"[W]e have to realize that the real problem is that the American people have been too submissive. We have been too submissive. It has been going on for a long time. ... [T]he bill that I have introduced ... is very simple. It is one paragraph long. It removes the immunity from anybody in the Federal government that does anything that you or I can't do.
If you can't grope another person and if you can't X-ray people and endanger them with possible X-rays, [and] you can't take nude photographs of individuals, why do we allow the government to do it? We would go to jail. He would be immediately arrested, if an individual citizen went up and did these things, and yet we just sit there and calmly say, 'oh, they are making us safe.' And besides, the argument from the executive branch is that when you buy a ticket, you have sacrificed your rights and it is the duty of the government to make us safe. That isn't the case. You never have to sacrifice your rights. The duty of the government is to protect our rights, not to use them and do what they have been doing to us."
by:
Dr. Ron Paul
(1935-) American physician, US Congressman (R-TX), US Presidential candidate
Source:
Congressional Record, Nov. 17, 2010
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Reader comments about this quote:
I must agree.
 -- Elaine, Atlanta     
  •  
    Ron Paul is an american hero. He has been steadfast in his support of our constitutional freedoms while the establishment politicians tried to paint him as a radical. Every day more people understand his message and how right he has been all along. Thank you congressman Paul
     -- J Allen, Arlington, Va     
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     -- Jim, Orlando      
     -- marc France      
     -- Tanya, South Carolina      
    I will not fly anymore until this groping nonsense is stopped. You can thank Obama and Big Sis Janet for this mess.
     -- jim k, Austin,Tx     
  •  
    It was Ron Paul who made me realize I am not a Republican. I began to notice how he voted against the Republicans and W Bush on putting ground pounders in Iraq and nation rebuilding. He votes against all excessive spending and believes local folks should decide their destiny on the local level. Jim K, he is the exact opposite of your Lloyd Doggett there in Austin.
     -- cal, lewisville, tx     
  •  
    Ron Paul for president!!! This country MUST wake up.
     -- Carol, Georgia     
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    What I wouldn't give to see a 40 y/o Ron Paul running for Pres. In the meantime we can learn at the feet of an elder statesman.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    That's funny; I was reading this quote and thought, I just read this. Yes, right on Ron, please run for President. There you are, us Liberals do think out of the box. We are submissive, apathetic, ignorant of what is really going on, and prefer mediocrity to real change. Please everyone, send this to all your friends and tell them to forward to their friends, we must keep this going.
     -- RBESRQ     
  •  
    Some key contributors are conspicuous by their absence - I want to see perfect marks...
     -- RBESRQ     
  •  
    The TSA is a child of the Patriot Act -- the intent of which was always to tighten the noose a little more. I am sick to my stomach with all this nazi BS in my country. All this has done is make Americans more submissive to arbitrary rule from Washington. It is all about exclusive government contracts for prisons, police, military, and lawyers. TSA screening is a for-profit business, and everyone is treated like a terrorist. Of course, NOT ONE TERRORIST has been found in the last 10 years of this non-sense. Even in Israel, the citizens don't have to go through this. I have travelled the world, and the US is now the WORST place to have to fly through -- everyone knows it, comments about it, and I know I have reduced the amount of flying I used to do because of it. My guess is that is also part of the plan. When will the Democrats restore the right of habeas corpus? Is that right gone for good, too? Ron Paul is unlikely to ever get on the GOP ticket because the neo-cons do not support his promise to end the war against Islam. Neither party will support him because he promises to end the Federal Reserve which would mean the end to runaway spending and the outright buying of political influence.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
  •  
    Sometimes Ron is right. Too often he wears a tinfoil hat. It is sad that a government employee "following procedure" can do to a 3 year old girl what would get her father arrested.
     -- warren, olathe     
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    Glad to see at least one thinking person comment on this. Thanks Warren. I personally think Ron and Rand need some help. In time of war most folk know that "loose lips sink ships" etcetera. All that the Patriot Act tried to do was track terrorist money. If Congress had not given the law such a name it may have been a little more inocuous. The name obviously has brought and continues to bring the rabble out of the wood work.
     -- Waffler, Smith     
  •  
    He is right. He is also one of only 2 Congressmen who honored his Oath of Office by voting in a manner that supported the US Constitution and your liberty 100% of the time...the other Congressman was Flake (AZ). There was but 1 Senator who did this 100% of the time, Coburn (OK). Not a good record for our congress in 2009. This info is available from The Freedom Index 12/7/09.
     -- Abigail, newport     
  •  
    Warren and Waffler...one word: Denial. Obviously the pair of you are simply too stupid to see the obvious...
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
  •  
    Ron Paul is one of the best members we have in Congress. I voted for him for President in 2008 as, in my opinion, he was the best one running. He did not make it and now look what we have. A Muslim who cares only for himself and not the American People.
     -- Bob Krantz, Unison, VA     
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    Waffler, I've given you at least a have dozen personal examples of abuses, committed under the name of the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act in no way helped secure the safety or rights of We The People but rather, was another tyrannical declaration of despot masters on how they were going to abuse their helots and slaves. Such a law, as suggested by Paul would go a long way in re-establishing that governmental officials are not protected when not acting outside color of their office. Color of a public servant's office is constitutionally limited to represent his sovereign (you and me). A representative has no more authority than his individual boss (the individual sovereign of 'We The People').
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    oops - no governmental official can be protected when acting outside color of office (limited to life, liberty, or property). Molestation, body groping, or otherwise immoral activities do not fall in any way, under constitutionally limiting color of office ! ! ! IRS employees should be prosecuted for profiting from unlawful color of law activities.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
  •  
    How low will we go before we wake up? To submit to this intrusion is to submit to tyranny. Are there any free men and women left in this country?
     -- Anonymous, Galax VA     
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    Too bad he didn't make it to the general election in 2008. He would have been a good president.
     -- Gene, Murfreesboro, TN     
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    Mike the so called Patriot Act enabled the Treasurey Dept through its FICEN Bureau (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) to track, locate, empound etcetera funds collected here and shipped to the Al Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan. Al Qaeda was and is a government and movement operated in a foreign country using funds collected here. Tools to stop our own citizens and residents from trading with the enemy for the purpose of our destruction are always good.
     -- Waffler, Smith     
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    Stand up America. I'm with you Ron Paul.
     -- Celia, Blanco     
  •  
    Mr Paul is doing what he is supose to do. He should be elected to the highest office. Perhaps he would revoke the central banks charter. Rein in the military and start firing cling on waisted labor. But then he might windup dead to. Fear of death seems to keep most presidents from doing the right thing for the common man now days. But most don't have the heart or courage for the task. Mr Paul is a humble man right for the job.
     -- Ron, Salem     
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