"In general, it is only the simple conceptions that capture the minds of the people. A false idea, but clear and precise, will always have more power in the world than a true, but complex idea. Hence it is that the parties, which are like small nations in a large one, always hasten to adopt as their symbol a name or a principle which often only very incompletely represents the end which they propose and the means which 'they employ, but without which they could neither exist nor move. Governments that are built on just one idea or one easy-to-define sentiment may not be the best, but they are definitely the strongest and most enduring."
Do you agree with this sentence from Alexis de Tocqueville?
It expresses this effect better than anything else I've read. In 2024 though parties have to find a new conception once they have won.
OK gays and lesbians had long had social acceptance but marriage became a figurehead issue. Despite a lot of benign hetero cautionings against wanting it, they got it. Then the whole apparatus had to turn onto something else. That has turned out to be basic biology and sex chromosomes.
After Green Peace won on issues, according to a founding father, they decided to turn on the element chlorine and eliminate it. Even less chance on that then sex chromosomes which is pretty low.
We have long since decided that girls must go to work and slog from 9 to 5. So feminists won that. Did they hang up their bras? Nup, the machinery had to become more mendacious to survive.
I'd like it if Alexis de Tocqueville was available to turn his thoughts to this effect.
Great statement and I agree.. Very eloquent way to say people will accept a simple but false idea over a complex but true idea and that governments and political parties are a reflection of that..
