"... as all history informs us, there has been in every State & Kingdom a constant kind of warfare between the governing & governed: the one striving to obtain more for its support, and the other to pay less. And this has alone occasioned great convulsions, actual civil wars, ending either in dethroning of the Princes, or enslaving of the people. Generally indeed the ruling power carries its point, the revenues of princes constantly increasing, and we see that they are never satisfied, but always in want of more. The more the people are discontented with the oppression of taxes; the greater need the prince has of money to distribute among his partisans and pay the troops that are to suppress all resistance, and enable him to plunder at pleasure. There is scarce a king in a hundred who would not, if he could, follow the example of Pharaoh, get first all the peoples money, then all their lands, and then make them and their children servants for ever ..."
by:
Benjamin Franklin
(1706-1790) US Founding Father
Source:
before the Constitutional Convention, June 2, 1787.
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Reader comments about this quote:
The monarchical Fed, with its politician puppets and authority to arm itself fulfill this quote completely. With the Patriot Act's definition of terrorism, supported by the Senate's most recent declaration of open war on We The People, the Pharaoh had nothing on said current king-men.
 -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Great!
     -- Samuel, TWN     
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    Our forefathers were far greater thaqn what we have now running things.
     -- cal, lewisville, tx     
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    Sounds a lot to me like Ben has been reading Machiavelli. A couple of senetences sound like almost a direct quote... And Cal, yes, our forefathers were greater, but we will be greater again soon. The people are beginning to awaken. Now the only question is whether the police and army are sufficiently well armed to put down a popular rebellion. In that we are at a disadvantage compared to our forefathers, who, in terms of armaments, were more or less at parity with their oppressors.
     -- TheMANwithNoname, Tampa     
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    Ben Franklin knew a thing or two about government despotism and his quote is a warning to us. This quote describes exactly what is going on today inside the Beltway. It perfectly describes the U.S. Congress and the Executive branch with aid and comfort from the Supremes.
     -- jim k, Austin, Tx     
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     -- Dan, Portsmouth      
    "revenues constantly increasing" Sound familiar? We're being slowly taxed out of existence to support a Socialist system that just doesn't work. The direction we are presently taking can be compared to lemmings off a cliff.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    Never was the attempt to dominate the world today more apparent. Americans MUST stop this madness before they turn the US into a Nazi police state. The same quest for power in the days of Alexander, Napoleon, and Hitler is present today. The Pharaohs ruled for thousands of years -- and the world rulers today envision themselves the same. When will the slaves turn on their 'masters'? Will we be forever taught to be beasts of burden? Wake up!
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    E Archer, you stole the words right out of my mouth. America has become so blinded and ignorant, deriving from our prideful stance and filthy conscious so much that we have failed to humble ourselves in order to awaken the spirit man that is within us- the foundation in which America was meant to stand on. No longer do we as a people wish to have the scales from our eyes stripped away, but rather it seems one prefers to be enslaved by the deceitful lusts and yokes of bondage of this world. The foundations of the nations and kingdoms are shaking and crumbling, and only those who have been awakened can see this madness, thus only those awakened will be prepared for that which is on its way. Those who have ears, let him hear what God is speaking!
     -- Michele D., Westchester, NY     
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