... but regardless of the originator, it bears thoughtful consideration in any political election time.

"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."

Some have attributed this to a fellow named Alexander Tytler. Or Alexander Tyler. Or Arnold Toynbee. Or Lord Thomas Macaulay. Or...
(for more on the issue of attribution, see (link...) )

But, you see, it doesn't ultimately matter who said it. What matters is the caution it should put into us as we consider issues and elections. Like all cautions, the concerns it can - and should - cause us to have should not paralyze us. But rather they should serve as balancing tools to apply to the scales of our political judgments (and our votes).

Happy election!

RB

RB