"Today’s political leaders demonstrate their low opinion of the public with every social law they pass. They believe that, if given the right to chose, the citizenry will probably make the wrong choice. Legislators do not think any more in terms of persuading people; they feel the need to force their agenda on the public at the point of a bayonet and the barrel of a gun, in the name of the IRS, the SEC, the FDA, the DEA, the EPA, or a multitude of other ABCs of government authority."
by:
Mark Skousen
(1947-) American economist, investment analyst, newsletter editor, college professor and author
Source:
Persuasion versus Force
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Reader comments about this quote:
 -- Mike, Norwalk      
Editor, my last comment vanished somewhere into the ethos, probably my computer, mm? Anyway, thank you very much for all you do in finding and displaying of these quotes for everyone - great job.
 -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Ain't *that* the truth. I wonder how America's Founding Fathers would feel about Obama's nanny state...
     -- Byron, Fort Collins, CO     
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    Spot on description of what forced the creation of the Tea Party.
     -- Chuck, New Windsor, NY     
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    The inability of the masses (and more importantly the overlords of big business) have already been demonstrated and prove the need for these basic protections for all of the rest of us... so we can have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink.
     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA, US     
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     -- Texas Buckeye, San Antonio      
    Anonymous, Reston, VA Do you really really think "big business" wants to breathe dirty air and drink polluted water? Grow up!
     -- John, Denver     
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    Our rulers have low opinions of us alright, but not because they think we are incompetent. Just the opposite. They know they are the parasites and we, the hosts. Their contempt arises from the fact that most feel guilt for their virtues and accept exploitation as their proper fate. Ayn Rand called it "the sanction of the victim."
     -- Burke, Ormond Beach     
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    Reston, I cannot believe the majority in Virginia believe as you do. You don't like your state you live in so you want Big Brother in DC to make all decisions. Well, it is well known that one shoe does not fit all.
     -- cal, lewisville, tx     
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    Reston, if you aren't a Communist you'll do till we can find one. The alphabet group in the above quote should be eliminated but only as a good start.
     -- jim k, Austin,Tx     
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    Read your State or Commonwealths Constitution, you will find that most statutes, masquerading as laws conflict with what is written. Therefore they are not legitimate. I know Pennsylvania has one of the best Constitutions, however, big bussiness and politicians in the guise of protecting the people have really attempted to water it down.
     -- chris morgan, Franklin, Pa.     
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    The political leaders "low opinion of the public" does not stem from their idea that we "will probably make the wrong choice", but rather that we are so easily led. For many politicos it boils down to two things...money and power, often interchangeable. The ability to regulate the personal actions of people by decree certainly substantiates the idea that 'Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.' Oh, and Reston, that "clean air to breathe and clean water to drink" that you feel is forthcoming only by government mandate will be controlled by said government. Are you going to be able to demonstrate to them that you deserve to receive any of it?
     -- Rusty, Where the buffalo roam, USA     
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    Full control, cradle to grave. No thinking allowed.
     -- Howard, Way out west.     
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    BS.
     -- Waffler, Smith     
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    Absolutely! That is statism for you. And the resident statists on this blog demonstrate the quote -- their arguments against freedom are always backed by their low opinion of the populace at large.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    "social law" as used in the quote equates to dogma enforcement by an occupying statist theocracy of malefactors. Theocratic seminaries (government schools), public missionary spin doctors (media) and other social technology propagandists have done such an extreme job of dummying down the general herd that the alphabet soup of tyranny's agents is accept as legal norm. As the herd is waking up (along with those that were not assimilated by the Borg <- ancient Trekky reference ;-) to law, liberty and inalienable rights, more application of a point of a bayonet and the barrel of a gun will be needed. Each individual by a faculty of birth is a noble sovereign. "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security" (Declaration of Independence)
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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     -- Ronw13, ID      
    That point being made, we still face the day with grace and dignity to take on the degenerated adverse forces to make the planet earth inhabitable for human beings.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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