[sargon]

You likely have heard the saw about "once half the population discovers it can vote largess for itself out of the public treasury ...", it's game over for that social/government compact. Basically an argument against universal suffrage.

Alexis de Tocqueville's words, I believe. To my mind, it's more of a warning against welfare state policies which would enable such destruction—as opposed to universal suffrage. But point well taken, of course...

[Cboldt]

-- Alexis de Tocqueville's words, I believe. To my mind, it's more of a warning against welfare state policies which would enable such destruction--as opposed to universal suffrage. --

Maybe a bit of chicken and egg. Which came first, the welfare state, or a majority of voters' demand for it? For purposes of de Tocqueville's observation, both are in play.