“The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money”
-Alexis De Tocqueville
Author of Democracy in America, Alexis De Tocqueville journeyed to the U.S. in 1931 to examine the way American penitentiaries and prisons were being run. However, during that time, Tocqueville became fascinated by the radical shift the newly formed democracy had taken, and the ways it manifested in Americans day-to-day lives.
He studied everything from the burgeoning middle class and the abolition of primogeniture, to the calamities the state faced with the retention of slavery. Now, while debate still reigns regarding the origins of this quote, its truth still remains. America was a very different country in 1831, and it has been transforming ever since. Through this time we have seen how the legislative branch has found new ways to push new laws and agendas.
Now, while the method Tocqueville was referring to remains ambiguous, the ability for congress to exercise this still exists. Be it through the promise of enhanced tax breaks or the reallocation of resources, it seems that it can be applied to most every campaigning tactic.
However, the grand takeaway for today’s entrepreneur can be to not let the wool be pulled over your eyes. See things for the way they are
Check out some of our other quotes
