and somewhat less centrally-organized. Trotsky was Lenin's subordinate. Trotsky had to cave. He lost whatever control he had of the machine, which upon the death of Lenin was taken over by Stalin. The rest is history. Why do I mention all this in this context? Many argue that Trotsky's intentions were good. But the road to hell was paved by them.
Milton Friedman is spot on with his quote; it is apt in today's world. The US federal government is possibly the most massive concentration of power that has ever existed, built by so many good intentions!
Lenin and the Bolsheviks wanted the Communist Party to be led by a small, highly organized group who were loyal to the Party. Trotsky and the Mensheviks wanted the Communist Party to be larger, more inclusive and somewhat less centrally-organized. Trotsky was Lenin's subordinate. Trotsky had to cave. He lost whatever control he had of the machine, which upon the death of Lenin was taken over by Stalin. The rest is history. Why do I mention all this in this context? Many argue that Trotsky's intentions were good. But the road to hell was paved by them.
Milton Friedman is spot on with his quote; it is apt in today's world. The US federal government is possibly the most massive concentration of power that has ever existed, built by so many good intentions!
firefall · 61-69, M
@irishmolly72 The thing is, that quote doesnt mean, Dont concentrate power. It says, Dont concentrate power without counterbalances against abuse. It's potentially possible, but extremely unlikely, that Leon would have come up with some counterbalance, but he never got that chance
irishmolly72 · 56-60, F
