Sunday, 26 May 2024
An obligation of infinite reach
Henceforth, if he is born an elector, he is born a conscript; he has contracted an obligation of a new species and of infinite reach; the State, which formerly had a claim only on his possessions, now has one on his entire body; never does a creditor let his claims rest and the State always finds reasons or pretexts to enforce its claims.
Hippolyte Taine - The Modern Regime (1893)
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4 comments:
Plus ca change . . .
Jannie - yes, never trust them is the old lesson.
I'm glad I was born early enough to only be an elector. Imagine being born as a compulsory volunteer....
Sam - life for people born as a compulsory volunteer would be very confusing. Many would have identity problems such as thinking they were really North Korean.
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