In 1787 a Scottish historian named Alexander Tyler is quoted as saying the following about the history of democracies:

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship."

"The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

1. From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty;
4. From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to complacency;
6. From complacency to apathy;
7. From apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage.”

There is some question about whether Tyler penned this, or if it should be attributed to another, much like the question, “Who wrote Shakespeare’s works?” But whoever wrote it seems to have had a good understanding of both history and human nature.

If this sequence is both correct and inevitable, we Americans have reason for grave concern, even with the fact that ours is not a pure democracy, but a representative republic. Still, we can identify with the sequence in which we are either between steps 6 and 7, or perhaps fully into step 7. Many of our founders questioned whether the American experiment could long survive. John Adams, on at least one occasion, said he did not think it could. Others who observed the birth of the United States opined that it would go the way of all other past attempts at democracy.

The following is an attempt to identify Tyler's sequence in the context of American History. I have added one step that seems probable from observation of current world events. I call this step 8. What was step 8, above, becomes step 9.

1. From bondage to spiritual faith: The bondage of the 13 colonies under the rule of King George III and the British Parliament. Then came the Great Awakening; what we would call a spiritual revival in today's terminology. This was a profound, widespread supernatural turning to faith in 1725. The effects of this event lasted by some accounts for over 40 years.
   
   
2. From spiritual faith to great courage: Great courage was demonstrated in the banding together of the colonies in declaring independence from Britain in 1776, knowing that the declaration would likely lead to war. Many historians assert that the Continental Congress would not have signed the Declaration of Independence had it not been for the Great Awakening. The signers clearly expressed their dependence on Divine Providence.
   
   
3. From courage to liberty: The courage and persistence of the Continental Army combined with Divine Providence led to victory in the American Revolution in 1783 and the birth of the United States under the Constitution completed in 1787.
   
   
4. From liberty to abundance: The new-found liberty experienced by the American people produced booming prosperity despite significant struggles including the Civil War and two world wars.
   
   
5. From abundance to complacency: The abundance in the 20th century turned the interests of Americans from concerns about preserving the principles of liberty enshrined in our founding documents to comfort, ease and economic prosperity.
   
   
6. From complacency to apathy: This describes the transition to ignorance and apathy about the exceptional nature of the American system of government. John Steinbeck said, “I have named the destroyers of nations: comfort, plenty, and security - out of which grow a bored and slothful cynicism, in which rebellion against the world as it is, and myself as I am, are submerged in listless self-satisfaction.”
   
   
7. From apathy to dependence: Beginning in the 60's, politicians foolishly gave birth to the welfare state. Many Americans became wards of the government as we moved ever closer to socialism. Some of these politicians were motivated by compassion. Others sought to ensure long careers in Washington, buying the votes of those who benefited from the public dole.
   
   
8. From dependence to anarchy: America may be on the verge of this stage as those who have been led to believe they have a right to being "taken care of by the government" learn that there is not enough wealth for the politicians to fulfill their welfare promises. Witness the riots in Europe as the proverbial well runs dry.
   
   
9. From dependence back into bondage: This is the step where despots emerge promising peace and prosperity if the people will trust ultimate authority to them. Alexis deToqueville said in Democracy in America (c1830) " Despotism often presents itself as the remedy for all ills suffered in the past. It is the upholder of justice, the champion of the oppressed, and the founder of order. Nations are lulled to sleep by the temporary prosperity to which it gives rise, and when they awake, they are miserable.

This final step into bondage was illustrated in the Star Wars film, “Revenge of the Sith.” The Senate is meeting in the throes of a crisis, and being asked to confer dictatorial power to Chancellor Palpatine in exchange for his assurance he will lead them to security. His words are persuasive and the council agrees. After the vote is taken and the result announced, the council explodes with applause. Anakin’s wife, Padmé, observes and says, “So this is how liberty dies – with thunderous applause.”

Is America is running headlong down this path into bondage? I submit that, as the signers of the Declaration of Independence knew, our only hope lies in Divine Providence and the commitment of true American patriots.