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Quote by Patricia Roberts-Miller

“The other argument [about the Iraq War] was about argument itself. It characterized any argument about policy (whether, in fact, Iraq did have weapons of mass destruction and whether regime change could be effected through an invasion) as unnecessary, dithering, disloyal, and possibly even deliberately evil, since the correct course of action was so obvious. Major media outlets demonized dissent. In a democracy.”

Quote by Patricia Roberts-Miller

Book:Demagoguery and Democracy
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Demagoguery and Democracy

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Patricia Roberts-Miller

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“Demagoguery is about identity. It says that complicated policy issues can be reduced to a binary of us (good) versus them (bad). It says that good people recognize there is a bad situation, and bad people don't; therefore, to determine what policy agenda is the best, it says we should think entirely in terms of who is like us and who isn't. In American politics, it becomes Republican versus Democrat or 'conservative' versus 'liberal.' That polarized and factionalized way of approaching public discourse virtually guarantees demagogues, on all sorts of issues, and in all sorts of directions. Demagoguery is a serious problem, as it undermines the ability of a community to come to reasonable policy decisions and tends to promote or justify violence, but it's rarely the consequence of an individual who magically transports a culture into a different world. Demagoguery isn't about what politicians do; it's about how we, as citizens, argue, reason, and vote. Therefore, reducing how much our culture relies on demagoguery is our problem, and up to us to solve.”

PoliticsDemocracyArgumentFascismRhetoricAuthoritarianismPublic PolicyDemagogueryPublic DiscoursePolitical Discourse
Book:Demagoguery and Democracy
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“Partisans will try to appeal to the notion that political arguments are really about which group is better in order to dismiss criticism of their group. We might think that we can refute criticism by pointing out that 'the other party does the same thing too.' But whether the other party does it too is relevant only if we're arguing about which party is better, not which policies are better.”

PoliticsDemocracyRhetoricAuthoritarianismDemagogueryParty PoliticsPartisan DebatePolitical Argument
Book:Demagoguery and Democracy
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“Structurally, democracies succeed when there is a strong middle class, the police and the military are separate and under civilian control, due process is perceived as a 'fairness' test that applies across groups, government has to respect some kind of 'private' space into which it will not intrude UNLESS the public good is at stake, and people get mad if political figures - whether their own chosen representatives or THOSE people's representatives - appear to be untruthful or unfair. If people decide to see things as a zero-sum game - the more THEY succeed, the more WE lose, and we should rage about any call made against US, and cheer any call made against THEM - then democracy loses.”

PoliticsDemocracyDebateAuthoritarianismDemagogueryIdentity PoliticsZero Sum Game
Book:Demagoguery and Democracy
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“If you don’t see the images on a screen because people block your view, it is easier to adjust your sitting position than to call for an adjustment of the screen! You need to change yourself!”

PeopleEasyChangePositionEasierBlindFood For ThoughtIsraelmore AyivorBlockAdaptationAdjustmentSeeNegative PeopleImageToxic PeopleChange YourselfViewImagesSitAdjustScreenSeatEasiestAyivorAdapt And AdjustSitting Position
Book:The Great Hand Book of Quotes
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“There is greatness in everyone already. The job of the leader is not to put greatness in anyone. The job of the leader is to make people discover and exploit the greatness already existing in them!”

PeopleLeadershipLeaderGreatnessFood For ThoughtIsraelmore AyivorGreatLeadersJobGiftsExploitsTalentsLeadDiscoverMyles MunroeLead PeopleAchieve GreatnessAssignmentDiscover YourselfExploitHuman ResourceSelf DiscoverAyivorBorn GreatBorngreat
Book:Leaders' Watchwords
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“I couldn't sleep," Gansey said truthfully. Then, after a pause, "You're not going to try to kill Greenmantle, are you?" Ronan's chin lifted. His smile was sharp and humorless. "No. I've thought of a better option." "Do I want to know what it is is? Is it acceptance of the pointlessness of revenge?" The smile widened and sharpened yet more "It's not your problem, Gansey." He was so much more dangerous when he wasn't angry.”

Ronan LynchBlue Lily Lily BlueRichard Gansey Iii
Book:Blue Lily, Lily Blue
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“Granddad said I needed to get some muscles because I was looking gay these days. No, he didn't really say that. Speaking of which, here's Parrish.' Someone cuffed the back of Adam's head. He blinked up. One way, then the other. His assailant had come up on Adam's deaf side. 'Oh,' Adam said. It was Tad Carruthers, whose worst fault was that Adam didn't like him and Tad couldn't tell. 'Oh,' mimicked Tad benevolently, as if Adam's standoffish-ness charmed him. Adam wanted desperately and masochistically for Tad to ask him where he had summered. Instead, Tad turned to where Ronan was still reclined with his eyes closed. He lifted a hand to cuff Ronan's head but lost his nerve an inch into the swing. Instead, he just drummed on Ronan's desk and moved on.”

Ronan LynchAdam ParrishBlue Lily Lily Blue
Book:Blue Lily, Lily Blue
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