Bob Beauprez Quotes

We need to be constantly reminded that this is a representative democracy, and we need to be in tune to what people are talking about.

I think it's appropriate in America for anyone to speak out and say what their reaction is to the president's State of the Union speech.

We are all representatives of the American people. We all do town hall meetings. We all talk to our constituents. And I've got to tell you, the American people are engaged. And if you think they want a government takeover of health care, I would respectfully submit you're not listening to them.

I feel a real responsibility to my community and so right now there has been this bizarre myth in our community how our vote doesn't count. I'm trying to get out there and re-educate on how the government works and break that myth and talk about the importance of being involved.

The function of government is to provide you with service; the function of the media is to supply the Vaseline.

People do not dislike their local government, but they do think it could do better.

One of the best ways to stop the failed policies coming out of Congress is to bring in the ideas and the involvement of the American people, which the America Speaking Out project is designed to do.

What we have ignored is what citizens can do and the importance of real involvement of the people versus just having somebody in Washington make a rule.

The government must give men and women without power a real say over what happens to them, and the means of engaging in a participative, invigorated and living democracy.

I think people across America want a leader who's actually going to listen to them.

I enjoyed my stay in the Congress. Most people do not. And too many people who have been elected really don't understand the nature of government.

No matter where you stand politically - even if you're unsure of what your political ideology is - it is important to take part in the process of shaping our government.

It is hard to feel individually responsible with respect to the invisible processes of a huge and distant government.

We're all looking for an authentic way to be engaged in the community, engaged in politics, engaged in national discussion - and so, we're clunky. We're all clunky. But it's better than not doing it.

Most Americans aren't the sort of citizens the Founding Fathers expected; they are contented serfs. Far from being active critics of government, they assume that its might makes it right.

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

The cooperation of government at its different levels is important and can only be achieved as long as the people of Chicago are directly involved in our efforts and supportive of our goals.

Through a blog, an ordinary citizen such as myself can use the Internet, this thing invented by Albert Gore, to talk from my house to the U.S. capital and to make use of my right to point out to government officials and to the media when they are wrong.

You need to remind people that you vote, you matter, and that they can't succeed without your help.

In a democracy, citizens pass judgment on their government, and if they are kept in the dark about what their government is doing, they cannot be in a position to make well-grounded decisions.

Government is at its worst when you have apathy from its citizens.

Public confidence in the integrity of the Government is indispensable to faith in democracy; and when we lose faith in the system, we have lost faith in everything we fight and spend for.

The great thing about this town hall format is that it allows us to hear what's on the minds of Americans. Tonight, it was clear - voters have quite a few questions about the direction in which the current administration is headed.

An empowered public is the foundation for a stronger society, more effective government, and a more successful state.

The value of government to the people it serves is in direct relationship to the interest citizens themselves display in the affairs of state.