William Colmer Quotes

A referendum is almost always a device by which governments get the voters to endorse what they wanted to do all along.

People now do not want a constitution framed for them by their representatives—they want to pass on each section of it themselves.

You can not reduce issues to simple yes or no answers in a plebiscite.

Polling can undermine the ability of officials to lay out, debate, analyze, and implement their plans. By turning to instant [electronic] polls we would eliminate the captain and the officers and leave every shipboard decision to the passengers.

I’m not in favor of referendums, and I will never put one before the British people.

A radical ... and revolutionary ... attack upon the fundamental basic principle of representative democracy for free people.

The voice of the people must be heeded.

I trust the American people. They almost always get it right …

I know of no better or safer human tribunal than the people.

I have always said that I believe in the people's right to vote on an issue.

I actually don't believe in governance by referendum. I believe that we have a democracy, that we elect people to make decisions.

I think the American people should express their preferences, and we'll accept their choice.

If you ever doubt that the people are the boss in a democracy, run for office. Even the President is a hired hand.

The government is just the people acting together.

Trust the people. They’ll get it right. They always do.

… gestures toward constitutional anarchy

In our system of government, nobody has the last word except the people.

If we could, somehow, get a vote of the people of Tennessee and have it result properly, it would be worth more to us than a battle gained. How long before we can get such a vote?

I consider biennial elections as a security that the sober, second thought of the people shall be law.

My personal opinion is that a referendum is not necessary to sense public opinion or get a non-partisan consideration of this question. It cannot relieve the President and the Senate of their constitutional powers and duties in respect to foreign relations. I believe the American people prefer to express their will through the representatives selected by them, and in accordance with our long-established constitutional methods.

We have submitted the issues to the American people, and their word is law.

Choice by the people themselves is not generally distinguished for its wisdom.

It is difficult to understand these people who democratically take part in elections and a referendum, but are then incapable of democratically accepting the will of the people.

Clearly, if it is sensible to hold a referendum on independence, it is crucial that we have one on marriage. It is the only way the country can move forward on this issue. Let all those who have a view on this subject place their trust in the Scottish people and let Scotland decide.

If we had a consensus we wouldn't have to go to a referendum.