Shri J.M. Lyngdoh Quotes

Something that confirms all fears and many conspiracy theories about government is finding out what our elected representatives would put into law if they could.

basically, the more power politicians have, the hornier they get

It wasn't long before people discovered the final horrors of letting an urchin into Parliament.

It's very simple. If the American people care about a lot of things including corruption in government, then, in fact, if you use the power to appoint in order to do political business, to clear fields, to save your party money and so on, if it's not a crime - and I believe it is - it certainly is business as usual, politics of corruption.

Our tribunals — unlike those in the United States — have been traditionally subordinated to political power. Mexico has a history of corrupt elections where the will of the people has been subverted by the wealthy and powerful.

The investigation has shown, let us hope, privilege at its worst. The trail is one of dishonesty, greed, violation of law, secrecy, concealment, evasion, falsehood, and cunning. It is a trail of betrayals by trusted and presumably honorable men--betrayals of a government, of certain business interests and the people who trusted and honored them; it is a trail showing a flagrant degree of the exercise of political power and influence, and the power and influence of great wealth upon individuals and political parties; it is the trail of despoilers and schemers, far more dangerous to the well-being of our Nation and our democracy than all those who have been deported

Men who cannot read are the mercy of a few men who are interested in self more than in good government. The country is the sufferer; for the effect of one ballot is felt to the utmost extremity of the body politic; it touches every industry and trade, it accelerates or retards the wheels of commerce, and fills the avenues of trade with life and general activity such as is found in no other country.

The great Government we loved has too often been made use of for private and selfish purposes.

The demagogue is the curse of the modern world, and of all the demagogues, The worst are those financed by well-meaning wealthy men who sincerely believe that their wealth is likely to be safer if they can hire men with political "it

The people who I serve believe that the means by which I came to office corrupt me.

A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury

For government to be chosen regularly in free elections, the losers must trust the winners not to abuse the power they have won.

when greed and fear are linked to power, you have a dangerous mix. We see that in political life. In part of the world, the mix of greed and fear means that those who get power become reluctant to give it back. One of the many things I like and admire in our democracies are the norms that make our leaders hand over power when voters tell them to

What does that mean for a society, for a democracy, when the people that you elect on the basis of promises can basically suborn the will of the electorate?

We have a lot of bad leaders around the world that operate in ways we would never tolerate in the United States.

Democracy has generally failed in Africa because to much power, too often, was concentrated in the hands of too few.

I do not allow hirelings of Standard Oil to define my democracy.

Democracies can no longer tolerate bribery, fraud and dishonesty, especially as such practices disproportionately hurt the poor.

Politics, as the word is commonly understood, are nothing but corruptions, and consequently of no use to a good king or a good ministry; for which reason Courts are so overrun with politics.

Democracy has shown us that what is evil are the grosses têtes, the big heads, all big heads are greedy for money and power, they are ambitious that is the reason they are big heads and so they are at the head of the government and the result is misery for the people

History has tried hard to teach us that we can't have good government under politicians.

As good government is an empire of laws, how shall your laws be made? In a large society, inhabiting an extensive country, it is impossible that the whole should assemble to make laws. The first necessary step, then, is to depute power from the many to a few of the most wise and good.

To have good government, you often need less, not more, democracy.

Democracy derailed …. An alternative form of government …. The initiative process has become a tool for millionaires and rich special interests.

No enemy of free government is more dangerous and none so insidious as corruption.