John A. Hobson Quote

"The tendency of all strong governments has always been to suppress liberty, partly in order to ease the processes of rule, partly from sheer disbelief in innovation."

by:	John A. Hobson (1858-1940) English economist, social scientist, critic of imperialism, lecturer, writer
Source:	Free Thought in the Social Sciences, 1926
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Categories:	Government, Liberty, Power, Suppression, Innovation
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-- Don M, Columbiana, OH
A few more 'partly(s)' could be added but, its absolutely headed in the right direction. As an example of its accuracy, in direct proportion to the garnered strength of the statist theocracy that now infests this land, innovation (industry, creativity, expressions of self sovereignty, etc.) and liberty are suppressed.  -- Mike, Norwalk      6
And partly because they want everyone dependant on them, thus gauranteeing their stay at the gravy trough. Which also explains the welfare state that has replaced this once great country.  -- J Carlton, Calgary      6
To prove this quote, look no farther than Washington, D.C.  -- jim k, Austin      6
To prove this quote; The US today: Now – let’s all stand in lockstep with hand over heart and patriotically summarize: We spend more than 65% our total taxes on the Pentagon - having military in 143 countries in 700 bases; We illegally invade other sovereign states; we ship our manufacturing jobs to China (a communist country, but we still have an embargo with Cuba); We skew the unemployment and the cost of living figures; We are the only developed nation without a single-payer health system and a current health system that costs twice as much as other countries and yet America is rated by the WHO number 37th with regards to the quality of health care; We pay the foxes, like Geithner, Summers and Rubin (the crooks who created the need for a bail-out) in charge of guarding the chicken coop; We have one-sided government electoral system – winner takes all (not a proportionate representation) and allow fraudulent and easily hackable voting machines (no paper trail) and, allow openly corrupt contributions/bribes by way of corporations through their army of lobbyists; We have now killed nearly two million Iraq's and Afghans mostly civilians women and children and displaced nearly 4 million; We have spent over a $trillion on a war based on lies and sacrificed 5,000 of our own military personnel and 2,000 international troops; We have a political propaganda machine that would make Goebbels blush; We admit we torture prisoners of war despite the ratified Convention Against Torture, US law, and the Geneva Conventions and yet no one is held responsible (we do this torturing here in America and secret gulags abroad); We allowed in 1999 the FSMA (Finacial Services Modernization Act) which did away with the Glass-Steagall Act. And, then, which was unforgivable we sat back and allowed our government to do away with habeas corpus, a law that has existed for 800 years since the Magna Carta: Two key elements are the Magna Carta and Habeas Corpus. Articles 38 and 39 of the Magna Carta said: 38 In future no official shall place a man on trial upon his own unsupported statement, without producing credible witnesses to the truth of it. 39 No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any other way, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land. We employ over a hundred thousand mercenaries as part of our armed forces (paid thugs & terrorists); We commit black-flag (covert) operations around the world displacing democratically elected politicians and placing their once free citizens under dictators who do our bidding, like we did in Iran in 1953. We allow all the organs of the media to be owned by the corporatocracy and the military industrial complex that dictate what news to show to the sheeple by way of their lying Jackals like Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Bill O’Reilly. We have a stock market manipulated by the Federal Reserve and the top richest families in America; We have a country not administered by the White House but by the Pentagon and the CIA; We have the worst hunger and poverty and incarcerated Americans per capita than any other civilized nation. Through forced poverty and no opportunity for decent jobs - young Americans are being enlisted into the armed services as cannon fodder to fight illegal resource wars for their corporate masters. The disparity between the rich and the poor is growing, we have become nothing but slaves to corp. America. We allow the sheeple of America along with the Supreme court to vote on fellow American’s constitutional rights to be married and have equality under the law. We allow the CFR (Council on Foreign relations) and “The Family” (a Christian based political club at the highest level) to dictate foreign policy; We allow Christian fundamentalism to enter the political