Political Quotes

“I rise today to speak about the two balanced budget amendment proposals currently pending before the Senate and to explain why I will vote against both even though I support a balanced budget amendment. I fervently believe that the most pressing issue our country faces today is the need to gain control over the staggering Federal deficits and long-term debt that threaten our security. In thinking about the budget challenges we faced over the past year, I have often been reminded of something our second President said two centuries ago that remains hauntingly true today: ``There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation,'' as President Adams put it, ``One is by sword and the other is by debt.'' President Adams' words have been echoed in our time by former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ADM Mike Mullen, who argued earlier this year that the national debt is the greatest long-term threat to our national security. We can all agree that we must take on the challenge of addressing our deficit and debt. At the same time, as we have seen again and again over the past year, making tough choices is not an easy thing to do. Any responsible deficit reduction proposal will, by definition, be painful and unpopular because raising revenues and cutting benefits and favored Federal programs is painful and unpopular.…”