Thursday, October 19, 2006

Alexander Tyler's Study of Democracy

Although this information is attributed to Alexander Tyler, I can find no proof that he actually wrote this. I have posted it here not because of who wrote it, but because I feel it certainly parallels our nation's path over the past 200 years...and I feel it accurately describes our final years as a sovereign nation.
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About the time our original 13 states adopted their new constitution in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years prior:

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship."

"The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

1. From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty;
4. From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to complacency;
6. From complacency to apathy;
7. From apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage
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If you’ve had an email account for very long, chances are that you’ve seen this at some point in recent years. Over the past few years I’ve probably had it sent to me 3-4 times by friends or co-workers. The reason this study is being sent around the internet is because it very closely describes the history of democracy in America. What was one of the main reasons people came to America when it was founded? Religious freedom. Has our nation shown great courage defending freedom and liberty around the world since we were founded? Absolutely. Do we have great abundance? We’re the wealthiest nation the world has ever seen. Are we now complacent? Less than 50% of our nation consistently votes. Many of us are dependent on the government for some type of assistance. Most of us blindly accept what our government tells us. Is this apathy? Take a look at how much of our federal budget is now dedicated to entitlements – social security, medicare, etc. It is estimated that if nothing changes by 2040, there will be almost nothing left in the Federal budget after entitlements. Our federal budget and national economy cannot support the financial promises our leaders have made. We are heading straight for a financial collapse predicted by the email above. If we apply Biblical prophecy to this coming collapse we see our future – a future in bondage. Once it begins, how do we escape this bondage? The Bible tells us that there is only one way to overcome this world and its bondage – faith in Jesus Christ and God’s Holy Word. You may say that we’re going to make some changes in America before things go past the point of no return. You’d be wrong. I realize this is hard to believe and accept. If I continued to rely on my own understanding, I would probably agree. If I rely on God and His Word, I see a different future. A future told to us 2,000 years ago. The truth is that things aren’t just happening by chance. The battle that has raged throughout the history of man is about to be brought to our doorstep. It is a spiritual battle that will continue to intensify until Jesus returns for us at the end of this age. As you read through the information given on this blog, you will have your eyes opened to the truth. Many will not want to believe what is written here. Because of this, they will flee from the truth and will not be prepared for what we face. Don’t be one of them. Don’t look for answers in this deceptive world. Seek the One who gives us the truth and arms us against our true, spiritual enemy.

Though the world will tell you different, God has never left us. He has been with us since the beginning. It is up to each of us to choose to know Him.

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