#despotism — Public Fediverse posts

A quotation from Hannah Arendt

The chief difference between the despotic and the totalitarian secret police lies in the difference between the “suspect” and the “objective enemy.” The latter is defined by the policy of the government and not by his own desire to overthrow it. He is never an individual whose dangerous thoughts must be provoked or whose past justifies suspicion, but a “carrier of tendences” like the carrier of a disease. Practically speaking, the totalitarian ruler proceeds like a man who persistently insults another man until everybody knows that the latter is his enemy, so that he can, with some plausibility, go and kill him in self-defense.

Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) German-American philosopher, political theorist
Origins of Totalitarianism, Part 3, ch. 12 “Totalitarianism in Power,” sec. 1 (1951)

More about this quote: wist.info/arendt-hannah/54483/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #arendt #hannaharendt #aggression #demonization #despotism #enemy #enemyofthestate #insult #ruler #scapegoat #secretpolice #selfdefense #totalitarian

A quotation from Thomas Jefferson

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) American political philosopher, polymath, statesman, US President (1801-09)
Document (1776-07-02), “Declaration of Independence”

More about this quote: wist.info/jefferson-thomas/220…

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#AffordableEducation

Judge strikes down #Trump restrictions on #StudentLoan forgiveness for #PublicServants

The #Education Department wants to exclude employers that engage in #DEI or “activities” that the Trump admin “disapproves” of. The rule was set to take effect Wednesday.

#law #indoctrination #propaganda #trumpaganda #WhiteSupremacy #heterosexism #misogyny #MaleSupremacy #AbuseOfPower #authoritarianism #autocracy #despotism #fascism #tyranny #MafiaState #Nazis
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/06/30/court-strikes-down-trumps-limits-loan-forgiveness-public-servants/