Mark McKinnon Quotes

The voters of Colorado deserve honest, straight-talking elected officials.

The better the information it has, the better democracy works. Silence and secrecy are never good for it.

After all, I have spent the better part of my adult life insisting that government be open... that government be accessible... and that government be held accountable to people who voted us into office.

Listening ... is good government.

Our trouble is that we do not demand enough of the people who represent us. We are responsible for their activities.... we must spur them to more imagination and enterprise in making a push into the unknown; we must make clear that we intend to have responsible and courageous leadership.

We need elected officials who care more about policy than politics.

A basic tenet of a healthy democracy is open dialogue and transparency.

If our political leaders are to be always a lot of political merchants, they will supply any demand we may create. All we have to do is to establish a steady demand for good government.

We have the incredible privilege of serving in the highest offices in the state. We must prove ourselves worthy of our fellow citizens' faith. We must be trusted to always place the public's good above our own and to always choose fairness over favoritism.

In the 21st century, the countries that thrive will be the ones where citizens know their voices will be heard because the institutions are transparent.

I will run an open government that speaks with honesty, seeks opinion, listens to its citizens.

The American public should simply accept no distractions. In our democracy, it is our duty to hold our elected leaders accountable. We do it at the ballot box.

Most of all, be honest with yourself and make sure those in political office, our so called public servants, are being honest, holding them accountable for their actions!

Good government only happens when the people working in it do their jobs, and do them well.

Democratic elections alone do not remedy the crisis of confidence in government. Moreover, there is no viable justification for a democratic system in which public participation is limited to voting.

Good government is good politics.

For citizens to become fully engaged in holding their leadership to account, accurate information is required to see where action is needed, to measure the results of policies and programmes, to build support for courageous decisions and to consolidate political legitimacy.

The citizens must be certain that the governor is attending to the duties for which he was elected.

I believe in the critical importance of participating in the political system - from voting to standing for election. It's both rewarding and necessary that men and women of good will and clear thinking engage in honest, open debate.

A functioning, robust democracy requires a healthy educated, participatory followership, and an educated, morally grounded leadership.

I think we can get respect for Parliament back providing governments and oppositions are frank.

If we want to truly regain the public's trust, we can provide greater accountability and transparency with a simple step. Let's start by communicating to our constituents about the votes we take.

If greater openness is a key to economic success, I believe there is increasingly a need for openness in the political sphere as well.

My dream of politics all my life has been that it is the common business, that it is something we owe to each other to understand and discuss with absolute frankness.

In a democracy citizens are entitled to know what is in store for them before they vote.