text: do any of these quotes apply to the present? "democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people". abraham lincoln (1809-1865)  "freedom is when the people can speak, democracy is when the government listens." alastair farrugia  "democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers." aristotle  "they that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety". benjamin franklin  "many forms of government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. no one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those others that have been" winston churchill  "whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government". thomas jefferson 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 wow!!! you are right man. honestly none of those apply to how our government operates these days.