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Lippmann, Walter, 1889-1974

"Public Opinion"


That is the radical way. For the troubles of the press, like the
troubles of representative government, be it territorial or
functional, like the troubles of industry, be it capitalist,
cooperative, or communist, go back to a common source: to the failure
of self-governing people to transcend their casual experience and
their prejudice, by inventing, creating, and organizing a machinery of
knowledge. It is because they are compelled to act without a reliable
picture of the world, that governments, schools, newspapers and
churches make such small headway against the more obvious failings of
democracy, against violent prejudice, apathy, preference for the
curious trivial as against the dull important, and the hunger for
sideshows and three legged calves. This is the primary defect of
popular government, a defect inherent in its traditions, and all its
other defects can, I believe, be traced to this one.


PART VIII
ORGANIZED INTELLIGENCE
CHAPTER XXV. THE ENTERING WEDGE
" XXVI. INTELLIGENCE WORK
" XXVII. THE APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC
" XXVIII. THE APPEAL TO REASON


CHAPTER XXV
THE ENTERING WEDGE
1
If the remedy were interesting, American pioneers like Charles
McCarthy, Robert Valentine, and Frederick W. Taylor would not have had
to fight so hard for a hearing. But it is clear why they had to fight,
and why bureaus of governmental research, industrial audits, budgeting
and the like are the ugly ducklings of reform.


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