Helen Suzman Quotes

There is nothing wrong with our country, there is something wrong with our politics…

In Parliament we debate on and we decide the laws that are going to govern the country.

Elections alone will never be enough to ensure good governance.

I hate politics. It's slimy. Any job where people pander for votes, I don't like. The country has gotten so partisan that if you're not on my side, you're the enemy. The only thing I ever try to support is a third party, like Unity08. We need more parties and more choice.

The thing about American politics, as I've learned, is there is no choice.

It is unfortunate that people believe that in order to democratise something you have to get politicians out of the system.

In a rational society we would want our presidents to be teachers. In our actual society we insist they be cheerleaders.

The Australian public are very fair and they are always prepared to give the leader of a major political party a fair go.

But democracy isn't a state of perfection. It has to be improved, and that means constant vigilance.

The problem is, the Republican Party hasn't done anything to make this country better and I speak as a Republican.

In any country, governance issues are there. Challenges are there, pressures are there. When multi-party coalitions take decisions, sometimes delays will be there. But that is what democracy is: it is beauty or it's challenge.

Everywhere I go - from Main Street to Wall Street - people ask, 'What's happened to our political system? Why can't Washington folks work together?'

Who, then, will govern? The answer must be, Man - for we have no angels in the shape of men, as yet, who are willing to take charge of our political affairs.

Politics disgusts me.

The American political system is so porous, it's so open, it's so frustrating for those who are trying to make policy.

If you present good government, then elections look after themselves.

In a democracy, people usually get the kind of government they deserve, and they deserve what they get.

The United States is a very difficult country to govern.

Legislating should be done in a manner that is understandable to the governed.

Politics is broken.

Democracy is hypocrisy without limitation.

Governments are like underwear. They start smelling pretty bad if you don't change them once in a while.

Self government cannot work if the people do not know what their rulers are doing and why.

Politics is about explanations.

What makes this harder is that it is my party that is ruining the country.