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.

[aft_lizard]

The item that popped out at me was the fact only 48 states are being used so I googled crime rates and snopes has this:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/tyler.asp

I wont paste the article.

[oneolcop]

"First and foremost, Save the Republic!"

How, pray tell, do we accomplish that task?

[TimSkalaBim]

Yes. And I will grant you lands and titles.

[oneolcop]

Whooopee!

[Congressman Billybob]

The first part of this is, in concept, the same as Aristotle's reasons for considering "democracy" to be a "corrupt form of government." 2,500 years ago, Aristotle concluded that a pure democracy would vote itself into bankruptcy and political failure.

John / Billybob

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

There is not enough data to be able to say.

This form of republic is very new. While the Romans had a form of republic it certainly did not take this shape.

If you apply the strictest of standards and say it is only lives as long as it does not change then the first US republic died in 1828 for sure and it can be argued that it died even earlier.

Theoretically as long as it remains flexible the lifespan could stretch to infinity.

[TimSkalaBim]

Anybody else who wants in on my new government should speak up now.

I have openings for a Minister of Disproportionate Response and a Keg-Master.

Also, I have big plans for Camden. I want to make Camden the crown jewel of Mid-Atlantica. So, if anybody wants the job, now's the time to speak up.

[BIGLOOK]

Seems simple to me. Enforce the law.

Can't recall many cases of voter fraud being prosecuted. Instead, every few years, I hear motions to restore voting rights to convicted felons and recently an amnesty for illegals, which will compound the problem.

Finagling the system goes way back and persists due to neglect from law enforcement.

[ansel12]

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


I like the article and the primary quote, that is why I knew of some questions about the attribution.

[oneolcop]

As one who spent 40 years enforcing the law, I agree. The rule of law is what differentiates "us" from "them" When, "they" outnumber us, get elected on the promise of the liberal agenda, what does one do? Enforce the law(rule of) until they change the law. Immigration law? I was the officer who published Special Order # 40 of 1978 (as I recall) which stopped the LAPD from enforcing immigration law. The day that was published, the gates were opened for illegal immigration. Sad story...

[BIGLOOK]

When, "they" outnumber us, get elected on the promise of the liberal agenda, what does one do?

LA is an example of the rise of the city state (not alone, but a shining example). The centers of wealth and commerce trend to decadence (not to forget Hollywood).

What can be done? Don't know. Create a new center of commerce and monitor the influx? Not in our lifetimes. An economic siege? Not very American. Rid the country of the NEA and begin teaching and instilling values in our successors.....hmmmm....think that over.

[oneolcop]

If ever there is a breakdown in the system, as it is now, (such as a long-term power outage to the meto areas) there could be a die-off of some of their constituents. That could thin the herd a little. Then, the challenge would be controlling the recovery and placing sufficient conditions on them to change the balance of power. One can hope...

[Sam Cree]

Nice essay. I think it makes valid points.

I'd add one more.

To the extent that abundance, or the creation of wealth, means that a nation becomes more urban, that nation must necessarily become a nation of more regulations, more laws and less freedom. Urban life demands this, since with everyone living right on top of each other, everyone's actions are so much more likely to impact the lives of everyone else.

All modern societies are becoming predominantly urban.

[Sam Cree]

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

Yes, you are right, but since the Constitution was amended to allow the collection of the income tax, the citizens did gain the described right to vote themselves not just the assets of the public treasury, but the assets of more successful citizens.

It may not be a direct democracy, thank God, but there are plenty of politicians out there buying votes. In both parties.

[oneolcop]

Reminds me of the movie King Rat

[Sam Cree]

I didn't see the movie, but did read the book, if it's the one set in a Japanese POW camp.

I met a lady a few years ago, here in FL, who spent WWII in one of those camps. She and her husband were born in the Netherlands, he was employed by a rubber plantation in Sumatra. The Japanese overran the place, they spent the rest of the war interned in the camp, under terrible conditions. She had been 25 when captured, was a real beauty. In her 80's now. Has a lot of stories to tell.