NationStates Jolt Archive

Henry Louis Mencken, the beloved Nietzschean and Sage of Baltimore, wrote this piece of extremely accurate prophesy in 1920.

Could this be evidence of the prophetic and psychic powers of the human mind?


"As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. "

:upyours:

:upyours:


You're only angry because I'm going to get James Randi's money instead of you.

:upyours:

And another Comrade of the Bushevik Revolution gives out a salute.

1920 is too early. You should read some of Mark Twain's work (I reccomend Mark Twain on the Damned Human Race or Letters From the Earth) and see how much of it parallels today.

As though Nietzscheanism would have been any better than Bush. 90% of the US population would be enslaved or dead if Mencken had his way. I could start a year-long flamewar over the horrors of Nietzscheanism. :mp5: :sniper: :gundge: :upyours:

As though Nietzscheanism would have been any better than Bush. 90% of the US population would be enslaved or dead if Mencken had his way.:sniper: :mp5:
Must you always misinterpret so?

As though Nietzscheanism would have been any better than Bush. 90% of the US population would be enslaved or dead if Mencken had his way.:sniper: :mp5:

As the great philosopher Ice-T observed: "You either a pimp or a ho. Most people are hos."

As the great philosopher Ice-T observed: "You either a pimp or a ho. Most people are hos."
There's an Ice-T? Then who the hell is Ice Cube?

There's an Ice-T? Then who the hell is Ice Cube?

They're both rappers-turned-actors. Ice-T currently plays a cop on Law and Order: SVU. Ice Cube did the Friday and Barber Shop films.

There's an Ice-T? Then who the hell is Ice Cube?

Ice-T pioneered west coast gansta rap, then for a while had a heavy metal band. He was also a pimp in his early years.

Tipper Gore got her panties in a bunch over one his albums.

As though Nietzscheanism would have been any better than Bush. 90% of the US population would be enslaved or dead if Mencken had his way. I could start a year-long flamewar over the horrors of Nietzscheanism. :mp5: :sniper: :gundge: :upyours:


Always the advocate of Anaracho-Waaaaaaaaaaahhhh.

All the same, you need to cite that if "Mencken had his way" "90% of the US population would be enslaved or dead."

Its wrong to slander people, even more wrong to slander ole' HL Mencken.

I could start a year-long flamewar over the horrors of Nietzscheanism. :mp5: :sniper: :gundge: :upyours:

Will you actually have got round to actually reading any of his works before embarking on this year-long apocalypse, or are you going to continue striking out blindly at things you don't fully understand?

"As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. "
It's a good quote...always depends on education and mentality though. Leaving Nietzsche by the wayside (as you all should...), fact of the matter is that the majority of Americans didn't have a problem with voting for Bush, who is, I think it's safe to say, a downright moron.

If the majority is made up by "simple folk of the land", then that is reflected in the results, no doubt about it.

Must you always misinterpret so?

How many ways can the following quote (emphasis mine) be interpreted?

"EVERY elevation of the type "man," has hitherto been the
work of an aristocratic society and so it will always be--a
society believing in a long scale of gradations of rank and
differences of worth among human beings, and requiring slavery in
some form or other."

How many ways can the following quote (emphasis mine) be interpreted?

"EVERY elevation of the type "man," has hitherto been the
work of an aristocratic society and so it will always be--a
society believing in a long scale of gradations of rank and
differences of worth among human beings, and requiring slavery in
some form or other."
Have you taken that into context with Nietzsche's philosophical beliefes rather than taking it on face value? Throughout your entire Nietzsche thread you have been searching for a call for mass murder that wasn't there.

It's a good quote...always depends on education and mentality though. Leaving Nietzsche by the wayside (as you all should...), fact of the matter is that the majority of Americans didn't have a problem with voting for Bush, who is, I think it's safe to say, a downright moron.

Nope.

50.73% of 60.3% = 30.34%

Fact of the matter is that the majority of eligible Americans did have a problem with voting for Bush.

Nope.

50.73% of 60.3% = 30.34%

Fact of the matter is that the majority of eligible Americans did have a problem with voting for Bush.
Or for that matter voting at all.

Nope.

50.73% of 60.3% = 30.34%

Fact of the matter is that the majority of eligible Americans did have a problem with voting for Bush.
:D
The majority of "voting Americans"...whom I assumed to be a reasonable approximation of the entire population. If they aren't, there's something wrong with the system.

Or for that matter voting at all.

No, 60.3% of eligible voters did actually vote - a very high turnout indeed.

:D
The majority of "voting Americans"...whom I assumed to be a reasonable approximation of the entire population. If they aren't, there's something wrong with the system.


Since when has anyone on this forum operated on the assumption that there isn't something hideously wrong with the American electoral and political system?

Since when has anyone on this forum operated on the assumption that there isn't something hideously wrong with the American electoral and political system?
Oh, there is a lot to be said for making underhanded comments about the American intellect through the result of their elections...:p

As though Nietzscheanism would have been any better than Bush. 90% of the US population would be enslaved or dead if Mencken had his way. I could start a year-long flamewar over the horrors of Nietzscheanism. :mp5: :sniper: :gundge: :upyours:


FACT: more people have been killed due to misinterpretations of Beatles lyrics than due to misinterpretations of Nietzsche's philosophy.

