Demagogue

What is a demagogue?

At Wikipedia we find an insightful description for the term demagogue:

A demagogue (/ˈdɛməɡɒɡ/) or rabble-rouser is a political leader in a democracy who appeals to the emotions, prejudices, and ignorance of the less-educated people of a population in order to gain power. Demagogues usually oppose deliberation and advocate immediate, violent action to address a national crisis; they accuse moderate and thoughtful opponents of weakness. Demagogues have appeared in democracies since ancient Athens. They exploit a fundamental weakness in democracy: because ultimate power is held by the people, nothing stops the people from giving that power to someone who appeals to the lowest common denominator of a large segment of the population.


From Online Etymology, we learn the origins of the term "demagogue:"

demagogue (n.) 

1640s, from Greek demagogos "popular leader," also "leader of the mob," from demos "people" (see demotic) + agogos "leader," from agein "to lead" (see act (n.)). Often a term of disparagement since the time of its first use, in Athens, 5c. B.C.E. Form perhaps influenced by French demagogue (mid-14c.).

So is Obama a demagogue? Well, does he fit the descriptions above? Is he the leader of the mob? Absolutely! His speeches are riddled with rhetoric designed to stir the emotions of the masses, and who could argue that he is not "quick advocate immediate, violent action to address a national crisis?" I could go on but I want to keep the post brief.

And what of George W. Bush? Can we say he was the same of him? I dare say yes. In a democracy, we are ruled by demagogues. Wake up America.

--------------------
That's not "change we can believe in."

Wealth Inequality in America

From YouTube




--------------------
That's not "change we can believe in."

Didn't Obama run on a platform of ending wars?

From YouTube: --------------------
That's not "change we can believe in."

The Real Sequester Threat

From Reuters:

By Pedro da Costa

The real sequester threat: rising political risk in the United States

Despite the Obama administration’s cataclysmic warnings about the effects of $85 billion in looming spending cuts known as the “sequester,” chances are the lights will not go out when they kick in this weekend. Still, the economic impact could be significant. The cutbacks might shave a half percentage point or more from an economy that is forecast to grow around 2 percent this year — but which only mustered a 0.1 percent increase in annualized fourth quarter GDP. This, at a time when a similar austerity-driven approach has left much of Europe mired in recession.

Both the public and the markets seem to be taking Washington’s latest war of words in stride. After all, people are becoming inured to the regularly scheduled fiscal crises that have become a part of the capital’s landscape. But the sequester’s most frightening potential consequence is much broader than its near-term economic ripples. The real danger is that, with every new episode of political theater over the budget, America’s credibility as a serious, trustworthy nation is eroded. The concept of political risk, once reserved for banana republics in the developing world, is now very much alive in the United States. And that is one liberty a debtor nation cannot afford to take.

Link to article

--------------------

That's not "change we can believe in."

Obama's Speech-Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting

From YouTube: --------------------
That's not "change we can believe in."

Obama's War On Life

From YouTube: --------------------
That's not "change we can believe in."

'I'm going to prison for calling torture US govt policy' - ex-CIA officer Kiriakou

From RT:

While the Obama Administration relentlessly persues it's own "War on Whistleblowers," a former C.I.A official is heading to jail because he spoke out against torture.

In the interview with RT, John Kiriakou states correctly... "The Obama Administration is largely an extension of the Bush Administration"



Related Post: The Obama Administration's disturbing treatment of whistleblowers.

--------------------

That's not "change we can believe in."