Quotations on government and citizenship

"The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have alsways paid it...we shall never choose the path of surrender, or submission."--John F. Kennedy, American President

Hopefully this is true because it seems that there are many who would have us give up some of our cherished values, such as the constitution and religion. I think the constitution is being eroded in the name of preserving it.

"We can have no "50-50" allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American or nothing else, or he is not an American at all."--Theodore Roosevelt, American President

I have been puzzled in recent years about "dual citizenship." It had been my understanding for a long time that the United States did not allow it. When did this chanhge? Or am I wrong?

"It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly criminal class except congress." --Mark Twain, American Author and humorist.

Sometimes we are inclined to trust our politicians too much. It is the job of the citizen to keep an eye on those we elect to represent us.

"America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination, and unbeatable determination to do the job at hand."--Harry Truman, American President

I think I go along with Truman on this point.

There are those who will say that the liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind is nothing but a dream. they are right, it is the American Dream."--Archibald MacLeish, American Poet.

In recent years I have heard journalists and others say the American dream is to become rich, or that chilren should be richer than there parents. I like this view better.

"Americans never quit," Douglas MacArthur American General

I hope this is true. However, it seems we did quit in such things as the Viet Nam war. The war should have been ended much sooner, I believe but we should not have quit on the people of the country that depended on us. We could have done better than just walking away.

"For the American people are a very generous people and will forgive almost any weakness except stupidity." Will Rogers, American Humorist

It is hard to add to this. Through stupidity we have gotten the country head over heels in debt and yet the politicians want to spend more. Unbelieveable.

"The hottest places in hell are preserved for those who in times of great moral crisis maintain their neutrality." Dante

I think this applies to thiose who only vote for their special interest and ignore the interests of the country as a whole.

"While the people retain their virtue, and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government, in the short space of four years." Abraham Lincoln,American President First Inaugural Adress, march 4, 1861

I hope Lincoln was right but our present situation and my own retirement savingsmake me worry about this.

"The American wage earner and the American housewife are a lot better economists than most economists care to admit. They know that a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."Gerald R. Ford, American President.

Well he got that right.

"The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office."--H. L. Mencken, US editor (1880 - 1956)

The truth of this has been more and more apparent to me lately. One drawback to big government is we cannot keep an eye on them all the time.

"Whenever you have an efficient government you have a dictatorship." Harry S Truman, 33rd president of US (1884 - 1972)

This is true. It is the reason we opted for an impeerfect government that allows us freedom. However it means we are also responsible for making it work. Otherwise it will end up as a dictatorship and I fear it is heading that way now.

"The mystery of government is not how Washington works but how to make it stop." --P. J. O'Rourke,US humorist & political commentator

Yes, we must make it stop. It is so big that none of us know what is going on.

"I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts. --Will Rogers, US humorist & showman .

This doen't need any commentary.

I invite you to comment on this hub. In similar hubs I have gotten some uncivil comments, I do request that the comments be couteous and when appropriate back up with reason and facts.