Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

REFLECTION OF GREAT MINDS ON GOVERNMENT
e-mail | 24 June 2004 | Unknown

Posted on 06/24/2004 5:23:23 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Reflections of Great Minds on Government

1) Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. . . But I repeat myself. Mark Twain

2) I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. Winston Churchill

3) A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. George Bernard Shaw

4) A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money. G. Gordon Liddy

5) Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)

6) Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries. Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University

7) Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian

8) Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. Frederic Bastiat, French Economist (1801-1850)

9) Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. Ronald Reagan (1986)

10) I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts. Will Rogers

11) If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free. P.J. O'Rourke

12) If you want government to intervene domestically, you're a liberal. If you want government to intervene overseas, you're a conservative. If you want government to intervene everywhere, you're a moderate. If you don't want government to intervene anywhere, you're an extremist. Joseph Sobran, Former Editor of the National Review (1995)

13) In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other. Voltaire (1764)

14) Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you. Pericles (430 B.C.)

15) No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session. Mark Twain (1866)

16) Talk is cheap . . . except when Congress does it. Unknown

17) The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other. Ronald Reagan

18) The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery. Winston Churchill

19) The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin. Mark Twain

20) The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

21) There is no distinctly native American criminal class . . . save Congress. Mark Twain

22) What this country needs are more unemployed politicians. Edward Langley, Artist (1928 - 1995)

23) A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. Thomas Jefferson, Famous Revolutionary


TOPICS: Government; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: government; greatminds; jefferson; marktwain; quotes
Excellent material.
1 posted on 06/24/2004 5:23:24 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: FITZ; Lazamataz

Friends, thought you might want to see this and pass it on.


2 posted on 06/24/2004 5:38:47 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Saving BUMP!


3 posted on 06/24/2004 5:43:46 AM PDT by JimRed (Fight election fraud! Volunteer as a local poll watcher, challenger or district official.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

bttt


4 posted on 06/24/2004 5:50:47 AM PDT by CGVet58 (God has granted us Liberty, and we owe Him Courage in return)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Yes --- all excellent bump!


5 posted on 06/24/2004 6:00:49 AM PDT by FITZ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

I sent it to everyone. There was truth in ALL of the statements. Even some liberal friends may get the point.


6 posted on 06/24/2004 6:08:54 AM PDT by Henchman (I Hench, therefore I am!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: FITZ
Yes --- all excellent bump!

I thought you'd like this one. Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens?) was an all-time great.

7 posted on 06/24/2004 6:50:36 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

I don't approve of political jokes. I've seen too many of them get elected.

The British parliament is called the "Mother of Legislatures".
A somewhat similar term is often applied to Congress.

Activity is the politician's substitute for achievement.

A politician's most important ability is to foretell what will happen tomorrow and next month and next year -
and to explain afterwards why it didn't happen.

Politicians and diapers have one thing in common.
They should both be changed regularly, and for the same reason.

Invest in America---Buy a Congressman!

Status quo, you know, that is Latin for "the mess we're in." ~~Ronald Reagan

It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first. ~~Ronald Reagan

The United Sates has much to offer the third world war. ~~Ronald Reagan

To sit back hoping that someday, some way, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last - but eat you he will. ~~Ronald Reagan

Life is not about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.


8 posted on 06/24/2004 9:17:55 AM PDT by B4Ranch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson