Mastodawn

So maybe it’s not the politicians who suck; maybe it’s something else. Like the public. That would be a nice realistic campaign slogan for somebody: “The public sucks. Elect me.” Put the blame where it belongs: on the people.
Because if everything is really the fault of politicians, where are all the bright, honest, intelligent Americans who are ready to step in and replace them? Where are these people hiding? The truth is, we don’t have people like that. Everyone’s at the mall, scratching his balls and buying sneakers with lights in them. And complaining about the politicians.

George Carlin (1937-2008) American comedian
Book (2001), Napalm & Silly Putty, “Don’t Blame the Leaders”

More info about this quote: wist.info/carlin-george/79906/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #georgecarlin #bestandbrightest #citizenry #democracy #garbageingarbageout #politicians #populace #public #representativegovernment

Book (2001), Napalm & Silly Putty, "Don't Blame the Leaders" - Carlin, George | WIST Quotations

So maybe it's not the politicians who suck; maybe it's something else. Like the public. That would be a nice realistic campaign slogan for somebody: "The public sucks. Elect me." Put the blame where it belongs: on the people. Because if everything is really the fault of politicians, where are…

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WIST Quotations Has Moved!Oct 19

A quotation from Thomas Paine

Because a body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody, ought not to be trusted by anybody.

Thomas Paine (1737-1809) American political philosopher and writer
Rights of Man (1791)

More info about this quote: wist.info/paine-thomas/40072/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #thomaspaine #rightsofman #accountability #aristocracy #heredity #meme #representation #representativegovernment #responsibility #trust #tyranny

WIST Quotations Has Moved!Oct 15

A quotation from George Carliln

   In the midst of all my bitching, you might’ve noticed that I never complain about politicians. I leave that to others. And there’s no shortage of volunteers; everyone complains about politicians. Everyone says they suck.
   But where do people think these politicians come from? They don’t fall out of the sky; they don’t pass through a membrane from a separate reality. They come from American homes, American families, American schools, American churches, and American businesses. And they’re elected by American voters. This is what our system produces, folks. This is the best we can do. Let’s face it, we have very little to work with. Garbage in, garbage out.
   Ignorant citizens elect ignorant leaders, it’s as simple as that. And term limits don’t help. All you do is get a brand new bunch of ignorant leaders.

George Carlin (1937-2008) American comedian
Book (2001), Napalm & Silly Putty, “Don’t Blame the Leaders”

More info about this quote: wist.info/carlin-george/79693/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #georgecarlin #citizenry #democracy #elections #ignorance #politicalsystem #politicians #public #representativegovernment #America #termlimits

Maier Amsden Sep 15, 2025

#RepresentativeGovernment
Something deep state fucks don't get/ dismiss is that without serious government transparency, democracy is a hollow sham and our votes are meaningless.

"I voted for Johnny Gunn and sent him thousands in taxes."

"What'd Johnny do with that money?"

"I have no idea where half of it went, and I never will. And if someone shows me how some of it's being misspent, Johnny will fuck them up good!"

WIST Quotations Has Moved!Aug 30, 2025

A quotation from Herbert Hoover

   The very basis of Representative Government is a two‐party system. It is one of the essential checks and balances against inefficiency, dishonesty, and tyranny.
   An organized, effective opposition which insists upon disclosure of the facts and submits them to the anvil of debate is the one safety Representative Government has.
   Moreover, the people must have alternative programs of action upon which they may decide at the ballot box.
   Beyond this, any party in power accumulates barnacles and deadwood which can only be rid by a change in administration.

Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) American engineer, bureaucrat, US President (1929-33)
Speech (1951-08-01), “On the Two-Party System,” Utah Republican Outing, Salt Lake City, Utah

More info about this quote: wist.info/hoover-herbert/78694…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #herberthoover #alternatives #democracy #innovation #opposition #partisanship #party #politicalparty #progress #twopartysystem #voting #representativegovernment

WIST Quotations Has Moved!Jul 23, 2025

A quotation from George Carlin

Everyone complains about politicians. Everyone says they suck. But where do people think these politicians come from? They don’t fall out of the sky; they don’t pass through a membrane from a separate reality. They come from American homes, American families, American schools, American churches, and American businesses. And they’re elected by American voters. This is what our system produces, folks. This is the best we can do. Let’s face it, we have very little to work with. Garbage in, garbage out.

George Carlin (1937-2008) American comedian
Book (2001), Napalm & Silly Putty, “Don’t Blame the Leaders”

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/carlin-george/77881/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #georgecarlin #America #election #politicians #representativegovernment #voting

WIST Quotations Has Moved!May 29, 2025

A quotation from John Adams

The English Constitution is founded, tis bottomed And grounded on the Knowledge and good sense of the People. The very Ground of our Liberties, is the freedom of Elections. Every Man has in Politicks as well as Religion, a Right to think and speak and Act for himself. No man either King or Subject, Clergyman or Layman has any Right to dictate to me the Person I shall choose for my Legislator and Ruler. I must judge for myself, but how can I judge, how can any Man judge, unless his Mind has been opened and enlarged by Reading.

John Adams (1735-1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797-1801)
Diary (1761-08-01)

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/adams-john/36484/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #johnadams #education #elections #enlightenment #judgment #openmind #reading #representation #representativegovernment

Diary (1761-08-01) - Adams, John | WIST Quotations

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WIST Quotations Has Moved!Feb 28, 2025

A quotation from Monty Python

ARTHUR: I am your king.
WOMAN: Well, I didn’t vote for you.
ARTHUR: You don’t vote for kings.
WOMAN: Well how’d you become king then?
ARTHUR: (angelic music plays) The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. (angelic music stops) That is why I am your king.
DENNIS: (interrupting) Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
ARTHUR: Be quiet!
DENNIS: You can’t expect to wield supreme executive power just ’cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!
ARTHUR: Shut up!
DENNIS: I mean, if I went around saying I was an emperor just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they’d put me away!
ARTHUR: (grabbing him by the collar) Shut up! Will you shut up!

Monty Python (b. 1969) British comedy troupe [Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin]
Monty Python and the Holy Grail, sc. 3 (1975)

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/monty-python/2900/

#quote #quotes #quotation #montypython #authority #democracy #divineright #election #government #mandate #power #providence #representativegovernment #ritual #royalty #voting #king #monarch #autocracy

Monty Python and the Holy Grail, sc. 3 (1975) - Monty Python | WIST Quotations

ARTHUR: I am your king. WOMAN: Well, I didn't vote for you. ARTHUR: You don't vote for kings. WOMAN: Well how'd you become king then? ARTHUR: (angelic music plays) The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the…

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PeachMcD Aug 25, 2024

@hopper @michaelgemar @NZedAUS @kamalaharrisforpresidentnews @Stybba3019 @airshipper

Not sure but definitely would be a move towards #RepresentativeGovernment - which is the opposite of #Fascism & #Oligarchy

Strypey Jul 20, 2024

"Far from being expected to demonstrate personal charisma or the ability to outdo rivals, those who aspired to a role on the Council of Tlaxcala did so in a spirit of self-deprecation—even shame—and were required to subordinate themselves to the people of the city."

#DavidGraeber, #DavidWengrow, 2020

https://www.laphamsquarterly.org/democracy/hiding-plain-sight

(1/3)

#democracy #RepresentativeGovernment

Hiding in Plain Sight | David Graeber and David Wengrow

Democracy’s indigenous origins in the Americas.

Lapham’s Quarterly