NationStates Jolt Archive

Just remember that some of the best artists throughout history have been teetotalers too.

And while we're on the topic of famous teetotalers. What about... I dunno. William Jennings Bryan? The man who was the uniting figure of the Populist Movement, which set the stage for politics in the U.S. for the century thereafter? Is that enough?

Henry David Thoreau was a teetotaler, and he was one of the most important poets in American history. His essays on politics have had a huge influence on activists world-wide. He was also one of the first environmentalists.

Teetotalers, much like Christians, Atheists, Liberals, Conservatives, Cops, Protesters, and every other group, are a mixed bag. You get bad apples, but that doesn't make the whole tree rotten.


Thoreau and William Jennings Bryan hardly rank with Hitler and Bin Laden, and Satan, the father of lies, and muhammad atta.

Thoreau and William Jennings Bryan hardly rank with Hitler and Bin Laden, and Satan, the father of lies, and muhammad atta.

That's twisted logic at best (casting aside the fact that Bin Laden is a small fry compared to either Bryan or Thoreau). Just because someone is famous, doesn't make them representative of all members of the group they belong to. If that was the case, all Atheists would be like Stalin, all Christians like the Inquisitors, all union members like Ugene V. Debbs, etc.

Although I'm thinking you can't be serious, since Satan seems like an unlikely teetotaler at the very least...

That's twisted logic at best (casting aside the fact that Bin Laden is a small fry compared to either Bryan or Thoreau). Just because someone is famous, doesn't make them representative of all members of the group they belong to. If that was the case, all Atheists would be like Stalin, all Christians like the Inquisitors, all union members like Ugene V. Debbs, etc.

Although I'm thinking you can't be serious, since Satan seems like an unlikely teetotaler at the very least...

I concede satan isnt a teetotaler, as I explained above but somehow forgot.

As the father of lies, he convinces people to become teetotalers, which is a sinister, satanic, heinous, genocidal evil.

And while we're on the topic of famous teetotalers. What about... I dunno. William Jennings Bryan? The man who was the uniting figure of the Populist Movement, which set the stage for politics in the U.S. for the century thereafter? Is that enough?
Populism was a ridiculously destructive idealogy.

Henry David Thoreau was a teetotaler, and he was one of the most important poets in American history. His essays on politics have had a huge influence on activists world-wide. He was also one of the first environmentalists.
Thoreau burned down an entire forest because of a grudge.

Populism was a ridiculously destructive idealogy.

Oh, really? You might be right, but remember...every President from Reagan to the current one have been populist Presidents, the only difference has been degrees.


Thoreau burned down an entire forest because of a grudge.

I would submit he made his point, didn't he?

Modern Presidents now must rely on their ability to influence the "right" group of people to keep themselves employed as President or to become gainfully employed as President. Popularity is now a major part of the political calculus.

The use of populism is now also part of the political calculus. Find the definition below for handy reference.

Populism, by its traditional definition, is a political doctrine or philosophy that aims to defend the interests of the common people against an entrenched, self-serving or corrupt elite.

Thoreau and William Jennings Bryan hardly rank with Hitler and Bin Laden, and Satan, the father of lies, and muhammad atta.

Although Bryan was the dumbass prosecuting attorney in the Scopes trial--he was an evangelical and a Biblical literalist, which put him squarely in the category I mentioned when this whole side discussion began.

Populism was a ridiculously destructive idealogy.


Thoreau burned down an entire forest because of a grudge.

Alas, the truth emerges.

William Jennings "Monkey Trial" "Liar" "Populist swindler" Bryan was a teetotaler like Hitler.

Thoreau, though ordinarily a good and decent man, was driven to burn a forest because of the sinister perversion that rotted at him - teetotaling.

Compare these two figures, arch-enemies:

Winston Churchill - "I have taken more from alcohol than it has taken from me" with his teetotaling opponent Adolf Hitler - "a final solution to the Jewish problem, the master race, &c"