Barry Goldwater Quote 

"How did it happen? How did our national government grow from a servant with sharply limited powers into a master with virtually unlimited power? In part, we were swindled. There are occasions when we have elevated men and political parties to power that promised to restore limited government and then proceeded, after their election, to expand the activities of government. But let us be honest with ourselves. Broken promises are not the major causes of our trouble. Kept promises are. All too often we have put men in office who have suggested spending a little more on this, a little more on that, who have proposed a new welfare program, who have thought of another variety of 'security.' We have taken the bait, preferring to put off to another day the recapture of freedom and the restoration of our constitutional system. We have gone the way of many a democratic society that has lost its freedom by persuading itself that if 'the people' rule, all is well."

by:
Barry Goldwater
(1909-1998) US Senator (R-Arizona)
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Reader comments about this quote:
Said well.
 -- Mike, Norwalk		 
 -- warren, olathe 
You gotta love Goldwater. And speaking of security...REAL ID is back on the table at the White House. Yep! these bastards want to tag us all like sheep. What's next? Permission to drive down the Highway? "You're papers please" Has a familiar ring to it. doesn't it? Oh well, I'm sure it's for our own good....
 -- J Carlton, Calgary		 
Goldwater warned the nation in 1964 that if you give the federal government the power of the Civil Rights Acts, then you are giving it all total and complete power. He has been proven right ever since.
 -- cal, lewisville, tx		 
I voted for Goldwater but we got the crook LBJ instead. It's been down hill ever since.
 -- jim k, austin		 
"How did it happen?" And how do we get our rights back? How do we get the bastards out of office when they violate their oaths and limited authority? When Obama said he would create millions of new jobs, did he mention that they would be government jobs? A person with a government job will vote in favor of keeping his job -- no matter if we all have to borrow to pay for it or whether we benefit or not. Elections are but a show, and there appears to be plenty of evidence that election results are being tampered with and have been for decades. The people need to take back their State governments and tell Washington to stay in their swamp. And all you Americans voting for money should be ashamed of yourselves. Money will not buy back your rights -- it's going to take a lot more than that. You may not care, and that my friends, is what will ensalve you, us, and our posterity. That is the legacy of nationalism.
 -- E Archer, NYC		 
Ho Hum! Just a lot of pablum for the childish faithful. Never forget he endorsed Clinton. This is just political nonsense speak. It hit me clearly on Saturday why govenment is needes. I visited a State of Florida run cave. The guide said that no one was to touch anything inside the cave. He said the other caves in the area had been closed and sealed becasuse "free" individuals had rippped off many of the the stalagtites and stalagmites. This is a great example why government is needed, government is not evil people are evil.
 -- Waffler, Smith		 
You think the government should maintain caves? Oh my God! How completely indoctrinated and unthinking that truly is.
 -- J Carlton, Calgary		 
Waffler, you know nothing of property rights. Your talk of caves makes no sense. If people are evil, government is evil, for the government derives its powers from the people. Not all people are evil, but not all government is good. Government according to law is superior to government according to majority vote.
 -- Ben, Orem, UT		 
It happened because of selfish greed and no morals on the part of government officials. The American people are also to blame. They would have kept FDR in forever. When did the income tax start? A federal agency that does not have to follow due process of law. Americans wanting government freebies and handouts, instead of actually working . . . someting for nothing except their votes.
 -- Stewart, Dallas		 
Who should run caves. The remaining cave is protected by the people through their government from the pigs who would destroy it. I agree with Ben that not all people are evil but people will deteriorate towards evil if it is not confronted and opposed. People united (government) confront the cave rustlers, traffic violaters etcetera. Left to themselves without a reasonable amonut of governance people will destroy this planet.
 -- Waffler, Smith		 
"People united (government)" = Communism. No Thanks.
 -- J Carlton, Calgary		 
He talk with fork tongue
 -- RBESRQ		 
So all folk who have governemnt are commuinsts I guess in J Carlton's weird little world. ( I think subconsciously I knew had he actually thinks along with a few others.) Communities run their public affairs all over the world. Of course community is the root word fro communism and that is unforturnate because community action is much different that what Mr. Carlton would like to imply. Basically I think J Carlton is and some others are just misanthropic sociopaths.
 -- Waffler, Smith		 
Waffler, are you delusional enough to actually believe that our governemnt actually gives a Flying Rat's A** about the people? let alone represents them? Wake up bud! The government represents the Corporations and Bankers that bought them. Their job is to "control" the people, not represent them. Its more than a "little weird" its criminal!
 -- J Carlton, Calgary		 
This started before 1900 and FDR is the king regarding this quote. LBJ did his share and now we have the U S today. We will probably not go back - only forward. BHO will finish US off.
 -- John, Madison, MS		 
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