Thus, for example, tanks, battleships and bombing planes are inherently tyrannical weapons, while rifles, muskets, long-bows, and hand-grenades are inherently democratic weapons. A complex weapon makes the strong stronger, while a simple weapon - so long as there is no answer to it - gives claws to the weak. - George Orwell, You and the Atom Bomb, Tribune, 19 October 1945
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at http://theharshcouch.com/thc/2015-11-03/