arena to dictate home and foreign policies – leading to wars - with Armageddon as the desired result to fulfill “prophesy.” We refuse to have a proper 9-11 investigation and settle for a white-wash to cover up mass crime. We now have Americas’ intelligentsia leaving the US in hordes; We have the worst educational system in the industrial world with students getting into thousands of dollars in debt to pay for their education which is free or heavily subsidized in other industrial nations – we produce half-educated people who know nothing of ethics and morals, we praise knowledge over character; We also have the worst quality of life amongst the developed nations, as an example we only get 12 vacation days, the UK 25 days, France 39 days, Germany 35 days, and Italy 42 days – many families in America are working multiple jobs just to survive; We are not the freest country on earth, far from it, our emails and phone calls are monitored as well as our medical records – an American citizen can be imprisoned without a trail and kept there indefinitely; We are also mentally traumatized by the threat of medical bills and the loss of our pensions, which many Americans think Medicare and Social Security are entitlements NOT they have been paid into by each of us – Medicare and Social Security should be getting better as Americans are now dying earlier than their parents. And, yet, we all go about our daily lives as if nothing is happening and all is well at Wal-Mart – as Marie Antoinette said “let them eat them cake” (ok, she may not said it but it fits the analogy) and as the Romans did feeding the unwashed masses bread and circus’s. Be very careful because America will soon close its doors to stop both people and their assets leaving the country. Until Americans becomes enlightened, more educated, and demand campaign finance reform with public financing only, it will continue to force its way out of quagmires while being stepped on by corporate greed and power hungry despots. The present system so blinds those, who are their loyal teabaggers and brownshirts, against their own interest – how can we be so dumb. The rulers fractionalize our societal communities to their own advantage, inciting violence and discourse, while they are our real enemies. The strategy of our corporate masters is to divide by conflict – put group against group, racial, political, religious, sexual, economic, and so on; while all this is all going on the real crime is being perpetrated, the rape and pillage of the American people by corporate greed and self-interest – to understand more fully the process of fractured society read John Kozy’s “The Disintegration of Fractured Democracies” Global Research April 1, 2010. Christian far-right fascists stand in their pulpits and spew hate and derision. If we continue to allow this theft of a nation and the theft of our rights and the constitution we will deserve the disastrous outcome of a country verging on civil war. We must immediately demand a return to work of the unemployed by re incorporating them into the economy, but better still a demand for sustainable income. We are way past that tired nationalistic mantra of “they need to pull themselves up by their boot straps and get a proper job” As Chris Hedges commented: If we do not immediately reincorporate the unemployed and the poor back into the economy, giving them jobs and relief from crippling debt, then the nascent racism and violence that are leaping up and around the edges of American society will become a full-blown conflagration. When, for temporary security, we give up laws and constitutional rights our forefathers fought so hard for we begin to lose our freedom and with it our liberty. As Benjamin Franklin said: “Those who would give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety”. And: "Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor Liberty to purchase power." Unfortunately, that gate has long been sold. So, where do we go from here? For starters we can be more involved by educating ourselves to the real problem, the story of “America in a State of Emergency” by going online and checking other news medias and commentaries. All the main programming on TV is owned by big corporations so you will only hear what they want you to hear. Next, find a good blog site and start discussing your views, but be careful as the big boys have infiltrated most of the blogs with paid shills. Try Global Research or Information Clearing House. And lastly, but by no means least, as John Kozy states in his last sentence of the above commentary “Nations and the institutions they support fall unless governments, like decent men and women, exhibit compassion, generosity, and a concern for the welfare of real, living people. That’s all that saving America requires.” They also fall unless good men and women actual become involved instead of always thinking that some one else will clean up the mess – if you want to save your country GET INVOLVED.  -- RBESRQ      4 3
