"It doesn't matter what rights you have under the Constitution of the United States, if the government can punish you for exercising those rights. And it doesn't matter what limits the Constitution puts on government officials' power, if they can exceed those limits without any adverse consequences. In other words, the Constitution cannot protect you, if you don't protect the Constitution with your votes against anyone who violates it. Those government officials who want more power are not going to stop unless they get stopped. As long as millions of Americans vote on the basis of who gives them free stuff, look for their freedom -- and all our freedom -- to be eroded away, bit by bit. Our children and grandchildren may yet come to see the Constitution as just some quaint words from the past that people once took seriously."
by:
Thomas Sowell
(1930- ) Writer and economist
Source:
Freedom Isn't Free, March 4, 2014
http://www.creators.com/opinion/thomas-sowell.html
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Reader comments about this quote:
This is the man I always felt should have been the first black president of the United States.
 -- Nadine Keilholz, Cary, NC     
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     -- Henry, Edinboro, Pennsylvania      
    We are watching that very thing happen year by year, decade by decade.
     -- J. Allen, Arlington, Va     
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    Good ole Abe Lincoln was the first to suspend the constitution and LBJ completed it.
     -- cal, Lewisville, tx     
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    I certainly agree with Nadine. Walter Williams also comes to mind. People get out and vote and and congratulate themselves for doing "their civic duty" and the beat goes on. I once saw a sign saying , don't vote, it just encourages the bastards. Maybe it was right.
     -- jim k, austin tx     
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    Beautifully stated. It reminds me of this quote from Daniel Webster - Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the Republic for which it stands. Miracles do not cluster and what has happened once in 6,000 years, may not happen again. Hold on to the Constitution, for if the American Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world.
     -- Mary - MI     
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    I disagree with Dr. Sowell on one small but important point. Your votes are accomplishing nothing.

    www.conventionofstates is trying to do something.

    Support them.
     -- Durham Ellis, Birmingham, AL     
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    A FRICKING MEN!!!
     -- Mike, Pleasant Hill     
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    Absolutely! ! !
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Hear, hear !
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Print this and paste it on the bathroom mirror and put a plaque by the front door. Everyone should be reminded of this daily because they won't hear it on the news.

     -- Abby, Newport     
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     -- Ronw13, ID      
     -- jim k, Austin      
     
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