Ian Goldin Quotes

Influence elected government officials, don't just elect them. Your right is to govern yourselves, not just to choose your governors.

I think voting is the lowest form of political action that you can do. A lot of times, it keeps people from doing stronger things.

Democracy depends on people speaking out, and in times of great crisis, on people creating a commotion.

You have citizens who don't understand how government works and they're kind of soured on it. All they do is criticize. They have no idea that they can make things happen.

We can and must move U.S. politics forward by means of committed participation.

Politics is not a spectator sport. You can't just sit on the sidelines.

Change never comes from the White House. It comes from your house and my house.

I am one who believes in the power of the people. I am inspired when I see people hit the streets, who challenge their elected officials, and are willing to stand up and fight. I encourage it.

Our purpose now is to reclaim democracy itself. We are here to affirm that when Americans stand up and speak their minds and say America can do better, that is not a challenge to patriotism; it is the heart and soul of patriotism.

The only way change happens is when people become more significantly involved in the political process.

Change from below, the formulation of demands from the populace to end unacceptable injustice, supported by direct action, has played a far larger part in shaping British democracy than most constitutional lawyers, political commentators, historians or statesmen have ever cared to admit. Direct action in a democratic society is fundamentally an educational exercise.

If the people of America do not rise up, take ownership of our country, we're going to lose it forever.

When the three branches of government have failed to represent the citizenry and the mass of the media has failed to represent the citizenry, then the citizenry better represent the citizenry.

Someone who does an act. In a democratic society, you're supposed to be an activist; that is, you participate. It could be a letter written to an editor.

Political development should start at the grassroots.

The popular will cannot be taken for granted, it must be created.

Young people have so much more power than they tend to think to be able to affect politics. And if people will organize and get involved and go out and knock on doors and hand out leaflets and make a change, then they can determine the future.

Those wanting to improve democracy in their countries should not wait for permission.

If Voting Changed Anything, They’d Abolish It

The fundamentalist call has resonance because it invited men to participate… in contrast to a political culture that reduces citizens to spectators and asked them to leave things to their rulers.

Democracy comes alive not when government does anything, because government cannot be depended on to rectify serious injustices. It comes alive when people organize and do something about it.

You cannot do anything without rousing the masses to action.

Our constitutional democracy demands our participation, not just every four years, but all the time.

I want Americans to realize that we are the owners of this country, and that one person can make a difference.

It is the duty of governments to create a pro-voter environment that encourages participation, but it is also the responsibility of citizens to make their voices heard.