Political Quotes

Mike Thompson: “But is it not true that we often as a people place restrictions on ourselves as a part of our process? Is it not true…”

On the recordApril 23, 1996
But is it not true that we often as a people place restrictions on ourselves as a part of our process? Is it not true that if 51 percent of the people or 60 percent of the people or 75 percent of the people want to abridge my speech, they cannot do that because of the Constitution, because of limitations we have placed on us, and specifically limitations we have placed on Congress, our elected representatives, that prohibit certain things regardless of how appropriate they may be? But it is a deliberate decision of the American people to restrict themselves. It is not that unusual. That is called the Bill of Rights and happens in other constitutional amendments.
Said by
Mike Thompson
Democratic · California

Editor's note · Context

Discussing the self-imposed restrictions on rights as outlined in the Bill of Rights.

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