A warning about Democracy from a Scots Historian.

A warning from Scots Historian Professor Alexander Tyler, circa 1787,

Re: The Fall of the Athenian Republic.

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse (generous gifts) from the public treasury.

From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship."

"The average age of the world's greatest civilization has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through this sequence.

From: bondage to spiritual faith;
from: spiritual faith to great courage;
from: courage to liberty;
from: liberty to abundance,
from: abundance to complacency;
from: complacency to apathy,
from: apathy to dependence,
from: dependence back into bondage."

Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University of Law, St. Paul, MN passed on that gem & provides the following 2000 election facts for consideration.

Population of counties won by Gore 127 million, won by Bush 143 million

Sq. miles of country won by Gore 580,000, won by Bush 2,427,000

States won by Gore 19, by Bush 29

Murder per 100,000 residents in counties won by Gore 13.2 by Bush 2.1 (not a typo)

Professor Olson adds, "And may I add that the map of the territory Bush won was (mostly) the land owned by the people of this great country.

Not the citizens living in cities owned by the government and living
off the government....

[Rokenn]

Originally posted by MagiK: A warning from Scots Historian Professor Alexander Tyler, circa 1787, Re: The Fall of the Athenian Republic. "A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse (generous gifts) from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship."

Well this would explain why the republicans keep winning elections atleast.

Originally posted by MagiK: [QB] Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University of Law, St. Paul, MN passed on that gem & provides the following 2000 election facts for consideration. Population of counties won by Gore 127 million, won by Bush 143 million Sq. miles of country won by Gore 580,000, won by Bush 2,427,000 States won by Gore 19, by Bush 29 Murder per 100,000 residents in counties won by Gore 13.2 by Bush 2.1 (not a typo)

Proving once again that you can prove anything with statistics

Originally posted by MagiK: [QB] Professor Olson adds, "And may I add that the map of the territory Bush won was (mostly) the land owned by the people of this great country. Not the citizens living in cities owned by the government and living off the government....

What the hell is that supposed to mean? Last time I checked the government did not own my house, the bank did [img]tongue.gif[/img]

If you want answers to that Rokenn...yer gonna have to ask the guy who said it. [img]smile.gif[/img] I just posted the article. I think if you look at the Cities though more land is held/owned by the state and feds than is by the general populace...in the country where multi-acre homes are not rare, would account for the comment and makes sense....Bush won all the large rural states.

As for elections being won by republicans...theres a VERY minor majority of republicans in federal office at the moment...its in no way skewed far to one side or the other.


Edit: Cause I spelled Rokenn wrong *sigh*

[ 08-28-2003, 02:45 PM: Message edited by: MagiK ]

[johnny]

Looks like Bush has no serious worries for the upcoming elections then.

[Yorick]

Interesting points.

[khazadman]

The dems are screwed for keeps if they don't turn their backs on the extreme left wing nut jobs that are being courted by most of their presidential candidates. The only one coming close to making sense is Joe Lieberman.

Maybe you didn't notice Rokken, but promising goodies to anyone and everyone is how the dems stayed in power so long. And it's time registered repubs put a stop to this recent rash of spending the GOP is engaged in. They are starting to spend like dems.

[Timber Loftis]

Khazadman, while Lieberman is up there on the "makes some sense" list, Howard Dean is at the top in my book. Check his deanforamerica website and tell me if you think he's a left wingnut. He was very good for business in VT -- and did it without pissing off the enviros. He actually took a state in debt and now it has a "rainy day fund." How many politicians exhibit that much common sense?

[Rokenn]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Khazadman, while Lieberman is up there on the "makes some sense" list, Howard Dean is at the top in my book. Check his deanforamerica website and tell me if you think he's a left wingnut. He was very good for business in VT -- and did it without pissing off the enviros. He actually took a state in debt and now it has a "rainy day fund." How many politicians exhibit that much common sense?

Last pol I remember that took a deficit and turned it into a surplus was subjected to a republican inquisition [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Timber Loftis]

Well, give me a good Democrat to run the economy right, and as far as I'm concerned he can keep whatever he wants under his desk. I don't even care what flavored cigar he likes. [img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img]

[ 08-28-2003, 04:59 PM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]

[Animal]

"From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship."

I think we are all aware that just because a politician promises something, doesn't mean that they will deliver. That is the reason that a democracy can exist.