Robert, much of your comment is accurate. Attributing it to the right, leaving out the lefts more than major participation, singling out Christian associated groups without illuminating the more deadly Atheist groups, using skewed ratings, and throwing in a few ill fated socialist solutions generally negates what was an otherwise good rant.  -- Mike, Norwalk      7
Government is about order and the question is how much order is optimal or best. The American government as many will attest is often perceived as to weak especially in regards to immigration and border control and by many in regards to tax enforcement. Government may be perceived by some as to "big" but others see that it moves or acts methodically but slow, as in "the wheels of justice turn slow". This may be good that they turn slow but they must continue to turn.  -- Waffler, Smith      3 2
".....shear disbelief in innovation".....but mostly because they want to cover up knowledge that exposes them and their statist theocracy. Innovation left alone to do what it's meant to do would be the beginning of the path to peace on earth so innovation fueled by liberty is the last thing a statist theocracy wants. Innovation needs to be controlled to keep the elite in the money and the individual in paupers rags.  -- Anon      6
No, I do not think "sheer disbelief in innovation" is the real culprit but actually the protection of corporate/government monopolies that require us by law to pay them for our 'health and security.' RBE's rant points out many of the real problems, but I am afraid he offers no solution when saying "we" need to put the unemployed and poor back to work. A statist solution is not a solution. What we need is to take the f#$%ing needle out of our arm. And what of the socialist Left that are as much fascist as Hitler during his rise to power? Is it time for the American people to take back their country? I think so!!  -- E Archer, NYC      5
Mike, Those that are ultra anything are dangerous whether they are from the right, left, christian or atheist - though to be accurate atheist's by their very definition have nothing to be ultra about. The only agenda they may is one of secular humanism. P.s. thanks for the otherwise good review.  -- RBESRQ      5
Archer, so, what is the solution once we take the f#$%ing needle out of our arm? Also your reference to my agreeing with the present statist position couldn't be further from the truth. Please, I would like to hear your solution.  -- RBESRQ      2
Robert, your last comment addressed to me might be the most stupid thing you've ever said. I hope you don't really believe that biggest of all lies. The 20th century was the bloodiest and most freedom robbing of all recorded history by the ultra anti of Atheist pursuance. It is the statist theocracy's (Atheism in a socialist suit) destructive pursuance of killing all competing religions and philosophies that will surpass the previous century.  -- Mike, Norwalk      4
Mike, one of these days you will understand the meaning of Atheism - its amazing I have many Christian friends but when I ask them do they know other Atheist their answer is, in most cases, NO. and that my dear friend speaks for itself. When will you get it! Hilter, Starlin and Mao WHERE NOT ATHEISTS they where totalitarian maniacs. Hitler had God on his belt (please read your history). The Abrahamic religions are the curse of civilization; they are the cause of all strife and depredation in the world.Their killing and mayhem was under the banner of religion and the killing by those fascists, communists, and totalitarians where not flying the banner of Atheism quite the reverse. You really have a warped sense of history.  -- RBESRQ      4 2
-- Wayne, Naples
bravo, Mike.  -- aa, hb      3
Just like a heroin addict, RBE, you have to start with quitting the drug. 'But what is going to happen once I do not drug myself anymore?' Well, kick the habit and find out! Once the little man is found behind the curtain, the wizard's game is up. Shall we decide how much of the illusion we want to continue to prop up and tear down the rest? Does a truth seeker stop seeking when the revealed truth ends up being too hard to bear? What about non-violent non-cooperation with evil? RBE, the tower of power is very high -- but it will have to come down -- do you think it will be dismantled peacefully or is it going to come down with a crash? Like a band-aid -- RIGHT OFF! Let the chips fall where they may. Cold Turkey, baby. ;-)  -- E Archer, NYC      4
The powerful disposition of all morally weak governments has always been to suppress Liberty, partly in order to distract themselves from the illegitimacy of their rule, primarily because of cowardice.  -- Patrick Henry, Red Hill      1
