Monday, November 23, 2009

Democrats Then and Now

A Democrat then (President Grover Cleveland's address to Congress, 12/6/1887):

When we consider that the theory of our institutions guarantees to every citizen the full enjoyment of all the fruits of his industry and enterprise, with only such deduction as may be his share toward the careful and economical maintenance of the Government which protects him, it is plain that the exaction of more than this is indefensible extortion and a culpable betrayal of American fairness and justice ... The public Treasury, which should only exist as a conduit conveying the people's tribute to its legitimate objects of expenditure, becomes a hoarding place for money needlessly withdrawn from trade and the people's use, thus crippling our national energies, suspending our country's development, preventing investment in productive enterprise, threatening financial disturbance, and inviting schemes of public plunder.



A Democrat (Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, 2009) now, when questioned on where the Federal government gets its Constitutional authority for healthcare reform:

Are you serious?

1 comment:

Old Blue said...

I believe the Democrat Party also at one time supported the gold standard. I'm not sure where I read this, but maybe at the Mises Institute (an eye-opening website).