Jackie Speier Quotes

Deliberation and debate is the way you stir the soul of our democracy.

High quality, open, transparent, and uncensored data are needed to support democracy.

I think Thomas Jefferson would have said the more speech, the better.

Democracy is more than just election day.

A decent and manly examination of the acts of Government should be not only tolerated but encouraged.

Freedom of expression is the foundation of a civil society …. This will come.

If you value the democratic process, you have to value the protection of political speech.

We are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration!

We are Americans, We have the right to participate and debate any administration.

In a free country every man thinks he has a concern in all public matters,--that he has a right to form and a right to deliver an opinion on them. This it is that fills countries with men of ability in all stations.

The virtue of a democratic system with a [constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech] is that it readily enables the people, over time, to be persuaded that what they took for granted is not so, and to change their laws accordingly.

Democracy makes us articulate our views, defend them, and refine them.

I regard freedom of expression as the primary right without which one can not have a proper functioning democracy.

Our history is that we can very aggressively, if necessary, and openly and democratically discuss our differences. We have a democratic history in which we come together and vote on these things.

What's wrong is that we are not participating to make this the type of government it needs to be.

In the barbershop, there's democracy. You're a professor; you're an engineer; you're a garbage man, have at it. You got something to say, get down with it.

I did become American citizen in order to vote. I lived in this country for a very long time and I finally reached the point where I thought, I'm often sticking my neck out on various issues as all human beings have a right to do.

Democracy functions best when we have an active citizenry.

One person alone can't do anything as important as bringing genuine democracy to a country.

I want people to learn what democracy means.

Wherever the relevance of speech is at stake, matters become political by definition, for speech is what makes man a political being.

The democratic process is only as great as the people who participate in it.

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

I always say the strength of democracy lies in criticism. If there is no criticism, that means there is no democracy. And if you want to grow, you must invite criticism. And I want to grow; I want to invite criticism.

Admitting the force of these contentions, nevertheless, the custom of meeting together in public assembly for the consideration of the most serious, the most exalted topics of human interest is too vitally precious to be lost.