- William Wilberforce
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for the law: it invites every man to become a law unto himself, it invites anarchy. Therefore, if government officials break the law “righteously” we should look forward and not backward, we should trust that the accused did what they did because they thought it was best, we should not investigate, or really, not even bring it up too often as that would be impolite. Also, if committing a crime becomes a central plank in the platform for one of America’s political partys, then that’s another reason to not do anything about the crime, because doing so would look too political. And if the daughter of one of the government criminals often goes to the press and pleads on her father’s behalf we don’t want to be called sexist or mean so we should let just let it go.
- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, 1939
On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, “Is it safe?” Expediency asks the question, “Is it politic?” And Vanity comes along and asks the question, “Is it popular?” But Conscience asks the question “Is it right?” And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right. I believe today that there is a need for all people of good will to come together with a massive act of conscience and say in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Will the corporations that profit from the status quo lose too much money? And if so, can’t we punt for now and come back to this later?”
The challenge of politics and public service is to discover what is interfering with justice and dignity for the individual here and now, and then to decide swiftly upon the appropriate remedies. …And if that means suggesting to the interference that it stop interfering, so be it – but if the interference points to it’s giant pile of money collected though the act of interfering, then our challenge in public service becomes to find a way to let the interference continue injustice for a few more years until some sort of trigger is pulled …with their consent, after which, some sort of blue ribbon committee should be formed to explore appropriate remedies all over again.
- Robert F. Kennedy
We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace: business and financial monopoly, speculation, and reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, and war profiteering. They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob. Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me — and I welcome their hatred. I welcome it to the bargaining table to reach a compromise where I offer 50% and it counter-offers that I fuck myself. I grab it’s hand, shake it, and exclaim ‘New Deal! How about 25%?” But the organized mob seethes in anger and silently mouths to me the same words: “Fuck… You…” I gleefully reply “How about we say 10 percent then?! No? Five percent? Look,” I admit, “I’ll do anything to be bipartisan.” Silence. “Okay 1%” Still silence from the greedy corporations and their minions – all with that loathing stare. Finally I say: “How about you be President? Will that make you happy?” And then the old enemies of peace — big business, monopolies, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, racism, and war profiteering – become President. Which is by itself a big change… from what voters asked for when they elected me. Therefore I have brought them change! Huzzah!”
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt
To those in my party who have recently urged me to take a strong and unambiguous stand on the pressing matter of the day, I must remind you that not all in our party’s ranks have safe congressional districts in which re-election is guaranteed or even likely.
It is with the future of these jeopardized Congressmen in mind — specifically those that represent constituencies who preferred Stephen Douglas in the last election — that I have decided, however reluctantly, not to require the Emancipation Proclamation in any future settlement of the current Civil War.
–Abraham Lincoln
“It having been found very inconvenient to persons concerned in trade, that the mail from Philadelphia to New England sets out once a fortnight during the winter season: This is to give notice, that the New England mail should henceforth go twice a week the year round at one uniform rate to Philadelphia and New York. Furthermore, post roads should be surveyed between coastal cities and inland townes and built at great expense in order to connect areas of this land that are not in markets of large importance. In times of national hardeship when the bonds of countrymen should need be strengthened and unified, providing this service for a more perfect union, encouraging a sense of nationhood through dependable communications among all citizens at the same price, regardless of income factors, is a worthy goal we encourage the private messager companies to accomplish through a system of wholesome competition.”
Postmaster General Benjamin Franklin, 1765
Women, we might as well be dogs baying the moon as petitioners without the right to vote! The dog is man’s best friend. Women, let’s be dogs! Don’t trouble yourself with voting, women, bark with me!
- Susan B Anthony
Goodbye, boys; I’m under arrest. I may have to go to jail. I may not see you for a long time. Keep up the fight! Don’t surrender! Pay no attention to the injunction machine at Parkersburg. The Federal judge is a scab anyhow. While you starve he plays golf. While you serve humanity, he serves injunctions for the money powers. But those money powers deserve a place at the table and we should give them half of what they want, if not all of it. Let’s not be partisan, okay boys!
- Mother Jones
Sometimes it seem like to tell the truth today is to run the risk of being killed. But if I fall, I’ll fall five feet four inches forward in the fight for freedom. I’m not backing off… Unless you want me to, then, fine, have it your way.
- Fannie Lou Hamer
