Dear Friends,
It seems absurd to me to expect a faction that’s tyrannically violent, believes itself our betters, holds itself above the law, and even civility itself… will deliver anything but poverty, crime, and despotism once in power. It’s like thinking that setting a pile of papers on fire will sort them by page number and author. Then there’s history. Violent, evil, and conniving people when in power, have always led nations and states to disaster. So pragmatically, even allowing such people near the levers of power is the acme of stupidity… let alone voting for them. But in the end it doesn’t matter, because that kind of person is drawn to power like iron is drawn to a magnet. So regardless if we allow it or vote against it, despotism will arise, because violent, evil, and conniving people always seek and often get power.
Those factions and people who are violent, cheat, and lie are by definition… evil. The same can be said of the opposite side. Those who manage their anger, lust, and arrogance are by definition… good. Our acts are what define if we are good or evil… not intention. Hitler had noble and honorable intentions, yet his actions made him evil, because the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. So claiming good intentions for evil acts is a non sequitur. It doesn’t follow. Like shooting yourself in the foot before a 100-yard dash… is a sub optimal strategy for winning. So if actions define whether person is good or not, then violence is definitional. The violent are by definition… evil. So we can reliably say that a faction that lies, cheats, and is violent… is evil.
Arrogant people will hold others as subhuman, even as they consider themselves superhuman, which makes them ill suited for anything other than mopping a floor. Sometimes called narcissists, such people are enamored with themselves. They “see their wisdom close at hand,” so think they are the wisest, smartest, and most moral people who ever lived. Such people know only enough to be captured by an idea. Then they can rightly commit atrocities. Because the idea is so glittering it justifies all atrocities. Plus, their intentions are pure. The arrogant see themselves as better than everyone else, and why would someone who is better in every way… take advice or limit themselves because of the ideas, needs, or laws… of an inferior?
Some people consider themselves above the law and civility itself, such people are called criminals. When the criminal has political power, however, the law serves them… not justice. Because let’s face it, law serves the strong at cost to the weak. Thrasymachus was right, but about law, not the definition of justice. Such people will exploit the law to get and hold power. They’ll demand ever right imaginable when not in power… and grant despotism once in power. The term, “Abuse under color of law…” Was written to describe their way of acting. Those, then, who hold themselves as above the law are never to be trusted. They have announced that they are untrustworthy! Moreover, why would someone who is arrogant, violent, prone to cheating, and above the law… be civil? They wouldn’t… and aren’t.
People who are evil, arrogant, and above the law become monsters when in power. Pragmatically and historically they have and will only yield crime, poverty, and war. Because nations follow their leaders just as people follow emperors… as Confucius said. So the sad state that’s led by arrogant, violent, and self-righteous people will follow and be haughty, violent, crime ridden… and impoverished. Because prosperity is incompatible with such a state of affairs. When caught, evil factions will claim both sides do it, to smear the innocent, while escaping punishment. When held to the law evil people will call it vindictive, and set upon their accusers like a pack of rabid dogs. So voting for a violent, conniving, and evil faction is the epitome of stupidity and fighting them is wisdom in action.
Sincerely,
John Pepin
