I prefer the older quote, usually attributed to Alexander Fraser Tytler, simply because I like the word 'largess':
quote:
A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury.
I do appreciate that you go into some sort of withdrawal if deprived of the opportunity to quote Heinlein 36 times a day though, so I understand you have no choice in the matter.
The problem with the idea, though, is that while it sounds very convincing in principle, it runs up against the small problem that it doesn't actually happen in reality, as can be seen from the fairly consistent rolling back of welfare benefitsand state support that has happened across democratic Europe in the last couple of decades.
Edited by caffeine, : No reason given.
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