P. J. O'Rourke Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"The mystery of government
is not how Washington works
but how to make it stop."

by:	P. J. O'Rourke (1947-2022) US humorist, journalist, & political commentator
Source:	Parliament of Whores, 1991
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Categories:	America, Government, Humor, Politics
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Reader comments about this quote:

How does the old joke go? No one is safe while the legislature is in. -- Mike, Norwalk
-- Anonymous, Reston, VA US
Mike, it goes like this, "No mans life, liberty, or property is safe when the legislature is in session." Unfortunatly, it is no joke. What this country needs is more congressional recesses and longer ones,12 months is about right. -- jim k, austin
If all Congress had to do was guarantee our rights and defend the Consitution, there would be little for them to do. Instead they have traded all that for an unlimited credit line from the Fed with which to line their pockets and buy votes while loading Americans up with massive, interest-bearing, and unpayable debts forever -- or at least until it all comes crashing down. Why doesn't the Fed just simply step in an forgive 1 trillion dollars worth of debt? Because that would defeat their purpose -- to seize the property and labors of America in exchange for Monopoly money. It's time to burn down the Fed and hang 'em high. -- E Archer, NYC
Make it stop or make it go, that is the question? Regulate or deregulate! Obviously even after 232 years the American people have still not learned to govern themselves, hell no one can keep their hands out of the till or the cookie jar. Thus we all have to watch each other, thus government, oversight, prosecution, and jail. -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas
-- Anonymous
-- Jimmy Lester, Rockmart, GA
We have become a people preyed upon by fine print and red tape created by the people who are governing us. There is no longer truth in advertising or consumer protection. Broadcasting to the American public is unsafe in its current form. We are a disorganized many being ruled by an organized few. When the question is called 'just' remember, Love your country, fear your government! -- Tom, Detroit
Does PJ really want government to stop? Why not move to Haiti or Sierra Leone where there is none? -- Jack, Green, OH
-- warren, olathe
O'Rourke commentary from foreign states of disfunctional government may be found in "Holidays in Hell." -- C LeGeyt, Charlotte
All cogent comments, and may Mark Scott RIP! In my opinion, we began to lose control of the federal government when Lincoln "saved the union", which destroyed the Constitution by destroying the federalist system of state sovereignty, which operated as a complete check and balance against the federal power. Now we only have the three federal branches, and we have a leviathan government with no limits. Take a look at Thomas J. DiLorenzo's book, "The Real Lincoln; A New Look..." Karl Marx sent a letter of congratulations to Lincoln upon his reelection in 1864! -- Mike Mac, Detroit
“We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office”. Aesop (550 BC) Don't really want government to stop, just want it to do what it is supposed to do. Does "OF THE PEOPLE , BY THE PEOPLE , FOR THE PEOPLE" ring a bell? Oh! What's that you say; what do you mean, THE PEOPLE HAVE TO DO SOME OF THE WORK? What a silly idea. Next thing you'll tell me is that Government responsibilty is NOT an oxymoron. -- John W., Newcastle, Wa.

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