"A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take away everything you have."

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

A little wisdom from the 18th century

"The statesman, who should attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to employ their capital, would not only load himself with a most unnecessary attention, but assume an authority which could safely be trusted, not only to no single person, but to no council or senate whatever, and would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands of a man who had folly and presumption enough to fancy himself fit to exercise it."

~Adam Smith in The Wealth of Nations, Vol. II (quoted in Basic American Government by Clarence Carson)

4 comments:

Natedawg said...

Great quote!

Some Dude said...

I disagree. I think our elected officials know better than we do how we should spend our money and should make all our decisions for us. Otherwise, we might squander it on things that we want rather than creating a fairer, more egalitarian society. If no one forces us to invest in the future, then we will never have great things like high-speed rail and wind power. Obama 2012!

Natedawg said...

Yes! Obama 2012! As one of my co-workers put it (in all seriousness): "Obama saved this country from oblivion."

Yes, that is a direct quote.

A.K. said...

Wow, Some Dude. I'd be careful...you're pretty convincing.