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 the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over lousy fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average of the world
Alexander Fraser Tyler in Cycle of Democracy, 1770
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Two Hundred Years And Falling
'A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves excessive gratuities from the public treasury.
From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the treasury, with the result that a democracy collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.'
(Professor Alexander Tyler
The Fall of the Athenian Republic)
The world's greatest civilizations
On average lasted two hundred years.
The Assyrians, Greeks and Babylonians,
Destroyed and fallen, have disappeared.
And even that great Roman Empire,
That mighty conqueror of the West
Fell from its grandeur, state so dire-
Only its ruin can to its name attest.
Consider this then, the time of the States
It is now more than two hundred years
The signs of falling no one negates,
History repeated, that is what we fear.
From bondage to faith of Puritans,
From faith to courage of the pilgrims,
To strength, liberty and abundance,
To leisure, to apathy, and weakness grim.
The final stage is dependency,
That is where the nation is right now.
Repeating the cycle from history,
Tall Uncle Sam is now ready to bow.
The rising again is an urgency
There is need to rebuild the foundations
Strong faith in God and integrity,
Discipline, work, and determination.
Sown in the hearts, nurtured in homes,
For these building blocks are eternal
Inward change and determined reform,
Firm and honest spiritual revival.
.............................................. .............................................
Written March 29,2009
Philippines
poem by Cynthia Buhain-Baello
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A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until a majority of voters discover that they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury.
quote by Alexander Tyler
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Turkeys Voting For Christmas
party electrical pledges
promises never meant
to be kept
elected politicians
government by the people
for the people?
which people?
products of democracy?
voters vote for party
promising lowest taxes
greater citizen benefits
ignoring previous
broken promises
lies lies lies manifest
democracy is turkeys
voting for Christmas
or Thanksgiving hoping
not to be served
up on a meal plate
governments give
governments take
when governments take
they take
more than they ever gave
poem by Terence George Craddock
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The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is that in a democracy you vote first and take orders later; in a dictatorship you don't have to waste your time voting.
quote by Charles Bukowski
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Democracy v Liberty
The fathers of democracy.
The ancient Greek philosophers
were dependent on slavery.
Which leaves me in a quandary.
How can it be democracy
to have such inequality?
I think democracy should be
a universal human right.
Though it is not quite obviously.
An ideal to aspire to.
Which one day might be possible.
The time has come now to review.
What we mean by democracy.
If everybody has their say.
It might well lead to anarchy.
When we elect a government.
The will of the majority
is what they’re meant to represent..
But it seems they rarely do.
This cannot be democracy.
the many are ruled by the few.
Who gain control quite legally
because their wealth allows them to
encouraged by our apathy.
The systems open to abuse
The people have the power to
insist on change; which we don’t use.
We vote or not just as we choose.
A facet of democracy.
I would be hesitant to lose.
It seems to me democracy
is something which we can’t achieve
and still retain our liberty.
There is no way that I can see
which will be fair to everyone.
I must admit despondently.
A partial democracy
is what we have and will retain
a curb upon our liberty.
You have no reason to complain
if you choose not to use your vote.
You have the freedom to abstain.
Sunday,16 May 2010
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poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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Limited Choice
All politicians preen and pose.
They promise forthright honesty.
We aren’t the fools that they suppose
because we very clearly see.
That all the promises they make.
Examined closely make no sense,
they all repeat the same mistake.
Assume the public has no sense.
Your vote is all they want from you
For that they lie with practised ease.
And once elected they will do
very little which will please.
The general public as a whole.
For once aboard the gravy train
They have achieved their only goal
and treat the voters with disdain.
So think before you cast your vote
scrutinise them carefully.
Don’t be afraid to rock the boat
and rouse yourselves from apathy.
The voting system is unfair
and does not represent the views
of every voter everywhere.
We are denied the right to choose.
The form of government we need.
That’s why the country’s in a mess.
Enslaved by some out dated creed
which renders many votes worthless.
The systems rotten to the core
relies on public apathy.
We get what we deserve no more.
It’s sad but true apparently.
It needs a drastic overhaul
there is no sign that it will get.
Your vote is worth nothing at all
That is the only certain bet.
10-May-08
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poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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People Power. A rant.
The people’s voice so long suppressed.
Has now been forcibly expressed
Egyptians want democracy.
The world is waiting now to see
if their demands meet with success.
The winds of change are blowing free.
So tyrants sleep uneasily
They fear to hear the people’s voice
but really they have little choice.
If people choose democracy.
They can no longer rule by force.
Its time to take a different course.
The people have the power to
discard the old bring in the new.
By just resisting passively.
I have no doubt that some will die
As the dictators vainly try.
To cling to power at any cost
a battle that’s already lost.
The people will sweep them away.
The western world must wait and
see what happens next uneasily.
We have no right to interfere
although we have good cause to fear.
The power games that people play.
The world is changing rapidly.
Because of new technology.
