Benjamin Franklin Quote

"[A]s 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.
Rating:
Categories:	History, Conflict, Government, Power, Slavery, Taxation, Theft, Money, Land, Servitude
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Ben Franklin had to have been Psychic. Everything he is stating has happened in history, and continues to happen right now. Corruption and Greed at it's worst in history with the Obama Regime.  -- L.P., Kirkland, WA      1
Nancy, Ralph, Obama and the gang are working overtime on the last sentence in the quote.  -- jim k, Austin,Tx      1
LP, he wasn't psychic, he was a student of history. The Constitution was designed to protect us from the abuses that were well known to man at that time...and yes it's all happening again.  -- J Carlton, Calgary      1
The State & its Kingdom in Amerika carries its point with more tools (industrial media complex, government schools, funny money presses and electronics, etc.) than previously available. Its more efficient tyrannical efforts first extract greater portions of all the peoples money, then all their lands, and then make them and their children servants for ever.  -- Mike, Norwalk      1
Ben Franklin was brilliant. this is a 5 star quote. Thank U for digging them out for your readers. the other 2 quotes today were also superb. I hope your readers pass them along. Harry, Monaco  -- Anonymous, monte carlo      1
Only part and shallow truth. Ben was known for his own frugality and ability to gather money to himself, what with publishing and stuff. But he fails to point out at least one exmple of princely taxation that was loved by the peopel. When King Mathias of Hungary came to the throne he increased taxes and the nobility and peasantry all complained (so what is new) but he built up the army, chased out the Turks etcetera and it is reported that people said upon his death, "we would gladly pay more if he would but rise again". So old Ben makes that common mistake of many who have not learned to never say never and never say always. There have and I am sure will be again good, efficient, and just tax regimens and adminstratiosn.  -- Waffler, Smith      3
Waffler? And way back in Hungary did the villagers all come dancing gaily dressed and chanting "Yes we can, Yes we can" And are we now supposed to adopt this great Hungarian contribution to governmental demand economics as being superior to having the freedom to create and invent and be innovative with our drive being the rewards we may reap? Should we just burn our Constitution now Waffler and figure out just how some Prince in Hungary in some far off time manged to put a smile on a few faces with freebies?...Thanks, I'll take Benjamin's wisdom over the Happy Prince of Hungary. Thanks for the story though. :)  -- J Carlton, Calgary      3
Ben Franklin was talking about Obama here: "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".  -- Byron, Fort Collins, CO      1
Beautifully said. This not an example of Obama per se but of the corrupted American political system -- the GOP are no less responsible for the indenturing of the people than the so-called Democrats. America has a fascist government run by the central bankers -- it is all about money and power -- the people simply vote for the one that promises them more than the other guy. I have often wondered how the Egyptian pharohs ever acquired so much power and so many slaves -- and why couldn't the slaves escape their slavery? Look to the last 100 years, and you will see that the ruling class knows exactly what they are doing. It is a battle to rule the world -- and with the stealthy banking practice of fiat currency issued by private bankers, the people do not even know what is happening. Slaves that love their slavery... for now.  -- E Archer, NYC      2
"There is scarce a king in a hundred who would not". The restoration moves forward, taking lead of opportunity in due season following after Albert J. Beveridge's hindsight.  "America would be better off as a country and Americans happier and more prosperous as a people if half of our government boards, bureaus and commissions were abolished, hundreds of thousands of our government officials, agents and employees were discharged, and two-thirds of our government regulations, restrictions and inhibitions were removed."  Prosperity's best friend is Independence returned, then to help thy neighbor at odds through Education at fact. Are we not as a nation moving in "that" right direction, by all means let us continue the battle while in power to do so. WWG1WGA MAGA to KAG.    -- Ronw13, OR      1

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