The Government of the absolute majority instead of the Government of the people is but the Government of the strongest interests; and when not efficiently checked, it is the most tyrannical and oppressive that can be devised
You want to represent the country and you want elected officials that are representative of the country.
Bureaucracy is not an obstacle to democracy but an inevitable complement to it.
The circumstances of the world are continually changing, and the opinions of man change also; and as government is for the living, and not for the dead, it is the living only that has any right in it.
He and Thomas Jefferson were the two most vocal propononents of this view amongst the Founding Fathers.
Economic progress and better education have directly resulted in the birth of a class of voters who are better informed, very demanding and highly critical.
In effect, to follow, not to force, the public inclination,—to give a direction, a form, a technical dress, and a specific sanction, to the general sense of the community, is the true end of legislation.
It is part of our political thinking that democracy is a battle of ideas.
In politics, you ask the rich for money, the poor for votes, and ask each of them to believe you.
Democracy is about opposition.
You cannot dictate to those whose sense you are entrusted to represent.
Fair votes - fundamentally - are about the rights and the interests of the people.
What is frustrating people, me included, is that democratic action affects elections but what we get then from political leaders is greenwash.
What matters most in politics is personality. It's not issues; it's not image. It's who you are and what you represent.
In a democratic party, where internal democracy is alive, there are bound to be different views.
In the final analysis, a democratic government represents the sum total of the courage and the integrity of its individuals. It cannot be better than they are.
My family has been in politics a long time in Los Angeles. We very much believe we are elected to represent the people. I mean, I am to give voice to, you know, the over half a million people I represent in my congressional district. I mean, that's the way it works.
Why should you construe that Congress and BJP are the only forces at the Centre? There could be third or fourth force.
Those who are outraged will vote.
If I started worrying about how my constituents are going to react to every move I make, I wouldn't be able to do my job here. I'll do what I think is right and explain it later.
It is important that the United States remain a two-party system. I'm a fellow who likes small parties and the Republican Party can't be too small to suit me.
I really think a minority Parliament delivers better democracy in Canada when parties are prepared to cooperate.
Lobbying is not a bad thing. I'm not trying to say that we shouldn't have lobbyists or we shouldn't have lobbying to petition our government. It's in the Constitution, and it's something that should be honorable and good.
I figured there's nobody who's going to beat me or shoot me or crucify me. I can't help if people don't like me up there in Washington. I've got a district that I respect, and I think it respects me.
In creating superdelegates, the Democratic Party recognized the expertise that its top holders of public office have gained by running for office themselves. They are experts at winning. They know the issues. They are in a unique position to evaluate presidential candidates.
In order to represent the state, you've got to be in the state.