Quote by H. L. Mencken, The Library

The legislature, like the executive, has ceased to be even the creature of the people: it is the creature of pressure groups, and most of them, it must be manifest, are of dubious wisdom and even more dubious honesty. Laws are no longer made by a rational process of public discussion; they are made by a process of blackmail and intimidation, and they are executed in the same manner. The typical lawmaker of today is a man wholly devoid of principle

The legislature, like the executive, has ceased to be even t

Summary

This quote criticizes modern legislatures and argues that they are no longer representatives of the people but instead puppets controlled by pressure groups with questionable wisdom and honesty. It suggests that laws are no longer created through rational public discussion but rather through blackmail and intimidation. Furthermore, it portrays today's lawmakers as lacking principles. Overall, the quote highlights the speaker's disillusionment with the functioning of contemporary legislatures, implying a deterioration of democratic processes.

Topics

Government

By H. L. Mencken, The Library

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

Thoughts mixed with definiteness of purpose, persistence, an

Thoughts mixed with definiteness of purpose, persistence, and a burning desire are powerful things.

Power

We are the products of editing, rather than of authorship.

We are the products of editing, rather than of authorship.

Evolution

There is nothing so absurd that some philosopher has not alr

There is nothing so absurd that some philosopher has not already said it.

Marcus Tullius Cicero

Philosophy

Beauty is a sign of intelligence.

Beauty is a sign of intelligence.

Beauty Intelligence Pop

Well, God knows you're barely standing but you've got to car

Well, God knows you're barely standing but you've got to carry this heavy load.

Life Music Difficulty Lyrics These Broken Hands Of Mind

Ta ta and adios. Or, as Saint Peter said to me with a sly wi

Ta ta and adios. Or, as Saint Peter said to me with a sly wink, when I told him I was on my last-round trip to Paradise: See you later, Alligator.

Paradise

The best way to lose a job is just not to care. When you do

The best way to lose a job is just not to care. When you do not care, it shows in everything you do.

Best

Today's youth are told to get rich or die trying and they re

Today's youth are told to get rich or die trying and they really shouldn't take that attitude forward with them.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Attitude

What the Puritans gave the world was not thought, but action

What the Puritans gave the world was not thought, but action.

Wendell Phillips

Religion

The relation of repetitions for learning and for repeating E

The relation of repetitions for learning and for repeating English stanzas needs no amplification. These were learned by heart on the first day with less than half of the repetitions necessary for the shortest of the syllable series.

Hermann Ebbinghaus

Learning

The men and women of Afghanistan are building a nation that

The men and women of Afghanistan are building a nation that is free, and proud, and fighting terror - and America is honored to be their friend.

Women

I recently took up ice sculpting. Last night I made an ice c

I recently took up ice sculpting. Last night I made an ice cube. This morning I made 12, I was prolific.

Funny