Pat Meehan Quotes

I believe that engaging in the political process is part of being a good person.

Everybody is a political person, whether you say something or you are silent. A political attitude is not whether you go to parliament; it's how you deal with your life, with your surroundings.

The first duty of an American citizen, then is that he shall work in politics.

I think it doesn't actually matter what your political persuasion is, but if you are interested in the country that you live in and the way in which it's run, everyone has to do something about that.

Politics is about the participation and engagement of the wider citizenry - to miss that point would doom us to irrelevance.

Since an early age I was taught to be very politically aware and knew from childhood that the process was something I wanted to contribute towards if I could.

What we try to say is that it doesn't matter if you are a Republican or a Democrat or conservative or independent. You are equally responsible for your place in the culture, and you must make a contribution, and you must accept responsibility for what goes down on your watch.

I think I'm one of the most patriotic people that I've ever encountered in America. I consider myself a bedrock patriot. I participate very actively in local politics, because my voice might be worthwhile. I participate in a meaningful way - not by donations; I work at it.

I believe that everyone should participate in democracy and enjoy doing it.

Politics ought to be the part-time profession of every citizen who would protect the rights and privileges of free people and who would preserve what is good and fruitful in our national heritage.

I don't really try to get involved politically by giving money to politicians or by saying I'm a Democrat or Republican. Right now, I just view myself as an American.

I'm responsible. I even did a commercial for MTV saying how I was going to register to vote. And I still haven't.

No man should ever lose sleep over public affairs.

The primary thing I should do, apart from being a good husband, brother, son, and friend, is to be a citizen activist. But I'm afraid it takes away from the writing. Not that anything depends on whether I put an essay in 'The Nation' or not. But you want to participate.

I do feel, in a sense, the rules of engagement for citizenship has changed, and we must encourage other people to speak up and to take action.

I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose interests in good government is less.

As a citizen of a community, if you never vote or engage, don't be surprised when the outcome doesn't serve your interests; you've never done anything to push things in the right direction.

I can't imagine myself outside any kind of social or political involvement.

I don't personally feel that I have to save democracy and journalism.

Citizens are refined, cultivated, and very political. I believe in the legitimacy of their participation.

Political involvement is more than a game.

Democracy is not a spectator sport. It is a difficult, hard, full-contact, participatory endeavor.

If you sit back and simply allow your country to be, it is highly unlikely to be the kind of country you want. You have to be active.

The work of being a citizen is hard and annoying, but it can pay off.

People always said you shouldn't get in politics and talk about politics. But I believe the politics are all around us.