Idea Ripper // ArchiveCards: 1555 [Live] | Updated: 2026-10-14
Card #c988IR // #c988Synthesis

Allen Dulles to the press, on the eve of his campaign: “Democracy works only if the so-called intelligent people make it work. You can’t sit back and let democracy run itself.” The creed, on the record.

— In our words · Source: The Devil's Chessboard (David Talbot)

[Use when]

Someone praises democracy while arranging to bypass it. Listen for who counts as “the intelligent people.”

[Why it matters]

Once you hear the creed, every “emergency measure” reads as policy, not exception.

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