Democracy

[miniwhinny]

This quote has always been attributed to Alexander Tytler, although there is no record of it being his, the consensus is that it's his. Who wrote it really doesn't matter. It was written in the mid 1700's and still rings true today. What's scarey is that we are on the last but one line with two feet already planted on the last line.

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 time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes 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 world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

From bondage to spiritual faith;

From spiritual faith to great courage;

From courage to liberty;

From liberty to abundance;

From abundance to selfishness;

From selfishness to complacency;

From complacency to apathy;

From apathy to dependence;

From dependence back into bondage.

 

[Jill]

Seems appropriate to point out here that the USA is a Republic, not a Democracy.

 

[miniwhinny]

Seems appropriate to point out here that the USA is a Republic, not a Democracy.

Hopefully as the majority of people posting on this board are American they are already educated enough to know that. Hopefully.

 

[Jill]

Hopefully as the majority of people posting on this board are American they are already educated enough to know that. Hopefully.

Agreed... and if not, now maybe they'll look it up and know the difference.

 

[tagalong]

Hopefully as the majority of people posting on this board are American they are already educated enough to know that. Hopefully.

Sadly, not. I remember a thread a couple of years ago where someone pointed out that the US was not a democracy - and got chewed out by some irate posters who did not know or understand that. But all that aside, declaring that a democracy can only last 200 years and must follow that schedule seems like a whole lot of generalization to me... *shrug*

 

[Jill]

Tag, I have to admit, I agree fully.

 

[miniwhinny]

Sadly, not. I remember a thread a couple of years ago where someone pointed out that the US was not a democracy - and got chewed out by some irate posters who did not know or understand that. But all that aside, declaring that a democracy can only last 200 years and must follow that schedule seems like a whole lot of generalization to me... *shrug*

It is generalization as to time - but it's also mirroring what has happened very closely. Tytler was a historian and noted that all democracies since the Athenian Republic followed this same pattern.

As for people not knowing the difference - it was one of the first things I had to learn for my citizen test many years ago - when I had my US friends quiz me - not ONE of them got it right. Sadly it's common knowledge that mot many US born citizens couldn't pass the Citizen Exam.

That said there is a reason why it's confusing to many - the word "democracy" itself has a double meaning...

A Democracy in it's general term is a type of government. But specifically it's a form of government. That's where a lot of confusion comes in because if people aren't specific on what they are talking about in the first place then a correct view or opinion cannot be expressed.

In both the government is elected by the people but in a Democracy the majority rules really with no limits. In a Republic the Government rules based on law (our Constitution) which puts limits on the power of the Government (or so we all wish lol)

 

[Miniv]

Sadly, while we were formed as a Republic, we have been slowly sliding into becoming a Democracy.

 

[miniwhinny]

Sadly, while we were formed as a Republic, we have been slowly sliding into becoming a Democracy.

Don't worry about it MA. Soon we'll be owned and governed by China so we'll be a Socialist Republic.

 

[Katiean]

Don't worry about it MA. Soon we'll be owned and governed by China so we'll be a Socialist Republic.

 

[vickie gee]

Don't worry about it MA. Soon we'll be owned and governed by China so we'll be a Socialist Republic.

You are so right. My husband was telling me just today about the mutha of all aircraft carriers that China is about to have. They are getting ready to start taking over their neighboring countries in the south Pacific (just like Hitler did). And sadly we are not the same ole good US of A that came to the rescue back then. I hate to sound like a prophet of gloom and doom but people had better start paying attention. There are reasons that the founding fathers penned our Constitution the way they did. I get enraged when these supreme court justices try to treat it or assert their (sick) will over it like it is a draft which needs constant revision. They took an oath to support it! That ranks right up there with trying to change what is in the Bible. NOT A JOT OR A TITTLE!!!! Two verbs which can be interpreted with SIMILAR MEANING ARE SHALL (same meaning as must or will) and MAY (which leaves room for some bending of the words, basically a term which is interchangeable with MIGHT). But shall and may do not in any way have the same meaning. We have not seen a draft in years and our military is getting downsized and demoralized constantly. We can go from spending kazillions on the humvee to spending it on the mrap. But how much safer is our own country on account of this? I have grandsons. I worry about them having to fight wars, even though right now they are just little boys. Nobody has been drafted in my family since my dad was and he was a Marine in the frozen chosin. He did not speak of it for 50 years. Then 9-1-1 happened and he began to talk and has not stopped since. We don't want to have to go through what people have been through in war ridden countries. Switch your tv channel from reality tv to historical documentaries for half a day. It is a real eye opener. We had better start buying made in America rather than all the crap we buy from China that just lines their pockets which in turn builds THEIR military! And we had better vote in some politicians at all levels local to the presidency that have a number one priority of serving and protecting the country! And as I step down off the soap box I want to add that as an admitted Bible toter I have no qualms about sending out a "big amen shout to blessing Israel." Admittingly I do feel that our country has reached a pinnacle where we MAY (hopefully not SHALL) become not blessed. That is just my opinion and it is heartfelt.