The Seeds of Socialism in the Hearts of Men

De Tocqueville is always worth hearing. He had some incredibly insightful comments on early American government and society. Here's one on the depraved desire in the heart of man to crave "equality."

"There is, in fact, a manly and lawful passion for equality that incites men to wish all to be powerful and honored. This passion tends to elevate the humble to the rank of the great; but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom. Not that those nations who social condition is Democratic naturally despise liberty; on the contrary, they have an instinctive love of it. But liberty is not the chief and constant object of their desires; equality is their idol: they make rapid and sudden efforts to obtain liberty and, if they miss their aim, resigned themselves to their disappointment; but nothing can satisfy them without equality, and they would rather perish than lose it."

Democracy in America – Alexis de Tocqueville page 53

Things haven't changed much Mr. President. Playing to and encouraging the basest of human desires is not honorable, inspiring or good.