Unaccountability Quotes

He warns particularly of politicians who believe their own lies.

This was utilized (without attribution) to attack the press by British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin in a famous campaign speech in 1931.

1st Baron Thurlow. This famous statement expressed the great concern and distrust that England had for corporations. Their worst fears were exceeded by the 20th century and was completely over the top by the 21st century when many corporations could control entire nations and even in America and the UK, they were very powerful and often acted against the public and even national interest with impunity. The chancellor was very concerned as to how the behavior of corporations would be controlled and regulated. For individuals, there was a combination of conscience and legal punishment to control behavior. Partnerships were an extension of individuals. But what was the corresponding mechanism for corporations? The same question is often asked in modern times when corporate scandals and excesses are brought to light. See {586120} for another version of this concern that was stated a few generations later.

1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley. His famous line was actually first stated by Rudyard Kipling.

What makes this quotation memorable is that fact that it was public stated. Presidents have almost never gone into a local area and publicly stated that one of its governmental institutions was corrupt. Moreover, the corruption had not only gone on with the laxity of the state and city officials who had been Republicans and of the President’s own party—Democrats. The speech was, surprisingly to some, very warmly received by a public and political audience who had known of the corruption for years, but finally someone was trying to do something about it.

This was one of the best confirmations that Nixon had authorized illegal activity to further his reelection prospects and then orchestrated a cover up of the crimes.

The members of the Irish Parliament at that time were an almost permanent group. Their constituents, were uneducated, ignorant, and often dependent on the member and in fear of retribution if he were not elected. Like any legislative body of members or almost certain reelection, many of the members were corrupt and unaccountable.

The House Majority Leader Tom Delay, with a history of ethics violations, got caught in some very serious ones and convinced the House majority leadership to change the rules of the Ethics Committee to prevent the minority from initiating any investigations or inquiries. The Ethics Committee was the only House committee that has an equal number of majority and minority members and before this change, either side would initiate an inquiry.

He was particularly irate about politicians using junk science that would support their point of view, even though the politicians clearly had scientists in their districts who could tell the politicians that the science was poor, but they really did not care if their position was supported.

He was criticizing the George W. Bush Administration of his own party.