"Let the people think they govern and they will be governed."
by:
William Penn
(1644-1718) English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker, founder of the Province of Pennsylvania
Source:
Some Fruits of Solitude, 1693
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 -- Bob Robertson, Port Alfred      
CONFUSED
 -- GUS, ATLANTA     
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    by way of example: When the Warren Court put the final nail in the coffin of the de jure representative republic, limited by a constitution, claiming government had inherent right (the government no longer being a lawful extension of We The People but rather an independent organic hegemony) the system of voting was allowed to continue so as to fool the people to think they still had a hand in governing. Because the people now falsely believe they are the government they can be forced to accept all the demonic depravities that is socialism, despotism, tyranny, totalitarian oppression, and police state abuses. We The People no longer have a government but rather, vote for jail keepers (hopefully benevolent) to tell us what to do. A second example is the law of contradictions. The Constitution is a limiting definition on the individual sovereigns representatives. When amendments or otherwise (judicial legislation, etc.) to the Constitution address the individual the additions and changes become lawfully void ab initio as they violate (contradict) the lawful intent and basis of the original Constitution. When such violations (additions and changes) are used as justification for acts directed at the individual (despotism and tyranny) in passing codes, ordinances, regulations, rules, statutes, etc. the people no longer govern but are rather governed. The deception is complete.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    I agree with the "confused comment".
     -- Waffler, Snith     
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    The word that may be confusing is "think." Simply 'thinking' that you govern is not actually governing -- and those that 'know' they govern can certainly string the rest along who merely 'think' they govern themselves. I believe this quote is part of a 'dialogue' with King James II who turned the phrase around, "Let the people think they do not govern, and they will not be governed." Catchy as the response may have been, it did not convince the Englishmen that the king would not snatch away their freedom and religion, and he did lose his throne.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Whats new Waffler? You are always confused.
     -- Nick     
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    Editor, these are three great quotes - well done! For those who are confused let me try and simplify: Let the people think they have power and they will be slaves.
     -- Anonymous     
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    Where are these great thinkers today? we need you back where ever you are...
     -- Anonymous     
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    This quote goes along with the ones we had earlier this week about deceit. About how easy it is to deceive the people but so difficult for them to accept the truth. George Orwell's Animal Farm clearly shows the truth in William Penn's quote. The animals thought they were free and in charge of their lives when in reality, they were nothing more than abject slaves to the ruling class (the pigs). Hmmm, how many big shot pigs can you name today? Barny Franks, Chris Dodd, Barbara Waters, the Clintons, Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton, all the Global Warming pimps, and the list goes on. While we sheep stand around blindly and stupidly praising those that are screwing us thoroughly.
     -- GunnyCee, Durham, NC     
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    Ignorance is bliss — until it isn't...
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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     -- jim k, austin      
     
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