Quote by Kurt Vonnegut
Many years ago I was so innocent I still considered it possible that we could become the humane and reasonable America so many members of my generation used to dream of. We dreamed of such an America during the Great Depression, when there were no jobs. And then we fought and often died for that dream during the Second World War, when there was no peace.But I know now that there is not a chance in hell of America becoming humane and reasonable. Because power corrupts us, and absolute power corrupts us absolutely. Human beings are chimpanzees who get crazy drunk on power. By saying that our leaders are power-drunk chimpanzees, am I in danger of wrecking the morale of our soldiers fighting and dying in the Middle East? Their morale, like so many lifeless bodies, is already shot to pieces. They are being treated, as I never was, like toys a rich kid got for Christmas.
Summary
This quote reflects the speaker's disillusionment with the idea of America becoming a humane and reasonable nation. The speaker acknowledges their previous optimism during the Great Depression and World War II, but now believes that power corrupts people. They imply that the leaders in power are like drunk chimpanzees, suggesting that they are irresponsible and reckless. The speaker questions whether speaking critically about these leaders would harm the morale of soldiers fighting in the Middle East, but asserts that their morale is already devastated and that they are treated as expendable possessions.
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