FACT: more people have been killed due to misinterpretations of Beatles lyrics than due to misinterpretations of Nietzsche's philosophy.
And that's my new sig.

I'm answering your posts in the Refuting Nietzsche thread, to keep this one from getting dragged off-topic, Grampus.

I'm answering your posts in the Refuting Nietzsche thread, to keep this one from getting dragged off-topic, Grampus.

Its my topic and I hereby allow it to be dragged into a nietzsche debate!


Le roi le vuelt!

FACT: more people have been killed due to misinterpretations of Beatles lyrics than due to misinterpretations of Nietzsche's philosophy.

I'm sure the victims of the Holocaust would beg to differ (yes, Hitler was heavily influenced by Nietzsche).

Have you taken that into context with Nietzsche's philosophical beliefes rather than taking it on face value?

There's no need to. Why would Nietzsche deliberately obfuscate everything he says in highly misleading language? Why look for an alternate interpretation when the current one seems pretty clear?

Throughout your entire Nietzsche thread you have been searching for a call for mass murder that wasn't there.

And I found it. His condemnation of pity, assisting the "weak and failures in perishing", etc. all point to that sort of conclusion. You said yourself you don't agree with everything Nietzsche said. Why not?

"As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. "
ROFLMFAO!!!! OMG! Hahahaha! :p

Henry Louis Mencken, the beloved Nietzschean and Sage of Baltimore, wrote this piece of extremely accurate prophesy in 1920.

Could this be evidence of the prophetic and psychic powers of the human mind?


"As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. "
Something said that is prophetic is not necessarily a prophecy.

Something said that is prophetic is not necessarily a prophecy.


Something typed on the internet is not necessarily to be taken seriously and in earnest.

Something typed on the internet is not necessarily to be taken seriously and in earnest.
Well, in my case, at least, it is true what they say about women...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20051108/ca_pr_on_he/gender_humour

Well, in my case, at least, it is true what they say about women...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20051108/ca_pr_on_he/gender_humour
:eek:

No, 60.3% of eligible voters did actually vote - a very high turnout indeed.
Um... in some countries a mere 60.3% of eligible voters voting is considered a seriously low turnout. I know that is pretty high compared to many US elections lately, but it's really not anything to brag about.

Um... in some countries a mere 60.3% of eligible voters voting is considered a seriously low turnout. I know that is pretty high compared to many US elections lately, but it's really not anything to brag about.

Indeed, its disgraceful.

I'm sure the victims of the Holocaust would beg to differ (yes, Hitler was heavily influenced by Nietzsche).

"Hitler presented himself as the "Übermensch", frequently rendered as the somewhat ambiguous "Superman" (superhuman would be a more correct translation, but "superman" has certain cultural associations in English), that the basically apolitical Friedrich Nietzsche had referred to, especially in his book, Thus Spoke Zarathustra. It is doubtful that Hitler read any Nietzsche beyond a superficial level, as Nietzsche did not refer to his overman in the way in which Hitler would refer to him. The nationalism and anti-Semitism that was indeed growing in Nietzsche's time was something which Nietzsche despised and wrote about continuously: there is probably no other writer from Germany that insulted the Germans more than Nietzsche. Hitler's self-identification as such may have stemmed from his association with Nietzsche's sister, who was an early member of the Nazi party, and a commited anti-semite. While she became the owner (and editor) of his works after he went insane, Nietzsche had often, during his sane years, criticized her for having no understanding of his work."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mein_Kampf


'He rejected biological racism and German nationalism, writing "every great crime against culture for the last four hundred years lies on their conscience."'
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/nietzsch.htm

I think you hate Nietzsche's sister.

Yes, but I was talking about misinterpretations of Nietzsche, which is what happened here.

Yes, but I was talking about misinterpretations of Nietzsche, which is what happened here.
Ahh.
Well, most of his work is good.

Um... in some countries a mere 60.3% of eligible voters voting is considered a seriously low turnout. I know that is pretty high compared to many US elections lately, but it's really not anything to brag about.

Yeah, I was talking with reference to other US elections. But hey, I neither live in America nor am I eligible to vote there.

If you've read my siggy quotes, you should have noticed by now I'm a big fan of HML. Thanks OP, that was interesting.

Another bit of Nietzschean insight from Mencken is as follows:

"All government, in its essence, is a conspiracy against the superior man: its one permanent object is to oppress him and cripple him. If it be aristocratic in organization, then it seeks to protect the man who is superior only in law against the man who is superior in fact; if it be democratic, then it seeks to protect the man who is inferior in every way against both."

I think I've found his fatal flaw. If there are no objective moral standards, then why does whether something is life-affirming or based on the will to power matter, anyway? Why can't I simply create my own moral standard? It's not as though Nietzsche can object since he denied an objective morality.

Thats what you were advised to do from the outset.

Simply say "I disagree that he is correct, my opinion is different than his."

Always the advocate of Anaracho-Waaaaaaaaaaahhhh.

All the same, you need to cite that if "Mencken had his way" "90% of the US population would be enslaved or dead."

Its wrong to slander people, even more wrong to slander ole' HL Mencken.
mencken ruled and he was an antisemite... or did he rule because he was.... nevermind