That needle in the arm goes both ways -- sucking the life blood out and putting in something to dull the senses and become dependent upon. RBE, the very premise that a solution needs to be found and then, I suppose, compelled upon others to accept/follow, is the very antithesis of liberty. Abstinence from government services and incurring debts to survive is a good place to start. I call this taking the needle out of my arm. If 1/3 of the populace lives off taxing the other 2/3, that 1/3 isn't going to like being cut off voluntarily and will use its power to force all to "pay their fair share." This was one of the "solutions" that has been embraced to take care of the poor and unemployed, and look how this has turned out. Enough with government solutions! Sheesh.  -- E Archer, NYC      3
Waffler, a caveat to your shallow observation and incorrect assertion. In a "republican form of government" (Article IV Section 4 U.S. Constitution), "order" that is based in/on "the laws of nature and of nature's God" (1st paragraph of the Declaration of Independence) can NOT enforce law (can one enforce gravity, fiscal law, eternal truth, science, etc.?). The answer is an emphatic NO ! ! !  Law enforcement and law making / makers are oxymorons (diametrically opposed to) in a republic based on law of nature's individual sovereignty, inalienable rights, and liberty. By example; each and every one has a right and free to move from point "A" to point "B" or vise versa (say from New York to Boston and back again). A rule of "order" would state that everyone would either travel on the right or the left to accomplish their freedom of movement. If traveling on the right or the left were law — everyone in either the U.K. or the U.S.A. would be dead. Government enforcement of taxes is a usurpation of a god state operating under philosophies of men such as - "legal positivism", "maritime rule" on land of woke theology — etc.  -- Mike, Norwalk
It's finally happening, Robert.  The corruption is being routed out and those screaming the loudest are giving themselves away and revealing further that classic tactics for Congressmen and woman to skimp the cream off the top and get their campaigns financed by those they grant money to — often without oversight or even lawfully allocated — are being exposed.  The RINOs are keeping relatively quiet for fear of losing their seats, but we've got to get rid of them too.  It's only been 3 weeks but it has been glorious!  Never in American history has this been done before.  And we have Elon Musk to thank for showing us how its done, as he reduced his Twitter staff by 80% with hardly a blip to service.  We also should show a debt of gratitute to Argentina's Javier Milei for getting the ball rolling and showing us it can be done.  And don't forget the example of Nayib Bukele who rounded up 40,000 gang members, reduced crime to near zero, and now allows Bitcoin to be used as currency in El Salvador — no central bank for him! Wow, finally somebody's listening and I knew it would come from outside the Deep State because they have no need to reform themselves from their criminality. It's happening people!  Let's do a full audit of the Federal Reserve, too, and Elon can explain to the world how the racket works!  -- E Archer, NYC      1
Robert, it is self-evident that the universe, the stars, the planets, the living creatures, plants, animals and people are 'created' (manifested, evolved, came into being, whatever) intelligently.  There is no evidence that mankind just evolved from the soup without a design process.  DNA is intelligently designed — it is not random, it is a program for life.  The periodic table stands as a testament to the building blocks and the natural order of the physical word and how their interactions create mass and energy in proper forms and order.  The universe is highly ordered — intelligently ordered.  All atheism can claim is that you do not believe but have no evidence on how the Creation happens without intelligence.  Taken to the extreme, an electric Tesla car was not designed by intelligent design but by random selection.  Impossible. What the atheists dare not consider is "what if I am wrong?"  It is an arrogance and narcissism that all can see that KNOW — yes, we KNOW because the Truth is self-evident, no matter how old or young, whether college educated or not, we KNOW because the truth has simply been revealed and is self-evident. Mock us all you like, you will be wrong, point to how we are hypocrites and you will very well be right, but it doesn't change the Truth.  When you are ready to accept the truth and drop your weapons and end your war, you may come to know the love that is the basis of all.  I know you to be compassionate but with conditions.  Let it all go and pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.  Cheers!  -- E Archer, NYC      1
The restrictions of liberty is the characteristic of a weak government. An actual innovation would in effect be that strong government of which this quote mistakenly refers.  -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown      1

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