LeVar Burton Quotes

I think most people realize that our problems are our government, not me and you individually, except that we can - must have some sort of responsibility, because they're in there and they were elected, so we have to defend ourselves on those lines.

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

Our future cannot depend on the government alone. The ultimate solutions lie in the attitudes and the actions of the American people.

No man should ever lose sleep over public affairs.

A government of, for and by the people, requires much from the people.

Somewhere along the line, the actions of this government are the actions of me.

Most politicians will not stick their necks out unless they sense grass-roots support ... neither you nor I should expect someone else to take our responsibility.

I really feel like people who want to change things need to go out and change it themselves and not look to politicians to do that.

I had a lot of friends in high school who said, 'Louie, I don't care what the government does as long as they leave me alone.' Well, guess what, when you don't care what the government does, it does not leave you alone.

The government is us; we are the government, you and I.

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

You should always be questioning your government, but do not become cynical.

It is not one government or another that can solve all of the problems. It's you.

This is not just our battle. It is an issue for opinion makers outside the government, it is a battle for the Congress—to keep making the distinction between the immediate and the important.

You don’t have to wait till your party’s in power to have an impact on life at home and around the world

If we want a great nation, we have to change it ourselves.

Our democracy... is only as good as the American people demand it should be.

Too often, we rely on other people - whether it be politicians or institutions - to effect change.

Our nation's leaders are fallible. It is therefore time for us to be our own heroes. We can and must be the leaders that are so desperately needed.

Be an active participant in your community and country. Every small gesture makes up the big gestures. Resist, rinse, repeat.

The people themselves must think, because the people alone can act.

Being politically active is "more about doing things, not just standing for some platform or being involved in some political party."

No government demands so much from the citizens as democracy and none gives back so much.

It's hard for me to believe that just my words on the page are enough. I ought to be out physically keeping abortion safe and legal, restoring the Fourth Amendment, getting clean water back into Kentucky since the Bush Administration has allowed strip miners to fill it all up with slag. The list is endless. Bring it down. Make it small. Make it one thing that you can do. It's very hard for me to remember that.

The only way change happens is when people become more significantly involved in the political process. We have to increase voter turnout and citizen participation so that people know what's going on and demand a government that works for everybody and not just the one percent.