Government shapes daily life in ways most people never think about. These quotes cover democracy, policy, power, corruption, civic duty, and the endless debate over how much government is too much — or not enough.
“Our nation is too different, too diverse to say that what works in Massachusetts is somehow going to be grabbed by the federal government, usurping the power of states and imposing a one-size-fits-all plan on the nation. That will not work.”
“I have long said there are three distinct groups under the GOP's tent: theological warriors, who want to impose their social views on the rest of society Tea Party zealots, who say with a straight face that they want the government to get out of their Medicare and remnants of the pro-business moderates.”
“Liberal Democrats are inexorably opposed to tax cuts, because tax cuts give people more power, and take away from the role of government.”
“Democracy is a form of government that substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.”
“No way, no how did I break into NORAD. That's a complete myth. And I never attempted to access anything considered to be classified government systems.”
“People forget... that we structured it so that the government, or the people, would be repaid with a really good rate of return. And as it turns out, that aspect of TARP, that's what happened.”
“We are the ones looking out for the middle class. Who do think pays for the endless expansion of government? Its middle class taxpayers. Our reforms protect middle class taxpayers.”
“The essence of Government is power and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.”
“We need transparency in government spending. We need to put each government expenditure online so every Floridian can see where their tax money is being spent.”
“The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them in parliament.”
“Urban America has been redlined. Government has not offered tax incentives for investment, as it has in a dozen foreign markets. Banks have redlined it. Industries have moved out, they've redlined it. Clearly, to break up the redlining process, there must be incentives to green-line with hedges against risk.”
“I believe that smaller government is better government. But I also believe that in the areas where government does play a legitimate role, we should demand that it is done better.”
“Government's first duty and highest obligation is public safety.”
“The federal government has sponsored research that has produced a tomato that is perfect in every respect, except that you can't eat it. We should make every effort to make sure this disease, often referred to as 'progress', doesn't spread.”
“In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men you must first enable the government to control the governed and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”