Final Word from Thursday, May 26, 2022
In a radio speech in Oct. 1939, U.S. Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt said that there are two distinct dangers to democracy: "There is the peril from those who seek the fulfillment of fine ideals at a pace that is too fast for the machinery of the modern body politic to function - people who by insistence on too great speed foster an oligarchic form of government such as Communism, or Naziism or Fascism." The other group, equally as dangerous, is "composed of that small minority which complains that the democratic processes are inefficient as well as being too slow." They, too, are in effect advocating the oligarchic form of government, he said. People in the two groups sharpen the argument and make us realize the value of the democratic middle course, he added. The Czech cabinet might want to keep this in mind as it acts with great haste to pass restrictive measures, while dragging its feet on relief measures. It seems that Petr Fiala has not yet realized the value of the democratic middle course. [ Czech Republic PM United States oligarchy ]
Glossary of difficult words
distinct - recognizably different in nature from something else of a similar type;
peril - serious and immediate danger;
body politic - the people of a nation, state or society considered collectively as an organized group of citizens;
to foster - to encourage the development of;
to drag one's feet - be deliberately slow or reluctant to act;
relief - financial or practical assistance given to those in special need or difficulty.