From: Charles D Hixson (charleshixsn@earthlink.net)
Date: Sun Jan 06 2002 - 15:08:51 MST
"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. These nations have progressed through this
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 apathy; From
apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage."
-- Alexander Fraser Tytler (later Lord Alexander Fraser
Woodhouslee), in "The Decline and Fall of the Athenian Republic,"
published 1776.<
But the singularity will insert itself into that cycle. I wonder
what effect that will cause.
--
Charles Hixson
Copy software legally, the GNU way!
Use GNU software, and legally make and share copies of software.
See:
http://www.gnu.org
http://www.redhat.com
http://www.linux-mandrake.com
http://www.calderasystems.com
http://www.linuxapps.com
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