"Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force.
Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."
by:
George Washington
(1732-1799) Founding Father, 1st US President, 'Father of the Country'
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The machinations of governmental bureaucracy are psychopathic. (as are some of the people working for it.)
 -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    George summed it up in one sentence. Remember that the Constitution is designed to protect citizens from their government. If we ever had a time where we needed protection from government, that time is now.
     -- jim k, Austin     
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     -- MIke, Norwalk      
    And GW ought to know! Government is not reason or eloquence -- it is force! And as such, it needs to be kept in bounds, not stoked continually.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    It is not reason to the individual (or to some individuals) but it is reason to the greatest majority of individuals, else why was it created since time immemorial unto the present day. Government is like law, abolish it entirely and a new one will be set up the very next day. This quote is red meat for the non-thinking rabble among us and certainly they will grovel over it. (An eye should be kept on the abuses of government, institutions, businesses, and individuals, just in case they are not doing what they OUGHT.)
     -- Waffler, Smith     
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    Waffler, when does government only do what it OUGHT? It is a necessary evil which must be constantly watched and kept small as possible. Washington has grown completely out of control.
     -- cal, lewisville, tx     
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    Wow! yes, government and government agencies definitely needs to be held in check - also corporate monopolies. And, as Archer quite rightly pointed out GW should know. Mike, I continued the thread...
     -- RBESRQ     
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    Waffler, love your reasoning. Those selfish witches at Salem needed burning because they weren't part of the reasoning greatest majority. How about those millions of selfish Jews and Christians that didn't reason with the Nazi Majority. And, what must be one of your proudest moments was, Mao's murdering of tens of millions selfish non-reasoning individuals. I really enjoy your math and reasoning nexus, 'individuals don't reason until they get in a majority with more non-reasoning individuals. ;-)
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Government has become mostly a mafia style protection racket. If you don't pay your "insurance" your business will mysteriously burn down in the middle of the night. Why do businesses hire lobbyists? Do businesses like to throw away money for nothing? They hire lobbyists for two reasons: politicians can harm them and politicians can be bought. The politician will not literally burn down your business, but laws and regulations can more thoroughly destroy it than fire.
     -- Ken, Allyn, WA     
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     -- Wayne, Naples      
    What leader, having so much power in their hands, were more thoughtful and considerate with their followers than the American Founding Fathers? They were constantly reminding each other and themselves of the necessary caution with power. It is for a reason that they will live for ever!
     -- Elisabeth, Astoria, NY     
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    Mike you are really ill informed if you think the Nazi's, the Maoists, were majorities. What Hitler, Stalin, Mao did is what right wing conservatism will do to us if we fail to maintian a stong and activist DEMOCRACY in this country. Those guys are examples of what happens when majorities are stifled. Geez Mike how can you actually miss this stuff.
     -- Waffler, Smith     
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    aahhh yes, Waffler's rewrite of history. Are you going to next support Arminijad's rewrite of history? I missed this stuff because you just wrote it. Hitler and Mao did start as minorities. Then when they were fully entrenched with the strength of majority did the most dastardly deeds. After all, might makes right? (not) I still like the reasoning rewrite. individuals don't reason until they get in a majority with more non-reasoning individuals ;-)
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Mike these guys were murderers and weasels. Don't you know that Nazis, Communists, and the Iranian relgious party, and Saddam maintained there power by subjugation, arbitrary trials and summary executions. The Nazis were a tight knit murderous minority. Politics that is not broad based, from the people, is to be suspect. Nazism, communism was top down not bottom up.
     -- Waffler, Smith     
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    We have a republic (so far), not a generalized democracy. It gives us checks and balances. The founding fathers weren't stupid. They had a sharp knowledge of human nature, and where is tends. All of history before them was oppression. They knew it and wanted safeguards in law against any kind of too strong government, for themselves and each and all others. Hence the -necessary negativism- in the Constitution. Nazis, Communism, are both conceived with socialism. Whoever gets the power has it made in the shade. The people are the ones who eventually get it in the back. All starting with "For the people" retoric. It's a disgrace the way laws are rammed through today. What a sham.The hiddenness, lies, elitism. Stalin, Mao, Hitler--all claimed socialism. Give me some selfless farmers and such into our government who have a descent grasp of the "Golden Rule" and abide in it, and America will breathe again with charity in it's heart. I, myself, am among the poor, and I'd rather be so, with the past freedom of this country, than with a socialized oppression that can change to Maoism or Nazism in a crisis. There's no graditude for help if no generousity prompts it. What a bleak and dead spirit. It only gets worse if one knows history.
     -- Rick, Erie     
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    This is the same quote listing as above and is still False/ bogus, as much as I like it. Do some research.
     -- Rick, Kingsport     
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    On contrar Mr Washington, government is the strength of pure reason and eloquence much as a doting mother and kind father.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Correction: On contrar Mr Washington's living followers, government is the strength of pure reason and eloquence much as a doting mother and kind father. Sorry let me explain my above post I often time think of former presidents and  the demographic they represent that still exist as one and the same.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Correction: False
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Mr Archer, I'm referring to the mentally healthy world, to which you have no experience with, other than myself,  as I am aware of the mentally healthy motivations and designations.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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