Gore Vidal: A Defender of the Republic | Washington Times Communities

Vidal painted a picture of a bleak America. He believed Americans would face an economic collapse and depression, that our foreign adventures overseas would create more enemies, and that these circumstances would result in our liberties being further diminished. In an article for “The Nation” in 2003, Vidal quoted Benjamin Franklin to illustrate his fears that our republic would not stand the test of time: "There is no form of government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and I believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other." Looking at the current decaying state of our natural rights and economic structure, the realization of Franklin’s (and Vidal's) prediction seems alarmingly possible, and even probable.

via communities.washingtontimes.com