How Long Do We Have?

Via email | July 27, 2006 | Unknown

[oneolcop]

How Long Do We Have?

About the time our original 13 states adopted their new constitution, in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years prior:

"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 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 dependence back into bondage "

9. On its way;

Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, points out some interesting facts concerning the 2000 Presidential election:

Population of counties won by: Gore: 127 million; Bush: 143 million; Square miles of land won by: Gore: 580,0 00; Bush: 2,427,000

States won by: Gore: 19; Bush: 29

Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Gore: 13.2; Bush: 2.1

Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory Bush won was mostly the land owned by the tax-paying citizens of this great country. Gore's territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off government welfare..."

Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, with some 40 percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase.

Pass this along to help everyone realize just how much is at stake, knowing that apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.

PS . #9 If the Senate grants Amnesty and citizenship to 20 million criminal invaders called illegals and they vote, then goodbye USA. in less than 5 years.

[Enterprise]

We got a couple more months, don't worry.

[MNJohnnie]

Too bad for the rabid doom and gloom hysterics we are a Constitutional Republic and not a Democracy.

[oneolcop]

Good to hear that! I've got time to store up some more ammo.

[oneolcop]

Hope you're right. How many does it take to tip the scales one way or the other?

[Fester Chugabrew]

A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury.

BUMP

[freedumb2003]

We're at 7)

But there needs to be a step about from "apathy" to "self-loathing."

[BIGLOOK]

Just because it's interesting ........ping.

[oneolcop]

I try to be thoughtful, not reactionary. Nevertheless, I wonder how much truth there is in this train of thought. God has blessed our family, we live in a beautiful place, far from the ratrace, but, I feel for those who are stewing in their own juices and don't know it. Are we able to do anything about this trend, or are we just wasting time and words speculating?

[GeronL]

We should all just replace government with something approaching a resembling to a Constitutional one and defeat the Islamic death cult completely too.

I can dream.

[Oztrich Boy]

Fake but accurate

[ansel12]

This link has an article about the origin of the quote.

http://www.geocities.com/nerolsnilloc/library/tytler.html

[PeteB570]

At least until spring. I hear the vegetation will return then and turn things green. All the money will disappear in the grass and we are doomed.

[tpaine]

Too bad for the rabid doom and gloom hysterics we are a Constitutional Republic and not a Democracy.

Too bad so many here advocate majority rule 'democracy'.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I love hearing the opinion of a monarchist on republics.

They are so objective and unbiased.

I especially like statements like this "The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. "

Complete and utter bull crap but people quote it like it came down from Sinai on stone tablets. Depending on what I call a "great civilization" I can make them last 500 years or 50.

[oneolcop]

What is your estimation of the lifespan of this republic?

[BIGLOOK]

I like your thread but there is a great difference between a democratic republic and the classic Greek democracy.

In ancient Athens, Solon, the wisest of elected dictators was elected to a ten year term by a plurality. The many competing factions weren't happy with his success and plotted his demise. However, as dictator, Solon passed wise laws which endured through his tenure.....only because he got the hell out of town to a place far from the plotters.

The greatest threat, IMAO, to our form of governance is the notion to do away with the Electoral College or to mess it up by dividing Electoral votes from the states replacing the 'winner takes all' method. If this happens, the president would be elected by City States and power would fall solely into the hands of the democrats.

Other problems for the "rest of America" would subsequently arise from this tinkering with the Constitution which the populace would no longer have a voice in remedying.

First and foremost, Save the Republic!

[TimSkalaBim]

Whatever replaces the great United States, I plan on ruling it.

[oneolcop]

What, in your estimation is the validity of the thought, however expressed and to whom attributed?

[oneolcop]

May I be the minister of retrubution in your new government?