“Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.” –Alexis de Tocqueville
Alexis de Tocqueville on Democracy and Socialism
We no longer know what “liberty” means; de Tocqueville’s America was obliterated by the War between the States and the centralized Federalism that followed. Our society today is far more like the socialism he is decrying than the liberal democracy he is lauding.
Basil, that’s a good point. But I think there’s a lot of interest these days in learning again from the founders and their enlightened observers like de Tocqueville. May it continue.