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6.11.16

Allen Bloom in his book, The Closing of the American Mind.






Take a step back, forget about the lurid details and look at the big picture. We are now living in the gray area between republic and tyranny. It could be defined as the tyranny of the masses, otherwise known as democracy. If more than 50% of the population does not care if their rulers are gangsters and pedophiles it means that the Constitution and more generally the rule of law is invalidated. If Hillary wins there's nothing to prevent her from purging the FBI, the NYPD and any other law enforcement agency that stands in her way. When the rule of law Is replaced by the "over 50%" rule any revelations, no matter how outrageous, get drowned in the general apathy, indifference and even downright hostility of people who don't want to be taken out of their comfort zone. When democracy self destructs it will be replaced either by a republic or by tyranny.






That was argued by Brett Stevens in his blog Amerika. I however still hold the Constitution of the USA is possible to salvage if Trump is elected.













I agree, but only if there's a complete government overhaul, a radical change in the immigration process and the education system and a drastic reduction in the power of government agencies that are not bound by the Constitution. The problem is not just the Clintons, it is that there are too many people that have made compromises.


we are way beyond that. within two years there won't even be a border between america and mexico. within eight years the two nations will most likely be one.






That was the point of Allen Bloom in his book, The Closing of the American Mind. The thesis of the book was the conflict between the Enlightenment and Anti Enlightenment--concerning political systems and his answer focused on American education! It is a subtle point and easy to miss.
At the very end he was recommending the Republic of Plato. My own approach is based on the Oral and Written Law of Moses. But in any case to get education back to classics was I think his idea of a possible solution.




I still hold by this reason and faith approach from my end which means the Rambam's approach. [i.e the Oral and written Law plus Physics and Metaphysics] And Christians could try the same from their end with Aquinas. I still believe that good education and gaining good character can go a long way. That is if everyone does their part then the USA can be salvaged.

That is an approach I learned from Shmuel Berenbaum. When he encountered human problems his answer was to :"Learn Torah". In the context of Maimonides that means his four point method the Oral and Written Law plus Physics and Aristotle's Metaphysics.