Information is exchanged,
the internet has rearranged.
What people are allowed to say.
They have the opportunity
to state their views quite openly
For and against the government.
Although it seems that discontent
is the major force in play..
The peoples will is paramount
They will demand a close account.
From those they give authority
to take control and over see.
the changes that they need today..
Perhaps we too need to review.
A process which is over due
Our concept of democracy
at least our foreign policy..
We do not have the right to say.
What other countries ought to do
Because they are entitled to.
Do whatever they think best
to pacify the deep unrest.
the people have the final say.
If they decide to give assent
to a form of government.
Which may not be democracy
but suits the vast majority.
We have no reason for dissent.
We may quite well learn something new
That makes us take a different view.
Of the systems now in place.
By which we choose our government.
Which do not work as they were meant..
The powers that be may disagree.
Because they do not want to see.
The fault and flaws that now exist.
Although they preach democracy
They breach the rules in secrecy.
Although they may control the press
and the media more or less.
They can’t control the internet.
If they are wise they’ll recognise
That people can see through their lies.
Sunday,13 February 2011
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poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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The So Called Honorable
For to cling to power or for need of power on most policies they disagree
Between the Government and their Opposition there's does not seem much difference to me
Those out of power verbally attack those in power that is how it's been for years
Who wins or loses the Election should not be cause for joy or tears.
Who is in or out of power I for one do not care
That they do not bring change to my life for the good I am all too aware
Democracy is the best form of Government by many we are told
But the workings of Parliament has not changed from the long gone days of old.
Of the praises of Democratically Elected Governments many feel happy to sing
But in Parliament that Parliamentarians obliged to vote with their own parties does not seem a democratic thing
And that the Party or Parties elected by the majority of the voters makes decisions for everyone
Is hardly true democracy when all is said and done.
The hierarchy refer to Parliamentarins as the honorable a title he or she for life does keep
But such a title for most Politicians makes the word honor seem cheap
Like dysfunctional adolescents in Parliament every day
Supposed to be honorable men and women behave in a most immature way.
poem by Francis Duggan
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The budget should be balanced, the treasury should be refilled, the public debt should be reduced and the arrogance of public officials should be controlled.
quote by Ross Perot
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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What Democracy?
Is democracy a dream?
The human race aspires to
such things are seldom as they seem.
Although the people have a choice.
They seldom think their choices through
and so the wishes which they voice.
Can be ignored and flagrantly
by those who hold the power reins
which they acquired dishonestly.
The voting system is unfair.
Votes do not carry equal weight.
The major parties do not care.
They are content to wait their turn
To ride upon the gravy train
enjoying perks they do not earn.
If every vote was made to count
Then that would be democracy
Hold politicians to account
for promises they make then break.
Perhaps it’s time to rectify
the present system: Which would take.
a social revolution
to institute democracy.
Instead of the confusion.
The rule of many by the few
who claim they have the peoples vote
A statement patently untrue.
The vote I cast has no value
in this so called democracy
Its very sad but very true.
(10-Oct-07)
poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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Our Founding Fathers crafted a constitutional Republic for the first time in the history of the world because they were shaping a form of government that would not have the failures of a democracy in it, but had the representation of democracy in it.
quote by Steve King
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Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.
quote by Winston Churchill (11 November 1947)
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I always assume that democracy is the only good form of government, quite frankly, and democracy is always to be preferred.
quote by Jeane Kirkpatrick
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In the government schools, which are referred to as public schools, Indian policy has been instituted there, and its a policy where they do not encourage, in fact, discourage, critical thinking and the creation of ideas and public education.
quote by Russell Means
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I have absolutely no idea what my generation did to enrich our democracy. We dropped the ball. We entered a period of complacency and closed our eyes to the public corruption of our democracy.
quote by Wynton Marsalis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Prosperity cannot be restored by raids upon the public Treasury.
quote by Herbert Hoover
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Cicero: The Budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed, lest Rome will become bankrupt. People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance.
line from A Pillar of Iron, script by Taylor Caldwell (1965)
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In democracy
In democracy
Writ of the peole runs.
In democracy
Repesentatives should not
Called leaders.
In democracy
Representatives must not
Act as er whim.
In democracy
Representative should not
Show dictatorial style.
In democracy
Representative should not have
Arrogance of power.
In democracy
Treachery and
Ruthless decisions
Not good.
In democracy
The representatives
Should be sensitives
Towards sensitive issues.
poem by Gajanan Mishra
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Sacred Election
Sacred
sacred right,
the right to vote.
Sacred
sacred right
to be elected.
The people's votes are tallied
The best choice is declared.
Let no one manipulate the result
Let no one tamper the votes
Let no one buy people's votes
and strip the voters
their sacred right to choose.
Let this election
truly reflect
people's sacred rights.
___________________
November 6,2012
poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen
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My expertise was in public finance, particularly corporate taxation, since I had worked at the US Treasury.
quote by Merton Miller
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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