Pete Visclosky Quotes

For me, the definition of a patriot is someone who is willing to constantly question the government; that's what separates us from other countries.

I believe to go along to get along is unpatriotic. I believe that agreeing with your government on everything they do is unpatriotic. I believe a patriot stands up and holds your government's feet to the fire. Because if you do that, you will get good government.

I'm tired of hearing it said that democracy doesn't work. Of course it doesn't work. We are supposed to work it.

Healthy skepticism is necessary to the continuation of our democracy. When it turns to paranoia, it becomes destructive. American history has alternated between the two .... A nation where cynicism toward government prevails cannot function effectively.

I think it doesn't actually matter what your political persuasion is, but if you are interested in the country that you live in and the way in which it's run, everyone has to do something about that.

Yes, and you should question your government.

Dishonesty in government is the business of every citizen. It is not enough to do your own job. There's no particular virtue in that. Democracy isn't a gift. It's a responsibility.

I think most people realize that our problems are our government, not me and you individually, except that we can - must have some sort of responsibility, because they're in there and they were elected, so we have to defend ourselves on those lines.

What's wrong is that we are not participating to make this the type of government it needs to be.

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

There can be no daily democracy without daily citizenship.

The democratic process is only as great as the people who participate in it.

I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose interests in good government is less.

To me, I was right from the beginning, because it's my right as an American to speak up and question our president, have my point of view, have my opinion, question what I want to question, and say what I want to say about our government.

We are told that during times of crisis we must trust the president. Democracy is not about trust; it is about distrust. It is about accountability, exposure, open debate, critical challenge, and popular input and feedback from the citizenry. It is about responsible government. We have to get our fellow Americans to trust their leaders less and themselves more, trust their own questions and suspicions, and their own desire to know what is going on.

Citizens are refined, cultivated, and very political. I believe in the legitimacy of their participation.

I trust the American People more than American Institutions.

The American Government will be what we all make of it.

If you believe in democracy, than you can't trash it by being cynical about the people who do democracy: the politicians.

I think it's the height of patriotism to continue to exercise your right as a citizen and to hold your government to account. Isn't that what the very essence of democracy is about?

Our democracy... is only as good as the American people demand it should be.

Citizens do not just make up and preserve a Republic; they are its ultimate stakeholders and in fact pillars.

Americans need to be engaged and invested in the legislative process that affects their daily lives, otherwise we are just democracy in name only.

I'm a person who's always been interested in politics and thought it was a very noble occupation.

You know, I think it's something I want to teach my children, to ask questions and not be afraid to disagree with people in power. Always question, scrutinize everything they do, because they are leading the country, and it's important to me. That is patriotic.