Well, I saw this in my daily fortune this morning, and found it really very interesting how certain words or ideas can be cannibalised- to go from being ‘the enemy’ to being ‘the goal’ that kids are taught about in elementary school. Of course, meanings are changed just enough to take out any hints of ‘crimethink’.

Democracy, n.:
                A government of the masses.  Authority derived through mass
meeting or any other form of direct expression.  Results in mobocracy.
Attitude toward property is communistic... negating property rights.
Attitude toward law is that the will of the majority shall regulate,
whether it is based upon deliberation or governed by passion,
prejudice, and impulse, without restraint or regard to consequences.
Result is demagogism, license, agitation, discontent, anarchy.
                -- U. S. Army Training Manual No. 2000-25 (1928-1932),
                   since withdrawn.

And with that, I’m off to go do NJ things with Peter.