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.
Interpretation
Democracy is unsustainable if voters learn to exploit it for personal gain.
This quote suggests that a democracy is vulnerable to decline when the majority of its citizens begin to realize they can use their voting power to benefit themselves financially at the expense of the public treasury. It highlights the potential for self-interest to corrupt the integrity of democratic governance and warns of the need for responsible citizenship and awareness of the implications of one's choices in a democratic system.
In practice
During a political debate, emphasizing the importance of responsible voting.
By their subjugation of the press, the political powers in America have conferred on themselves the greatest of political blessings -- Gyges' ring of invisibility. And they have left the American people more deeply baffled by their own country's politics than any people on earth. Our public realm lies steeped in twilight, and we call that twilight news.'
Like a cyclone, imperialism spins across the globe; militarism crushes peoples and sucks their blood like a vampire.
Despite the present, temporary interests that Israel has in common with France and Britain, you ought not to forget that the strength of Israel and her future are bound up with the United States.
Hamas is a terror organization with a covenant that speaks about the elimination of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. They are not partners for negotiations.
One can't doubt that the American objective in Iraq has failed - different plans have to be made. And the kernel here is the acknowledgement of defeat.
It doesn't matter where we begin the personal/political circle, but it matters desperately that we complete it.
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