“The last official act of any government is to loot the treasury” (Washington?)
“The last official act of any government is to loot the treasury” has been a popular quotation on many websites since the financial crisis of 2008. The quotation is usually attributed to George Washington (1732-1799), but there is no evidence that he ever said it.
“The last official act of any government is to loot the treasury” has been cited in print since at least 1995 (by Michael Rivero). It’s probable that Michael Rivero coined (or at least popularized) the saying. George Washington has been credited for the saying since at least 2008.
What Really Happened Wiki: Michael Rivero
Michael Rivero is a talk show host. Michael was born in Boston and spent his childhood in New Hampshire. He launched http://www.whatreallyhappened.com, initially called Rancho Runamukka, in 1993 after the Vince Foster murder.
Until late August 2010, Rivero ran the Whatreallyhappened radio show on GCN, airing six days a week. He also frequently spoke about political affairs with radio host and Alex Jones on the Alex Jones Show.
Goodreads
“The last act of any nation, is to loot the treasury.”
― Michael Rivero
Google Groups: alt.current-events.clinton.whitewater
Michael Rivero
Nov 14 1995
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The last official act of any government is to loot the treasury.
Google Groups: alt.conspiracy
Newsgroups: alt.conspiracy
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (Michael Rivero)
Date: 1996/03/09
Subject: Re: NEW 100 DOLLAR BILLS
(...)
The first official act of any goverment is to make illegal the very means by which they BECAME the government (the last official act is to loot the treasury).
Google Groups: alt.conspiracy
mellsterr
Jan 21 2003
Well, you do know that the last act of any corrupt government is to loot the treasury, right?
Herald-Review (Decatur, IL)
Medicaid program needs to be supported
By Gary Sawyer - 4/28/2006 at 1:42 pm
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COMMENTS
Eric Johnson says:
May 4th, 2006 at 12:18 pm
Tin Soldiers and bush acoming ! We’re finally all on our own! You had better grow a Garden and find some like minded people to barter with! bushCo. and his Criminal Corporate Cronies have looted the Treasury right under our noses !
The last “official” act of a corrupt, failing Government is to loot the Treasury and RUN !
MetaFilter
The last act of any criminal administration is to loot the treasury.
...just thinking out loud.
posted by Smedleyman at 11:45 AM on May 19, 2006
Godlike Productions
Anonymous Coward
09/24/2008 01:46 PM
The last and final act of a failing government is to LOOT the treasury
Well, you folks are seeing this in action right now…
Quotorium
Oct. 3, 2008
The last action of any government is to loot the treasury. -George Washington
The WoodenBoat Forum
Tylerdurden
12-02-2008, 07:38 AM
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“The last official action of any government is to loot the treasury”
-Quote from Michael Rivero at Whatreallyhappened.com (http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/)
Right Soup
Founding Father’s Quote Of The Week: Stimulus Edition
February 13, 2009
Posted by Erin
“The last official act of any government is to loot the treasury.” – George Washington
Zazzle
“The last official act of any government is to loot the treasury” - George Washington
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Created on 25/04/2009 18:57
The Smirking Chimp
Is your cash register half full or half empty?
by Bob Patterson | September 1, 2009 - 5:29pm
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Most online sources quote George Washington as the source for this quote: “The last official act of any government is to loot the treasury.” The Bushes are not known for their propensity to flaunt tradition.