Oliver Cromwell and Barack Obama

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From Dec 2008:

The stock-market is down 40%, with middle-class savings decimated, and the finger (sadly) pointed at "Wall Street". On top of this, news just broke of an unprecedented financial scandal, where Bernie Madoff seems to have confessed to a $50 billion fraud! And, the governor of Illinois is accused of blatantly auctioning a senate seat.

These are dangerous times, because uninformed public anger at such events can be harnessed by a demagogue. Imagine Oliver Cromwell, giving his famous speech today:
20 April 1653
It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.

Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter'd your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?

Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil'd this sacred place, and turn'd the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress'd, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors. In the name of God, go!

Cromwell did not turn out well.

Update Oct 2012: In the U.S., we have had 4 years of similar rants. President Obama talks of good businessmen as if they too belong to a den of thieves. Still, voters get the politicians they deserve, and U.S. voters have no excuse for their ignorance.

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