Villainous Company

“A democracy cannot survive as a permanent form of government. It can last only until its citizens discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury." --Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1857

Cass, You speak such truth. Yet even as it seems self-evident (to us), how can wekeep it from happening over and over? I don't want to just sigh and say "Human nature" and give up - I want to move towards the America where the masses see the light and demand all of their representatives snap to attention!

Barb, you're asking the wrong gal. Don't you remember? -- Cassandra (daughter of Priam and Hecuba) had great prophetic powers. But a curse by Apollo (she wouldn't put out for him) caused her always to be disbelieved.

I like that, George :)

Besides, everyone knows consservative females are all wackos anyway.

Oh goodie! A quote fest in the making! Well you knew I'd throw this one out there as I do every couple of months whether it is apropos or not! ;-)

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the public treasure. From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most money from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's great civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through the following 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 complacency from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependency, from dependency back to bondage." - Alexander Tyler on the Athenian Republic

Look, we are already at just about 50% of the populace that doesn't pay any income tax what-so-ever. We've also got the push for the Imperial Federal Guvmint to take over the healthcare industry the same as they did public education under Carter's auspices. As long as the guvmint can continue to indoctrinate instead of educate we'll continue down the road to socialism. There is NO difference between the Dems and Repubs on increasing the size, scope, and intrusion of the federal government into every aspect of our lives. If the Libertarians wouldn't have shot themselves in the foot with their stance on the WoT they might have become a credible alternative. I see nothing on the horizon that is nothing more than self-serving gratuitous politicking! Once FDR destroyed the very fiber of the Constituion with the "Super Sized Big New Deal" it became our only destiny to raid the coffers of the treasury.

"Ask not what you can do for your Country. Ask what your Country can do for you"! I give us maybe 25 years at the outside.

Ever the optimist! :-o

JHD,
Cheer down a little.
Your irrational exuberance about the future seems misplaced.

Awshucks, I'm just a happy boy Don! Just alookin' for the Peid Piper to lead us through the Streets of Gold! :-o

There’s a lady who’s sure
All that glitters is gold
And she’s buying a stairway to heaven.
When she gets there she knows
If the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh, ooh, and she’s buying a stairway to heaven.

There’s a sign on the wall
But she wants to be sure
’cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.
In a tree by the brook
There’s a songbird who sings,
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it makes me wonder.

There’s a feeling I get
When I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving.
In my thoughts I have seen
Rings of smoke through the trees,
And the voices of those who standing looking.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it really makes me wonder.

And it’s whispered that soon
If we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn
For those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter.

If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow
Don’t be alarmed now,
It’s just a spring clean for the may queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by
But in the long run
There’s still time to change the road you’re on.
And it makes me wonder.

Your head is humming and it won’t go
In case you don’t know,
The piper’s calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow,
And did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.

And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How ev’rything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.

And she’s buying a stairway to heaven.

I'm having ENTIRELY too much fun today! Must be illegal!

I just watched the opening ceremonies of the Daytona 500 and I was struck by who was there. I saw none other than Demi Moore in the infield. Demi Moore, that bastion of American ideals and ensconsced virtuoso of the Red State body politic. At Daytona? Who says we don't have a sense of humor? LMAO!

The mountain is high
The valley is low
and you're confused on which way to go
so I've come here to give you a hand
and lead you into the promised land
so...
come on and take a free ride [free ride!]
come on and sit here by my side
come on and take a free ride
all over the country I've seen it the same
nobody's winning at this kind of game
we've got to do better it's time to begin
you know all the answers must come from within
so...
come on and take a free ride [free ride]
come on and sit here by my side
come on and take a free ride

It's a Rock & Roll Sunday! Time for Jr. to find another gear! :-)

Alas, Junior did not make it.