Was Ben Franklin Correct?

[MannyGoldstein]

"In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other."
- Ben Franklin, from his final address at the Constitutional Convention

(Food for thought.)

[Eric J in MN]

1. We don't need despotic govt.

We didn't choose despotic govt.

Bush's people stole Florida by telling mostly black people that they can't vote because they're "suspected felons" and the country has been on the wrong track ever since.

[stellanoir]

2. totally on the money

watch it flow

K & R'ed

[proReality]

3. He was correct...

if the people aren't vigilant and involved.

[Rex]

4. If the people don't care. The pliability of the people with govt

decisions. If we sit and watch it all burn to the ground then it will. Will people live under that kind of government? I would hope not.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

5. The corrupted people = corporate personage n/t

[hang a left]

6. I am so angered that people don't pay attention...

It is not their fault. They have been seduced by the media.

Makes me sick to my stomach

[Gabi Hayes]

8. it IS their fault if they pay so little attention, that they're FOOLED by

the obvious phoniness of a Reagan, by the haughty indifference of a Bush I, by the IDIOCY of Bush II

there's no excuse for being THAT inattentive

[tom_paine]

7. Not yet, but getting closer every year.

This was our first brush with fully and completely loosing the Republic, as Franklin spoke of. And while the danger isn't over yet, it does appear that the moment of crisis, full-blown New Totalitarianism, has been pushed back at least a decade.

But one can already see it begiing. And yes, I hope I am wrong, but I think it has started and will finish sometime in the middle or end of the 21st Century.