That is probably true. Democracy is therefore as a form of dictatorship by the informed or elected minority. page 8 text runs through the gutter. [Democracy] is based on propositions that are palpably not true. Mencken does nail the manipulation of the public by politicians and religious leaders through the use of fear; a tradition that continues today. Despite its obvious shortcomings, I'm giving this book the full 5 stars. There is also scarce doubt that education makes a great deal of difference. Anyways, the book is lacking substance, he uses pompous/condescending language (trademark of Mencken). Furthermore, there appears to be no genetic link underlying political lunacy. Search. There is nothing like the anti-vaxxer or the anti-abortion movements here in England, and nor do religious fanatics elect members of parliament. But in Holland, the media as a whole is of a higher regard. However, he also writes with scathing generalizations and in the end comes off as a journali. I genuinely enjoyed reading the annotations as much as the book and I can't recall another book I have ever felt that way about. If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries … This view is undoubtedly influenced by Darwinism (of which he is a great fan), and its bastard cousin, social Darwinism. Whatever he wants badly enough he can get. But more than that: he’s refreshing. Even if democracy were pure, the mob will still be misled by peddlers of fanciful lies. The author doesn't purpose a cure for the malady that he diagnoses, but his observations are likely to provide a much deeper understanding to the student of politics or of the human experience. I would like to know more about the history of the book; it reads as if Mencken was obligated to write it by contract or just needed money. Her politics changes with the wind. At the end of the day, political parties generally share the prejudices of their voters. Democracy does not have to be Puritan; stupidity is a function of ignorance, not genetics. I think if he and I got in an argument, he would constantly call me "stupid" and a "dumb dumby mcdumber", which of course, I would stare blankly at him and nod pathetically in agreement because I lack a spine and any conviction to defend my rather high school level mentality on politics and culture. Europe, America, and Japan are obvious examples. Booze Hound: go to archive dot org. This book is full of it, to be sure, but his is the sort of elitism one might find in an intelligent but immature 15-year-old boy; not a supposedly well-read grown man. -- H. L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy, A New Edition, p. 87. Or maybe the psychology of democratic man is to some degree the psychology of human beings in general. If I claim to doubt democracy, I am not merely a fool; I am a heretic. Here are a few notes related to yesterday’s post about the (non) decline of democracy. It is combat between jackals and jackasses." A great deal of what Mencken describes does not exist here in England, or in the Netherlands. To quote him from a separate work: As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. Does it exalt dunderheads, cowards, trimmers, frauds, cads? Another issue is that democratic societies are generally wealthy societies. Can you believe some twats on Abebooks and Amazon want $25 for this book?? In the Netherlands civil education is taken seriously. But battling through it is very rewarding, and I really feel it takes several readings to get the best out of it. The fact of the matter is that it even the most watered down democracies—with representatives, first-past-the-post, constitutions and lawyers—the people still choose who to vote for. M.E. type Mencken in the search box. Freedom of speech, debate and enquiry. Then the pain of seeing them go up is balanced and obliterated by the joy of seeing them come down. What is a "Roosevelt"?!) The reality is, the democratic masses are not all jealous and afraid of each other, or envious of the higher classes. Many admire Mencken for his anti-plebeian elitism. It doesn’t stop there, of course. In Notes on Democracy Mencken criticises the psychologists of the 19th century, but then proceeds to accept a bogus psychology (behaviourism) while providing a false psychology of the democratic masses. I looked up the words he uses and have determined he could use way simpler words while simultaneously applying more style (dumb it down and doll it up Mencken!). In the UK, the gutter press publish propaganda under the direction of Rupert Murdoch. Does he succeed? Mencken was extremely well read, was a devotee of Nietzsche, and, for all his crude language about the "booboisie," had actually put a lot of thought into the dangers of mass democracy. It consists of the two root words demos, meaning “the people,” and kratos, meaning “power.” But in his main argument he is correct: democracy is fundamentally flawed because of its mistaken belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. This was my first exposure to Mencken and I don't know if this is the best place to start when reading hum, but I got a deal on the book that I couldn't pass up, so it is what I ended up reading first. You’ll have also noticed that I say the ‘American’ language, and not the English language. He makes many good points, but as an iconoclast destroys our most liberal and self-congratulatory beliefs. It is also quite evident that corruption and incompetence are a systematic and entrenched feature of our system. Majority rule does not make any act, law, or belief correct. But if the mob is not populated by idiots out of biological necessity, than why are there so many damn idiots? Notes on democracy by Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956. Trying to read "Notes on Democracy" now and see past the early 20th century scientific conclusions to its supposed brilliance is like trying to watch Eddie Murphy's "Delirious" for the first time and not be distracted by all the dated gay jokes. Lots of free ebooks of his many works. Her latest book, Listening to Grasshoppers: Field Notes on Democracy, gives both groups much to feast on. Arundhati Roy is a world-renowned Indian author and global justice activist. A number of reprints of the book have continued to be issued, with editions released in 2008 and 2012. Start by marking “Notes on Democracy” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Notes on Democracy is a critique of democracy. It has been clear now for decades the radical swings of public opinion, a pendulum of extremes. But in this, Mencken is not discredited; the fact is, his argument—even 80 years on— applies just as easily to the issues of today as it did back then. The one government gives the majority what they want - the security of the slave and serf who's bound to his lord's estate and can't be gotten rid of, who must be given room and board regardless of his contribution. Views: 1218. Notes on Democracy H. L. Mencken by HL Mencken. Majority rule does not make any act, law, or belief correct. Mencken would say that he is the exception that proves the rule; for the past 30 years he has been a backbencher, and the only reason he’s an MP is because of the vagaries of FPTP. Mencken believes Democracy is merely the majority tyrannizing the few. The rhetoric is overblown and padded, the same points are made over and over, yet contro. Democracy came into the Western World to the tune of sweet, soft music. The book itself is not only bold in its aim (to discredit and attack that most cherished political institution) but also in the way Mencken goes about it—through a kind of rhetorical violence, an artillery barrage of wit, eloquence and scathing criticism. Menckel believes there are two fundamental causes: envy and fear. What happened in Los Angeles when a vaccination ordinance was submitted to a popular referendum is typical of what would happen anywhere under the same circumstances. Origin and Meaning of the Term, “democracy” Democracy is derived from the Greek word demokratia, which means “rule by the people”. Notes on Democracy by Mencken, H. L. Seller AB Books Published 2008 Condition New Item Price $ 1,060.00. The Chinese, on the other hand, do not have democracy; nor do many in the Middle East, Africa or South America. HL Mencken’s Notes on Democracy, recently republished in a sterling new paperback edition by Dissident Books, was originally published in 1926. His view is unfortunately the product of a very early and limited understanding of biology that lacks advanced knowledge of race and genetics. In the US, few know anything about economics or statecraft. Hence, I will address each of them separately, to begin with. And finally, democratic societies will always be lead by demagogues and hacks. You could replace the names of the past politicians Mencken mentions with today's current crop and the book wouldn't miss a beat. Mencken believes Democracy is merely the majority tyrannizing the few. A cathartic read, and a reminder that history repeats itself. This particular book is brilliantly annotated. The second part will be about his political points, and will inevitably be more opinionated. Mencken is correct when he says that being safe, warm and fed is more important to the average man than abstract concepts of liberty or communist dreams of the emancipation of the workers. The many names for government exist to confuse us. And I will get to it. It is simply inconceivable for it to not lack a grain of truth. ", See 1 question about Notes on Democracy…, Morgan Jerkins Journeys Across the USA to Retrace Black History. Democracy and freedom is often held with the same breadth, inseparable concepts. It would have made an excellent essay. If my opinion is any indication, however, I would say that Mencken does succeed in his broadest aim: to make the reader think critically about democracy and democratic society. Politics under democracy consists almost wholly of the discovery, chase, and scotching of bugaboos. The same reviewer, or maybe it was another, blames this book for not offering a viable solution to the problems of democracy, which is kind of weird to damn Mencken for since he is pretty clear about not offering anything better, and going against the current that holds that if you can't come up with some way to fix wh. Mencken's essential argument here is that democracy sucks because people suck. It also provides a chilling peek at the state … Firstly this is because such a claim is obviously wrong—the Netherlands, a very democratic country, is about as far from Puritanism as you can get. The mob is ultimately sovereign; if the demagogue or politician (which according to Mencken, usually amount to the same thing) fails to adapt to the shifting wind, he will be thrown overboard—a new demagogue in his place. Alcohol is legal. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Mencken's insights are both humorous and scary, because plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. FREE delivery: March 26 - April 6 . I can accept that and when he says that people under prohibition mourn the loss of their beer more than the loss of their liberty, I nod and underline it. Mencken's insights are both humorous and scary, because plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. Against Sleep and Nightmare Notes on Democracy. This book should come with a warning label. 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