Alexander Fraser Tytler (1747–1813)
QUOTATION: 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.
Alexander was right. My sister articulates that she votes for whoever promises her the most stuff. She was a smart kid. Got a full ride to Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois where the genius professors taught her to figure out how to “get on the gravy train.” Disgusting.