In his memoirs, Arthur Crock, the former Washington Bureau Chief of the New York Times, said, “The United States merits the distinction of having discarded its past and its meaning in one of the briefest spans in modern history.” Why don’t we look at those other nations that chose the path of government intervention before us? The British parliament has been debating what to do about the steel industry. It’s nationalized, it’s theirs, it’s losing $20 million a week. In all the debate, no one on either side has suggested the most common sense, logical answer. Put it back out where it was in the private sector in private ownership where it wasn’t losing $20 million a week. Sweden has long been held up to view as proof that socialism will work. In 1976 the Swedes went to the polls and voted against Karl Marx. They voted out the Swedish Prime Minister. Probably the straw that broke the camel’s back was a change in the income tax rates. At $33,000 of earnings in Sweden, the tax rate is 102%. We’ve had enough of sideline kibitzers telling us this system, which they themselves have thrown out of sync with their social tinkering, can only be saved by more of the same until we have a total government planning and management of our lives. What I’ve really been trying to say, I suppose, is that government has legitimate functions, which it should perform, and it performs well. Our problem is when government goes outside its proper province and attempts to do those things which belong in private hands — that’s when we get in trouble.

Source: Ronald Reagan
1978 Automotive Age Western Dealers Conference

Topics: Central Planning; Income Tax

To contrast between business and government trying to be business, let me illustrate with this if I can. Everyday, down the rivers of South American come barges and canoes loaded with cocoa beans. When they reach the ocean they are loaded into ships. They are transported thousands of miles up the coast, finally at American ports, they are unloaded in places like Boston. They are put in trucks, they are put in trains and transported to places like Hershey, Pennsylvania. There they are ground, they’re processed, they’re mixed with milk, they’re mixed with sugar, nuts are added and they manufacturer a little letter sized slab of chocolate. It’s thin. They wrap it tastefully, they advertise it all over the world and they are able to ship it all over the world and sell it for fifteen cents a piece at a profit. Now the United States government can’t deliver a letter it doesn’t have to write across town for fifteen cents without losing money.

Source: Ronald Reagan
1978 Automotive Age Western Dealers Conference

Topics: Uncategorized

Fear is the foundation of most governments.

Source: John Adams

Topics: Fear

There never was yet a people who must not have somebody or something to represent the dignity of the state.

Source: John Adams

Topics: Uncategorized

Delay is preferable to error.

Source: Thomas Jefferson

Topics: Uncategorized

Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence. From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events, occurrences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace, security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable. The very atmosphere of firearms everywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good.

Source: George Washington

Topics: Rights

I once felt all that kind of anger, which a man ought to feel, against the mean principles that are held by the Tories: a noted one, who kept a tavern at Amboy, was standing at his door, with as pretty a child in his hand, about eight or nine years old, as I ever saw, and after speaking his mind as freely as he thought was prudent, finished with this unfatherly expression, “Well! give me peace in my day.” Not a man lives on the continent but fully believes that a separation must some time or other finally take place, and a generous parent should have said, “If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace;” and this single reflection, well applied, is sufficient to awaken every man to duty. Not a place upon earth might be so happy as America. Her situation is remote from all the wrangling world, and she has nothing to do but to trade with them. A man can distinguish himself between temper and principle, and I am as confident, as I am that God governs the world, that America will never be happy till she gets clear of foreign dominion. Wars, without ceasing, will break out till that period arrives, and the continent must in the end be conqueror; for though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire.

Source: Thomas Paine
Common Sense, December 23, 1776

Topics: Uncategorized

In questions of power, then, let no more be said of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.

Source: Thomas Jefferson

Topics: Government, Limited; US Constitution

God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure if we have removed their only firm basis: a conviction in the minds of men that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.

Source: Thomas Jefferson

Topics: Rights

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