Daniel Patrick Moynihan Quotes
The war on poverty had not been undertaken at the request of the poor.
Daniel P. Moynihan, Chief American Delegate to the United Nations, U. S. Senator (Democrat, NY), Quoted by George Will, Speech, The Museum of New York, March 29, 2004
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
The “War on Poverty” had an intellectual precursor.
He later claimed that he misspoke. He was particularly damaged by this statement as he was personally very wealthy, was supported by most large corporations, and had been accused of only worrying about the rich and business.
Olasky and many religiously oriented analysts, believe that public shame shapes and controls behavior and if a society does not have a set of recognized norms, and every person is free to determine his own propriety, there will be moral degeneration and there is no way to produce desirable social and political outcomes. This is perhaps the longest political and philosophical ongoing debate. In a society people cannot be free if there is fear, coercion and chaos with public safety primary. But how can this be produced unless there are generally accepted moral and behavioral codes like that of a religion. And then if one has that, and it is dominant, how can someone be free from the coercion of that morality or religious code? There must be freedom not to believe. Or must there be? Many say yes. Many others, especially orthodox leaders of most religions believe, No. Christian, Jewish and Muslim fundamentalists all say No, but then they insist that the norm be theirs.
4 Presidents were present including George W. Bush to whom the audience realized that the put down of his policies and practices were directed.
Owner of one of the only 2 Mexican Television Networks
Daniel Patrick "Pat" Moynihan was an American politician, sociologist, and diplomat. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented New York in the United States Senate and served as an adviser to Republican U.S. President Richard Nixon.
