With Thanksgiving on the horizon, then Christmas and more holidays after until New Year’s Day, no doubt many of us will be at parties and family functions with one or more or far too many Republicans. Who knows, maybe some will be so unfortunate as to be seated next to Uncle Tea Party at the dinner table or worse yet, gathered at the punch bowl with two of our libertarian nephews, no doubt enjoying the departure from living in their parent’s basement. One thing about this group is certain, they love to wrap themselves in the flag, honor the founders, quote Constitution era documents and in doing so, present an air of unquestionable authority atop their patriotic high ground.
I’ve collected a few quotes of my own that I like to use at times like these. Few things are more pleasant in a political exchange with ones adversary than hoisting them on their own petard.
They are yours to share and please feel free to add more if you have them. I will list them without comment, except the last one.
Another means of silently lessening the inequality of property is to exempt all from taxation below a certain point, and to tax the higher portions or property in geometrical progression as they rise. Thomas Jefferson
Whenever there are in any country uncultivated lands and unemployed poor, it is clear that the laws of property have been so far extended as to violate natural right. The earth is given as a common stock for man to labor and live on. If for the encouragement of industry we allow it to be appropriated, we must take care that other employment be provided to those excluded from the appropriation. If we do not, the fundamental right to labor the earth returns to the unemployed. Thomas Jefferson
People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices. It is impossible indeed to prevent such meetings, by any law which either could be executed, or would be consistent with liberty and justice. But though the law cannot hinder people of the same trade from sometimes assembling together, it ought to do nothing to facilitate such assemblies; much less to render then necessary. Adam Smith
A man must always live by his work, and his wages must at least be sufficient to maintain him. They must even upon occasions be somewhat more; otherwise it would be impossible for him to bring up a family, and the race of such workmen could not last beyond the first generaion. Adam Smith
Where wages are high, accordingly, we shall always find the workmen more active, diligent, and expeditious, than where they are low. Adam Smith
Whenever the legislative attempts to regulate the differences between masters and their workmen, its counsellors are always the masters. When the regulation, therefore, is in the favor of the workmen, it is always just and equitable; but it sometime is otherwise when in favor of the masters. Adam Smith
“All Property except … (that) absolutely necessary for Subsistence, seems to me to be the Creature of public Convention. Hence the Public has the Right of Regulating Descents (inheritance) and all other Conveyances of Property, and even of limiting the Quantity and Uses of it.” Benjamin Franklin
All accumulation, therefore, of personal property, beyond what a man’s own hands produce, is derived to him by living in society; and he owes on every principle of justice, of gratitude, and of civilization, a part of that accumulation back again to society from whence the whole came. Thomas Paine
And finally, one of my favorites:
“A government big enough to give you everything you need, is a government big enough to take away everything that you have….” NOT Thomas Jefferson!
Tea Party types will pull this quote out quite often. Nothing like a Jeffersonian quote to bash the 47% But there’s a problem here. We have never found such a statement in Jefferson’s writings. As far as we know, this statement actually originates with Gerald R. Ford, who said, “A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have,” in an address to a joint session of Congress on August 12, 1974.
Then again, if you’re a Tea Party Republican, what do facts and history have to do with any of this? Put down that book and turn on Fox News!
We spent a lot of first quarter my freshmen year reading Smith and Marx, and it was great to see where they were aligned, or where Smith repeatedly emphasizes the need of government to ensure a level playing field-that in fact, a truly hands off approach always leads to monopolization and cartels. Loved throwing it in the faces of all the Econ majors who thought we were at the University of Milton Friedmen.
Incidentally, Bernie Sanders is a proud Chicago alum.
In college was “Christianity and Marxism” where I watched a room of wealthy and privileged kids learn that there is virtually no difference between “From each according to their ability and to each according to their need” and “Love thy Neighbor”.
“Taxes are what we pay for civilized society.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., U.S. Supreme Court Justice
“If any man tells you he loves America, yet hates labor, he is a liar. If any man tells you he trusts America, yet fears labor, he is a fool.” — A. Lincoln
..of progressive snottery i have ever read.
Your libertarian nephews look at you…long gray pony tail, free trade pima cotton tunic only SLIGHTLY stained under the arms…as you question the ethics of poultry slaughter, the radical industrializaton of vegetable production, and the venality of celebrating the slaughter of indigeious people, and sigh but realize it’s only once a year that they have to smile as you explain to them the inevitability of the progressive youth vote.
This progressive has a Class B drivers license (small truck), put himself through college working at dairy farms, department store janitor roles, washing dishes at restaurants and pumping gas. I eat well only because I refuse to eat the corporate pablum produced via Nixon’s corn subsidy programs and my T-Shirt is union made, 30 years old, still in good shape and still fits. That’s all because I grew up at a time when Americans saw each other as allies, not prey.
You WENT to college! I had to go to work for a living, myself.
I worked through college and the last two years of high school. Only time I ever got a hand out was when I was 46 and unemployed for the first time in 30 years. I appreciated the helping hand and I am grateful that I live in a nation where we can help each other. It’s how a civilized people live.
…the above comment was an attempt at parody!
I mean, I really DIDn’T go to college, as my family was what they called working class but I don’t think it makes me braver or stronger.
And I didn’t pump gas! I may have bussed tables, but that’s not enough in the progressive iconography of virtuous jobs.
Getting on your lawn and all….and what’s with that noise they call music!
but on other occasions I have talked with libertarians about how their movement doesn’t do much to preserve the rights of ordinary people.
After all, Barry Goldwater opposed the Civil Rights Act, not helping the freedom of African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and immigrants.
One of the Koch Brothers was a VP on the Libertarian Party ticket once. Koch Industries resistance of government regulations on safety & the environment led to the deaths of two children in Texas. When businesses create water pollution, air pollution, and noise pollution, they not only increase the chances their neighbors will get cancer, even the neighbors who stay healthy have their rights infringed on: the simple right to enjoy their property. How free are the people of a town when they have to shelter in place because of a chemical leak?
Let’s be honest about Libertarianism: it’s about protecting the liberty of the powerful at the expense of the ordinary Americans.