It's likely that you have seen this famous quote. But if not, then your time has come. It's from a Scotsman over two hundred years ago saying that democracy can't survive long term.
He had a very plausible reason for saying so:
"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 . ."
Check: we passed that point in America a long time ago. Power to get votes from giving away public money is entrenched in our political parties.
". . [W]ith the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy . . "
Check: yes, America currently has loose fiscal policy in the form of runaway spending accompanied by intolerable debt.
from Goodreads
(cont'd tomorrow)
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