Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

"It's astonishing how some people think we are supposed to have 'rulers' in a free country, rather than elected representatives who answer to our authority.

"I think there is a percentage of the public who genuinely want to be stomped on. They wish for a charismatic ruler---yes, a ruler---to march in, kick our asses until we stop whining, and then kick everyone else's asses while we swoon at the exercise of raw power.

"I wonder if the concept of a Messiah is just hard-coded into human nature, expressing itself in major religions , folklore, as well as the political desire for a ruler that takes charge like this."

-- Caj, 2007-08-21

[Compare this to yesterday's QotD, from maugorn, regarding absolutist, 'received wisdom' morality, and free will.]