People desrve the government they get

Posted by Moe on June 27, 2003

I understand the meaning of "people deserve the government they get" when applied to modern democracies with free elections. What I wonder is where the saying comes from, about how old it is, and whether it was ever used with a broader reference -- like to societies that have not had free elections.

• People desrve the government they get ESC 06/28/03