Source: Tenth Amendment Center
by Michael Boldin
“‘Empires, by Pride & Folly & Extravagance, ruin themselves like Individuals.’ Benjamin Franklin wasn’t merely reciting history; he was warning us. Because every empire follows the same script. And while the common themes are overextension, debt, or even running the printing press, those are merely symptoms of the deadly disease. The root cause is always the same: Consolidate power. The eventual destruction of liberty and final collapse are guaranteed. And now, it’s our turn. This is the story of how empire destroys liberty, because liberty must die for empires to live.” (01/21/26)
https://tenthamendmentcenter.com/2026/01/21/liberty-or-empire-you-cant-have-both/