One of my favorite quotes, often attributed to Tytler.
“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 world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to complacency; From complacency to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.”
We are somewhere between apathy and dependence…
I learned this in 9th grade many years ago. I doubt if it’s taught anymore in public schools. Thanks for sharing it, Shawn. This is a real wake up call.
Shawn Pavlikon May 20, 2014 at 9:57 am
Tom-
Do you have a favorite in the upcoming primaries? Big decisions ahead. Who can beat Bruce Braley for Senate, and who should replace Tom Latham as our Representative? I was kind of hoping Latham was going to run for Senate, but…I can understand wanting to retire.
I like Joni Ernst for Senate. She had a presence at the Iowa March for Life earlier this year. I like Robert Kreamer for House. I had dinner with him at the Iowa Right to Life banquet last month. Nice guy. Sharp. They both have great experience, they’re good conservatives, and I think they can win.
Shawn Pavlikon May 21, 2014 at 11:29 am
Thanks for the names. I was already considering Ernst. I felt she has done the best in the debates. Mark Jacobs seems like an establishment Republican, i.e. RINO, and is attacking her, so that’s another point in her favor.
The House race, I had never heard of the people except for Brad Zaun. I like Zaun as a local businessman, but not sure how conservative he is.
Missed this post earlier…..WOW, does it hit home! One of the “truths” the Bible teaches me is exactly what the message seems to be in this writing i.e. that human beings and human nature have changed not a whit in recorded human history!
One of my favorite quotes, often attributed to Tytler.
“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 world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to complacency; From complacency to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.”
We are somewhere between apathy and dependence…
I learned this in 9th grade many years ago. I doubt if it’s taught anymore in public schools. Thanks for sharing it, Shawn. This is a real wake up call.
Tom-
Do you have a favorite in the upcoming primaries? Big decisions ahead. Who can beat Bruce Braley for Senate, and who should replace Tom Latham as our Representative? I was kind of hoping Latham was going to run for Senate, but…I can understand wanting to retire.
I like Joni Ernst for Senate. She had a presence at the Iowa March for Life earlier this year. I like Robert Kreamer for House. I had dinner with him at the Iowa Right to Life banquet last month. Nice guy. Sharp. They both have great experience, they’re good conservatives, and I think they can win.
Thanks for the names. I was already considering Ernst. I felt she has done the best in the debates. Mark Jacobs seems like an establishment Republican, i.e. RINO, and is attacking her, so that’s another point in her favor.
The House race, I had never heard of the people except for Brad Zaun. I like Zaun as a local businessman, but not sure how conservative he is.
I do like Zaun. I had coffee with him in his last campaign. He’s a solid conservative and battle-tested. I find myself leaning toward Cramer.
By the way, it’s Robert Cramer. I was trying to find Kreamer, and it did not come up.
Sorry about that!
[…] Today’s lesson from history. […]
Missed this post earlier…..WOW, does it hit home! One of the “truths” the Bible teaches me is exactly what the message seems to be in this writing i.e. that human beings and human nature have changed not a whit in recorded human history!
Pretty scary stuff.