James Bovard quotes

Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. (James Bovard)
As long as enough people can be frightened, then all people can be ruled. That is how it works in a democratic system and mass fear becomes the ticket to destroy rights across the board. View quote
James Bovard
It is unfortunate that Americans are no longer aware of what the constitution says and what their rights are. Because of that, we are often very passive about what happens when the government violates those rights. View quote
James Bovard
A democratic government that respects no limits on its power is a ticking time bomb, waiting to destroy the rights it was created to protect. View quote
James Bovard
People are so docile right now. It is almost as if good government means when the politicians lie to us for our own good, for the public good, and bad government is when politicians lie for their own selfish interests. View quote
James Bovard
There has been so much power concentrated. There is no leash on that power anymore and Americans face the situation that this power is getting momentum with each passing year with each presidency. View quote
James Bovard
Rather than a democracy, we increasingly have an elective dictatorship. People are merely permitted to choose who will violate the laws and the Constitution. View quote
James Bovard
b>America needs fewer laws, not more prisons. By trying to seize far more power than is necessary over American citizens, the federal government is destroying its own legitimacy. We face a choice not of anarchy or authoritarianism, but a choice of limited government or unlimited government. View quote
James Bovard
It is one of the great tragedies of the US, that most learn most of what they know about the government from the government. View quote
James Bovard
The vision that the founding fathers had of rule of law and equality before the law and no one above the law, that is a very viable vision, but instead of that, we have quasi mob rule. View quote
James Bovard
This is a case if the President is permitted to be above the law, then we no longer have a republic. (James Bovard)
Government cannot make trade more fair by making it less free. View quote
James Bovard
The federal tax system is turning individuals into sharecroppers of their own lives. View quote
James Bovard
The Patriot Act treats every citizen like a suspected terrorist and every federal agent like a proven angel. View quote
James Bovard
The Night Watchman State has been replaced by Highway Robber States – governments in which no asset, no contract, no domain is safe from the fleeting whim of politicians. View quote
James Bovard
The more that democracy is assumed to be inevitable, the more likely it will self-destruct. View quote
James Bovard
Trusting government nowadays means dividing humanity into two classes: those who can be trusted with power to run other people's lives, and those who cannot even be trusted to run their own lives. View quote
James Bovard
Democracy unleashes the State in the name of the people. View quote
James Bovard
The surest effect of exalting government is to make it easier for some people to drag others down. View quote
James Bovard
Citizens should distrust politicians who distrust freedom. View quote
James Bovard
People have been taught to expect far more from government than from freedom. (James Bovard)
Paternalism is a desperate gamble that lying politicians will honestly care for those who fall under their power. View quote
James Bovard
Bogus fears can produce real servitude. View quote
James Bovard
Killing foreigners is no substitute for protecting Americans. View quote
James Bovard
The arrogance of power is the best hope for the survival of freedom. View quote
James Bovard