Was Ben Franklin right when he said?

Question

A Government has to be overthrown every 200 years to kill off corruption? And if so arn't we a little over do?

Answer 1

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

This is quoted from the American Declaration of Independence!

A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.
Edward Abbey

If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner.
Henry Louis Mencken (1880-1956)

CAPITAL, n. The seat of misgovernment. That which provides the fire, the pot, the dinner, the table and the knife and fork for the anarchist; the part of the repast that himself supplies is the disgrace before meat.
Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914)

In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, Brave, Hated, and Scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him, For then it costs nothing to be a Patriot.
Mark Twain 1835 -1910

The government is merely a servant — merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them.
Mark Twain 1835 -1910

Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it.
Mark Twain 1835 -1910

It is not the function of the government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the government from falling into error.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice : Robert H. Parker

We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debt, as we must be taxed in our meat and in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our calling and our creeds… we will have no time to think, no means of calling our miss-managers to account, but we will be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow suffers… And this is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent foe another… till the bulk of society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery… And the fore-horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in it’d train wretchedness and oppression.
Thomas Jefferson 1743-1826

To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
Thomas Jefferson 1743 - 1826

Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.
George Orwell


I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.
Abraham Lincoln

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.
Abraham Lincoln

In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.
Theodore Roosevelt

Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees; and both the …trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people.
Henry Clay 1777-1852

Well done is better than well said.
Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790

"Wise Men Speak Because They Have Something To Say But Fools Speak Because They Have To Say Somethin"

If we continue to ask for truth, then refuse to listen.
Mankind will forever, be doomed to destruction.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
Edmund Burke 1729-1797

Seems old Ben and many other famous people share much the same opinion!

Answer 2

Ben Franklin was a genius and clearly ahead of his time. "Those that give up a little freedom for security, deserve neither and shall loose both".

Answer 3

I have to say that the current amount of corruption in the US government does make a point for that argument.

Answer 4

Liberty Or Death
Don't Tread On Me!

;-)

Answer 5

I had heard that Jefferson suggested a revolution every 10 years.

Answer 6

Mr. Franklin did not say that.

Answer 7

yes, America is a bit noncomplacent, to say the least.

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Answer 8

i don't recall him saying that, but if he did then i strongly agree haha

Answer 9

That means killing people - should they start with you ? Does that answer your question ?