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.
Whatever one's religion in his private life may be, for the officeholder, nothing takes precedence over his oath to uphold the Constitution and all its parts - including the First Amendment and the strict separation of church and state.
The need for peace in Northern Ireland goes well beyond political stability. It now speaks to regional Europe and even global stability.
It doesn't matter where we begin the personal/political circle, but it matters desperately that we complete it.
All talk on Islamic States is just an empty dream. No man in his right sense would accept a nation which bases its political administration on religion, and in a country like Malaysia with its multiracial and multireligious people, there is no room for an Islamic State.
I found this national debt doubled, wrapped in a big bow waiting for me as I stepped into the Oval Office.
I think maybe the people in elected positions are more interested in preserving their jobs than in doing the best job possible.
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