Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page Richard M. Ebeling Quote “Democracy in itself does not define or guarantee a free society. History has told many stories of democratic societies that have degenerated into corruption, plunder, and tyranny.” ~ Richard M. Ebeling (1950- ) Author, Professor of Economics, Hillsdale College Corruption , Democracy , Plunder , Society , Tyranny Ratings and Comments Reply E Archer, NYC 10/24/13 The word tyranny comes from the word "Tyre", the Greek city in which democracy was established and thus degenerated into 'tyranny.' When a majority can vote away the rights and property of a minority, the seeds of the nation's self-destruction are sown. Reply watchman 13, USA 10/24/13 Then to what purpose was the experiment of this republic in which we live formed ? Reply Mike, Norwalk 10/24/13 watchman 13, please read my previous post. A "democracy" does not reference the lawful status (free or otherwise) of the individual (individually or in concert - a society). A "democracy" simply defines the might of mob rule. The "republican form" of government recognized and established in the de jure states United was based on natural law. Each individual was sovereign with inalienable right. All law exists, corporeal man using reason, logic, and a digesting of history to discover that law. Once the law is discovered (gravity, math, science, fiscal law, etc.), man then uses such tools as codes, ordinances, regulations, rules, and statutes to define that law. By way of example (for watchman 13) Exodus 20 references murder as a law broken. Man discovers such law and then implements such tools as 1st degree, 2nd degree, man slaughter, etc. to define the law for man's lawful administrations. In a "democracy", man as god, creates codes, statutes, etc. out of nothing and calls them law. Man's ability to create law falls under an unconstitutional philosophy known as legal positivism.In the de jure states United (the United States of America) the premise of law and that which was to be the foundation for which natural / Constitutional law was to be interpreted was set forth in the Declaration of Independence. ". . . in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people . . . to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, . . . We hold these truths to be self-evident," By way of clarification, John Jay (1745-1829, the U.S.s first Supreme Court Chief Justice and acting president of the U.S. prior to George Washington) "The moral or natural law was given by the Sovereign of the universe to all mankind; with them it was co-equal, and with them it will be co-existent. Being founded by infinite wisdom and goodness on essential right, which never varies, it can require no amendment or alteration." At natural law, man can not create law; law enforcement is an oxymoron. Can man enforce gravity, science, math etc. ? NO, it just is.All economic policy and accounting (principle, practice - debit / credit/ etc. - math, etc) are based on natural fiscal law. The closer man's tools are to the "law", the greater the freedom liberty, prosperity, and wealth creation. The further man's tools are away from law (or antagonistic thereto) the greater the despotism, tyranny poverty, and wealth destruction (creation of rich vs. poor castes). In the de jure states United, We The People were to (through being educated in reason, logic and history - a democratic process) choose the tools which best fit our most local experiences (one area may be more agricultural, or urban, or religious, or industrious, etc.) Common law is the administrative face to natural law. The legal positivism of a 'democracy' manifests, the carnal god makes law and calls its law codes, statutes, etc. Reply Mike, Norwalk 10/24/13 P.S. At natural law (a republican form), man chooses the tools to administer the law that already exists. At legal positivism (a democracy for example) man creates tools as law. Reply E Archer, NYC 10/26/13 Mike, you have nailed it once again! Simply put, legal positivism is man playing God. Whenever men try to mete out God's judgement, they set themselves up as God -- historically oppression, servitude, and genocide follow. SaveOk2 SaveOk2 View CommentsClick to view or comment. Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print This Richard M. Ebeling quote is found in these categories: Corruption quotes Democracy quotes Plunder quotes Society quotes Tyranny quotes About Richard M. Ebeling Bio of Richard M. Ebeling Quotations by Richard M. Ebeling Books by/about Richard M. Ebeling Richard M. Ebeling videos Richard M. Ebeling on Wikipedia Astrological chart for Richard M. Ebeling