Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

de Tocqueville Was Right
200 Years Ago | Alexis de Tocqueville

Posted on 11/07/2012 11:08:50 AM PST by RayBob

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse 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, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years.”

Alexis de Tocqueville


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-43 last
To: RayBob

The USA 1776 to 2012....RIP!!


41 posted on 11/07/2012 2:29:04 PM PST by ExCTCitizen (Conservatives needs to listen to the people...Social issues lost votes for the GOP)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Chip

Thanks. The main thing is that it is a general truth applicative today, though ultimately the dictatorship would likely be the antiChrist, and the monarchy the Lord Jesus.


42 posted on 11/07/2012 6:06:00 PM PST by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a contrite damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: RayBob

Yes, de Tocqueville aced it - and 200 years ago, as well.

The great American experiment to determine if citizens could govern themselves is, quite simply, finished.

Answer: They can’t.


43 posted on 11/07/2012 6:37:36 PM PST by Jack Hammer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-43 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson