What is "public sentiment"?

[kentuck]

Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying:

“In this age, in this country, public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail; against it, nothing can succeed. Whoever molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes, or pronounces judicial decisions.”

Nancy Pelosi likes to remind people of this Lincoln quote. It is very much a part of her political philosophy.

How does it relate as to where our country is today?

[CentralMass]

1. We are iving under an oligarchy. The majority opinion is ignored.

[lark]

2. Repugs say public sentiment means nothing and votes don't matter thst much.

They have installed the machinery to steal every vote in GA and AZ so they don't give a shit how we vote, if it's Dem, they will just throw out the results and declare R fascists the winners of every race. Fascist 5-6 of SCOTUS will go along with this. Yes they push stupid stuff like CRT, but that's just the upfront stuff and pretty meaningless - their true message is rich rule and workers drool.

[brooklynite]

3. Semtiment is irrelevant...

It doesn't matter if most people support gun regulations and abortion rights. It only matters if they support them ENOUGH. Pro-Life and pro-gun advocates will vote solely on that issue. Progressives by and large will not.

[kentuck]

4. I disagree.

If the sentiment is strong enough and passionate enough to influence the voters, it will matter to all the politicians. We have not yet reached that point, in my opinion.

[brooklynite]

7. But that's my point....

We have not yet reached that point

After the SC revelation on Roe v Wade and multiple mass shootings in the last month? What makes you think public sentiment will radically change in the future?

[kentuck]

8. Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.

We do not know when we will reach that point. But that does not mean it will never happen. However, it is easy to be discouraged sometimes.

Perhaps we are in agreement on this point?

[bucolic_frolic]

5. I think Lincoln refers to a blend of common sense, morality, wisdom, and knowing what is right

In this age of mass media mind control, I'm not sure it's relevant any more. But, in his day and age, there were only male voters. Women, blacks, native Americans ... not part of public sentiment.

Lincoln is much revered, but he covered up a lot with broad statements on opportunity and freedom. They meant different things to working people, slaves, early capitalists and industrialists, and Robber Barons. Early industrialization was different than we have today.

[kentuck]

6. The sentiment was in the countryside...

There was no room for compromise. There was chaos and violence. There was hatred. There was racism. Finally, there was civil war. I think it was more similar to today's world than we know.

[Walleye]

9. Republicans are now openly calling democracy "mob rule"

This is what we are really up against. They don’t believe in democracy because they hate the majority of the population

[kentuck]

10. They are acting like fascists.

Perhaps it is natural for them?

[Walleye]

11. Being fascists comes naturally to them. Being good Americans is out of the question

[kentuck]

12. Their recent CPAC Convention in Hungary indicates they don't even care anymore...

In fact, they are proud of the fact.