Political Quotes

On the recordOctober 4, 2017
Mr. President, The most powerful words in our Constitution are the first three words: ``We the People.'' It sets out the mission statement for our Nation, or, as President Lincoln put it, a nation ``of the people, by the people, and for the people.'' Our Founders did not start out our Constitution with ``we the powerful'' or ``we the powerful and privileged.'' They didn't proceed to say that our form of government is all about the powerful and privileged ruling for themselves to make themselves richer at the expense of everyone else. Thus, going back to the foundation, the vision of our Nation is appropriate because our Republican colleagues have put forward a document--a budget--with a tax plan that is all about government for the powerful. It is all about self-serving government for the privileged. There is nothing about fighting for a foundation for ordinary people to be able to thrive here in the United States of America. Indeed, the plan put forward by my Republican colleagues is a plan fit for a king living in a gilded castle--maybe fit for King Trump living in Trump Tower, but certainly not for working Americans living and striving to build the wealth of America. No, this is not a plan for them. This is a plan for the King Trumps of our Nation, who believe they can deceive the country again and again by putting forward an argument that they are going to do something to help the people while writing it for themselves.…
Said by
Jeff Merkley
Democratic · Oregon

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