Question Authority

I once had this as a sig-line on one of the many message boards I've frequented during my time on-line. Another poster ridiculed it as being "trite and outdated."

How can the notion of questioning authority become out-dated? Did our leaders suddenly become gifted with supernatural wisdom and insight? Did they suddenly become immune to corruption?

In one of the Dune books--I forget which one specifically (though I think it's God-Emperor) Frank Herbert suggests the following: "It is not that power corrupts, or that absolute power corrupts absolutely, but that power attracts the corruptible."

I consider questioning authority to be a patriotic duty. Hardly something that can become outdated. Assuming some sort of divine intelligence on the part of our leadership is not only foolish, it's disgustingly naive.

While my lack of cynicism has led some (particularly my wife) to call me naive, I don't really think I am. I'm certainly not susceptible to the erudite cons of our leadership, or that of the common bunco artist. I am skeptical of many things, including religion, political expression, and salesmanship.

Of all the things in this world I loathe the most, abuse of power is at the top of my list. I regard tyrants, petty and great, to be the vilest creatures to walk the Earth. And I'm going to question their authority every damn time I feel it's appropriate. Which, frankly, is most of the time.

What's so radical about that?

Words to live by. :-)

understood why people don't do it more often?

Expecting better from the human race is not naive, it's evolution. Although apparently it is radical, since so few question anything, let alone authority. In fact they'll accept authority from anyone who dares apply it.
Even a yahoo like Bush. (where's that picture of that scary purple fingered idol worshiper when I need it?)