Beth Simone Noveck Quotes

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

If there is a problem with democracy, the answer has to be more democracy.

Part of the problem you have is that you don't have a dialogue between elected officials and their constituents. They've built these barricades, these barriers around themselves and tried to avoid interaction with their constituents.

It's not just parliament that requires radical modernisation. It's our democratic processes.

To restore the trust of the people, we must reform the way the government operates.

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.

I don't think that voters should be fixated on public policy. In a healthy republic, they wouldn't have to worry every waking hour about what their government is doing.

Open the way before the new government to prove that it is for serving the people.

The people want government that works for them at every level.

All government is a trust. Every branch of government is a trust, and immemorially acknowledged to be so.

Dialoging is the first principle of good government.

Elections alone will never be enough to ensure good governance.

Public confidence in the elective process is the foundation of public confidence in government.

Government is competent when all who compose it work as trustees for the whole people. It can make constant progress when it keeps abreast of all the facts. It can obtain justified support and legitimate criticism when the people receive true information of all that government does.

We need a modern people's lobby that empowers all of us to choose our leaders and set our agenda. Imagine voting for a president we're truly excited about. Imagine a government that promotes capitalism and civil rights.

I am voting in the midterm elections because I believe that when people engage with their local government, it reminds those placed in power that they are public servants who will be held accountable for their decisions.

Any politician can talk about resuscitating public trust.

If I were to say anything to people I may say people should vote for those who are respectful to democracy, rule of law, who get on well with people.

When the people's representatives have to go on record and vote, it transforms our country. It is a full recognition that we are in a state of war.

I'm a big fan of public trust.

The country's future is what you will make it. Make your local representatives in parliament and assembly more answerable. Ask for more transparency in use of public funds.

After Barack Obama won the 2008 presidential election, I was heartened to see him issue an Open Government Initiative on his first full day in office.

Our democracy is predicated on the belief that our government should be accessible by the people. We cannot allow ourselves to give in to fear or shy away from interacting with the public.

Advocacy groups and voters are not wrong to push candidates to declare their position clearly on policy issues. That is good citizenship. Hard questions should be asked of every candidate, every politician. And those public servants should be prepared to answer, but in their own words.

The fight for reform comes down to a simple goal: giving our citizens the confidence that government serves the people first and the people only.