The 18ᵗʰ century Scottish philosopher Alexander Tytler argued that democracy
A)would survive indefinitely into the future once it was established.
B)was the only form of government that would be able to control excessive government spending financed by debt.
C)would tend to collapse from excessive debt once a majority of voters discovered they could vote themselves benefits at the expense of others.
D)would lead to persistent government surpluses because elected political officials would find the surpluses attractive relative to budget deficits.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tytler's argument, known as the "Tytler Cycle," suggested that democracy would ultimately collapse under the weight of excessive debt caused by politicians promising benefits to voters in order to gain their support in elections. As a result, a majority of voters would eventually vote themselves so many benefits that the entire system would become unsustainable and collapse. While it is worth noting that there is debate over the accuracy of Tytler's prediction, the idea that democracy can be threatened by excessive debt and unsustainable spending remains a relevant topic of discussion in political theory.

The 18ᵗʰ Century Scottish Philosopher Alexander Tytler Argued That Democracy