#ric

In Jefferson's mind great historical leaps forward were almost always the product of a purging, which freed societies from the accumulated debris of the past and thereby allowed the previously obstructed natural forces to flow forward into the future. Simplicity and austerity, not equality or individualism, were the messages of his inaugural march. It was a minimalist statement about a purging of excess and a recovery of essence. ↗

— Joseph J. Ellis

#thomas-jefferson #equality

If we are wondering why only 19 percent of the American people feel that the Congress is in tune with their priorities, the cuts in Amtrak is one blatant reason why. ↗

— Corrine Brown

#american people #amtrak #blatant #congress #cuts

Southern states in the confederacy were not ready to give up their fight to secede or give up their way of life, which was made possible in large part through the blood, sweat and tears of African slaves. ↗

— Corrine Brown

#blood #confederacy #fight #give #large

America rules the world - by force. ↗

— Harry Browne

#force #rules #world

I'm sorry that I can't snap my fingers and undo 50 years of bad American foreign policy. ↗

— Harry Browne

#american foreign policy #bad #fingers #foreign #foreign policy

In the 1880s, people all over the world looked to America for inspiration. Its very existence was proof that it was possible to have a relatively free and peaceful country. No income tax, no foreign wars, no welfare state, no intrusions on civil liberties. ↗

— Harry Browne

#civil #civil liberties #country #existence #foreign

Libertarians know that a free country has nothing to fear from anyone coming in or going out - while a welfare state is scared to death of poor people coming in and rich people getting out. ↗

— Harry Browne

#coming #country #death #fear #free

The Bill of Rights isn't some legalistic fine print. It was written to make our lives freer, more prosperous, and happier. By forsaking it, America has become no better than any other country in the world. ↗

— Harry Browne

#any #become #better #bill #bill of rights

Whenever I say that America has become an empire, someone is sure to say I'm being ridiculous. ↗

— Harry Browne

#become #being #empire #i #ridiculous

Still, American composers working in France have had a pretty hard time. ↗

— Gavin Bryars

#composers #france #had #hard #hard time