Evident without proof or reasoning

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Declaration of Independence

No You Can't

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people' s initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.

--Abraham Lincoln

Limited Government

(posted by Nic)

Man is not free unless government is limited...as government expands, liberty contracts.
-Ronald Reagan

The Fed

“I am a most unhappy man. I have unwittingly ruined my country. A great industrial country is controlled by a system of credit…The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men…we are (now a government) ruled by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men.” -- Woodrow Wilson

Democracy

No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
- Winston Churchill, 1947

McCain Roasts 'em

McCAIN: And some advocates for Senator Obama are less restrained in their enthusiasm, even in the media. All right, he usually is at table 228, for example, my old friend and Green Room pal Chris Matthews. He used to like me, but he found somebody new -- somebody who opened his eyes, somebody who gave him a thrill up his leg. (Laughter) And we've talked about it. I told him maverick I can do, but messiah is above my pay grade.

McCAIN: You know, it's going to be a long, long night at MSNBC if I manage to pull this thing off.For starters (Applause)....I understand that Keith Olbermann has ordered up his very own "Mission Accomplished" banner. And they can hang that in whatever padded room has been reserved for him. (Laughter) Seriously, Chris, if they need any decorating advice on that banner, ask Keith to call me so I can tell him right where to put it.

McCAIN: So, you know, I had fun with the media and we all know the press is really an independent, civic-minded and nonpartisan group, like ACORN... (laughter) In case you haven't been following my opponent's get out the vote campaign, ACORN is helping to register groups previously excluded, overlooked and underserved -- second graders, the deceased, Disney characters. In Florida, they even turned up an ACORN registration form that bore the name of one Mickey Mouse. We're checking the paw prints.

Even Bill Maher on CNN conceded that McCain was funny. The media also may have given Obama his best joke: "I am also glad to see that Senator Schumer is here, and I see that he's brought some of his loved ones. Those would be the folks with the cameras and the notebooks in the back of the room."

Democracy and Liberty

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."
-Benjamin Franklin