Signed #928
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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote. -Benjamin Franklin
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Widely attributed to Franklin on the Internet, sometimes without the second sentence. It is not found in any of his known writings, and the word "lunch" is not known to have appeared anywhere in English literature until the 1820s, decades after his death. The phrasing itself has a very modern tone and the second sentence especially might not even be as old as the internet. Some of these observations are made in response to a query at Google Answers.[8]
The earliest known similar statements are:
A democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Gary Strand, Usenet group sci.environment, 23 April 1990. [9]
Democracy is not freedom. Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to eat for lunch. Freedom comes from the recognition of certain rights which may not be taken, not even by a 99% vote.
Marvin Simkin, "Individual Rights", Los Angeles Times, 12 January 1992:[10]
Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
James Bovard, Lost Rights: The Destruction of American Liberty (1994), ISBN 0312123337, p. 333
Also cited as by Bovard in the Sacramento Bee (1994)
Fellow Gun owners, I'm actually the author of the petition and want to thank you for your support and getting out the link. I agree with the above post, it is a shame that we have to petition the obvious. It's of dire importance that Executive Order is not used in ANY case that might have Constitutional questions. The recent threat against our right to bear arms is only scratching the surface. If the president is successful in leveraging Executive Order to raise the debt ceiling or any other number of things outside his power, it will set precedent and open pandora's box.
Thank you for helping bring visibility to this issue and making the White House respond to the American people.
Anson (signer #1)
Thanks for posting AnsonFellow Gun owners, I'm actually the author of the petition and want to thank you for your support and getting out the link. I agree with the above post, it is a shame that we have to petition the obvious. It's of dire importance that Executive Order is not used in ANY case that might have Constitutional questions. The recent threat against our right to bear arms is only scratching the surface. If the president is successful in leveraging Executive Order to raise the debt ceiling or any other number of things outside his power, it will set precedent and open pandora's box.
Thank you for helping bring visibility to this issue and making the White House respond to the American people.
Anson (signer #1)