by Ken Van Doren

• I believe in term limits inflicted by voters. Every couple years we have the opportunity to limit the terms of various politicians, and I encourage the voters to do so. Whatever ails the country that is within the purview of the government is because of incumbents, either because they acted foolishly in writing the laws, or less likely, that they did not act when they should have. To make term limits mandatory and a matter of law rather than volition is to suppose that the same people who vote more than 90% of the time to re-elect often corrupt incumbents will suddenly obtain the wisdom to elect better, more principled, more honest politicians. In fact, we have corrupt governments because we the voters corruptly believe that it is a proper thing for us to hire politicians to pick our neighbors pockets for us. Term limits are a cop out, too easy, do not really address the problem. We have a corrupt government either because we, the electorate want to believe politicians lies, or are too lazy to investigate them. The best cure for corruption is a better educated and more moral electorate. Me.

• “If you love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”

~ Samuel Adams, the Revolutionary Patriot and Colonial Outlaw under British Tyranny.

• “Distinctions in society will always exist under any just government. Equality of talents, of education or of wealth cannot be produced by human institutions.

• “In the full enjoyment of the gifts of Heaven and the fruits of superior industry, economy, and virtue, every man is equally entitled to protection by law; but when the laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages artificial distinctions, to grant titles, gratuities, and exclusive privileges, to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society - the farmers, mechanics and laborers - who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain about the injustice of the government.”

~ Andrew Jackson