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Longrifle
Pioneer
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
April 23 2007
Status: offline
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 Posted - October 17 2008 : 11:02:45 PM
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I recently found something that I thought was interesting. It's called The Downfall of Democracies. The authorship is uncertain, but it's often attributed to Scottish history professor Alexander Tyler in 1770. Whether you agree with it or not, it's certainly thought provoking and something that I thought a board of patriots would appreciate (although perhaps not enjoy) reflecting upon, especially during this election year.
"A democracy is always temporary in nature: it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority will always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship.
The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:
1) From bondage to spiritual faith;
2) From spiritual faith to great courage;
3) From courage to liberty;
4) From liberty to abundance;
5) From abundance to complacency;
6) From complacency to apathy;
7) From apathy to dependence;
8) From dependency back into bondage."
So, assuming you agree with it, where do you reckon we are currently in the sequence? Somewhere around point six or seven?
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"I can't say I was ever lost, but I was bewildered once for three days." - Daniel Boone |
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Obediah
Mohicanland Statesman
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
August 16 2006
Status: offline
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Posted - October 17 2008 : 11:37:58 PM
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I don't think it's possible to categorize these things that tightly.
...probably a combination of 5/6/7 right now. |
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Monadnock Guide
Council of Elders
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
March 14 2005
Status: offline
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Posted - October 18 2008 : 05:10:04 AM
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| Probably 7, - we have one of the lowest voter turn outs of any democracy. Most folks seem to like the idea of voting themselves "something" from the treasury. Once a program has been started - it only gets larger. |
you can keep "The Change" |
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richfed
Sachem
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 13 2002
Status: offline
Administrator |
Posted - October 18 2008 : 10:29:57 AM
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| That is a chilling timeline ... more so because it does seem to be happening. It looks to me like we're at 6.5 right about now. |
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The Downfall of Democracy?
