Milton Friedman: Taxes Someone Else Pays

Milton Friedman Money Quote saying congress can only increase taxes when a minority believes it will affect them personally. Milton Friedman said:
 

 

“Congress can raise taxes because it can persuade a sizable fraction of the populace that somebody else will pay” — Milton Friedman

Milton Friedman is commenting on how Congress is able to raise taxes despite public opposition. He suggests that Congress can enact higher taxes because they are able to convince some people that the tax increases will mainly impact “somebody else”, not themselves.

Friedman implies that many taxpayers support raising levies as long as they think other taxpayers or groups will shoulder most of the burden.

The quote conveys Friedman’s view that Congress exploits this “somebody else” mindset to pass tax hikes that are actually broadly felt. He seems to be criticizing how politicians downplay the widespread impacts of taxation for political gain.

Birthday: July 31, 1912 Death: November 16, 2006

Will Rogers: Death Doesn’t Get Worse

Will Rogers Money Quote saying someday taxes may be as bad as death and then congress can’t make them worse. Will Rogers said:
 

 

“The difference between death and taxes is death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets” — Will Rogers

In this funny quote, Will Rogers is wryly commenting on how the tax code often becomes more complex and burdensome on taxpayers over time. By contrasting death as remaining constant with taxes that “get worse every time Congress meets”, Rogers humorously suggests that unlike the finality of death, taxes appear to continually rise and new loopholes and rules are added that create ever more complications for citizens.

His point is that legislative sessions frequently result in tax changes that increase the burden on people rather than simplifying or reducing taxes. Through this clever comparison, Rogers characteristically employs wit to highlight his perspective on the frustrating and deteriorating nature of the tax system.

Birthday: November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935

Barack Obama: Mass Shoot Money Mouth

Barack Obama Money Quotation saying Congress can support Presidential proposal to increase mental health funding to reduce gun violence. Barack Obama said:
 

 

“For those in Congress who so often rush to blame mental illness for mass shootings as a way of avoiding action on guns, here’s your chance to support these efforts. Put your money where your mouth is” — Barack Obama

In this quote, Barack Obama is criticizing members of Congress who often attribute mass shootings to mental illness as a way to deflect from discussing gun control measures. He suggests they use this as an excuse to avoid taking legislative action on firearms.

Obama then directly challenges them by saying “here’s your chance to support these efforts”, referring to bills that would increase funding for improved mental health screening and services. His implication is that if they are truly concerned about the role of mental health, they should financially back solutions rather than just blaming shootings on it rhetorically.

So in essence, Obama is calling out the inconsistency between their stated concerns and their willingness to support related policy solutions or “put their money where their mouth is” on an issue they frequently cite.

Ed Wexler, Los Angeles, CA

Bagley for the Salt Lake Tribune

Bernie Sanders: Wall Street Rules Congress

Bernie Sanders @SenSanders Money Quotation saying to Hillary Clinton during 2015 democratic presidential debate – we need to regulate financial firms. Bernie Sanders said:
 

 

“Congress doesn’t regulate Wall Street. Wall Street regulates Congress, Saying ‘please do the right thing’ is kind of naïve” — Bernie Sanders

In this quote, Bernie Sanders is sharply criticizing the disproportionate influence that Wall Street has over Congress in setting financial policies and regulations. His view is that rather than Congress and elected officials objectively regulating the financial industry, it is actually Wall Street that exerts control over Congress through the power of its financial resources and lobbying efforts.

Sanders seems to be implying it is futile to simply ask Congress to “do the right thing” when it comes to curbing Wall Street excesses, because the sector has effectively captured the policymaking process through campaign donations and other political leverage over lawmakers.

The quote conveys Sanders’ belief that meaningful reform requires reducing Wall Street’s outsized impact on political decisions in order to establish a fairer system with proper oversight of the financial industry.

Al Gore: American Democracy Hacked

Al Gore Money Quotation saying our legislators spend too much energy chasing dollars and that subverts democracy and stifles positive legislative change. Al Gore said:
 

 

“The most serious dysfunction in American democracy is now in the legislative branch, in Congress, because they spend most of their time begging rich people and special interests for money. America democracy has been hacked” — Al Gore

In this quote, Al Gore is criticizing how money in politics has undermined the functioning of Congress and democracy. He argues that members of Congress spend too much of their time fundraising from wealthy donors and special interest groups rather than doing the people’s work.

This preoccupation with money has “hacked” or compromised American democracy by distorting the priorities and decision making of our elected representatives.

Gore suggests that democracy is not served when elected officials feel more beholden to their donors rather than constituents. The quote expresses concern that dependence on large contributions has seriously dysfunctional and damaged the legislative branch’s ability to properly represent the people.

Brigid Harrison: Nobody Left in Congress

Brigid Harrison Money Quotation saying what is obviously the core of political corruption and the layers of opacity in campaign finance. Brigid Harrison said, (professor of political science and law at Montclair State University, commenting on corruption case of Sen. Robert Menendez):
 

 

“If everyone who took money in return for promising to do something if they were re-elected [was prosecuted], we wouldn’t have anyone left in Congress” — Brigid Harrison

In this quote, political scientist Brigid Harrison is making a critical observation about political financing practices and their influence on elected officials. Her view seems to be that if all members of Congress who accepted financial contributions from donors in exchange for pledging certain actions or policy positions were prosecuted for what amounts to a form of bribery, virtually no sitting lawmakers would remain.

Harrison implies that such transactional “money in return for promises” behavior is so widespread in politics that enforcing anti-corruption rules strictly would empty Congress entirely. The quote conveys Harrison’s perspective that political donations that seek to covertly purchase influence or votes through implied quid pro quo terms seriously undermine integrity and pervade the system to a troubling degree.

Elizabeth Warren on Building a Future

Elizabeth Warren Money Quote saying that U.S. citizens want growth through government investment in the country. Elizabeth Warren said:
 

 

“Americans understand that building a prosperous future isn’t free. They want us to invest carefully and prudently, sharply aware that Congress spends the people’s money” — Elizabeth Warren

In this quote, Elizabeth Warren is saying that most Americans recognize that maintaining and improving prosperity requires careful spending and investment. While they want the government to spend money on important programs and services, they also want politicians to be mindful stewards of taxpayer funds and not waste money.

Warren argues that members of Congress should take their responsibility to spend public money seriously and prudently. The overall message is that economic growth requires strategic investment but also fiscal responsibility from the government.

Lawrence Lessig on Congress Free to Lead

“When we have a congress free of big-money, a congress free to lead, we will fight to preserve the reforms we fought so hard to achieve through whatever amendments to the Constitution are necessary” — Lawrence Lessig

The best interpretation of the Lawrence Lessig quote is that he is advocating for a Congress that is free from the influence of big money, so that it can focus on leading and making decisions that benefit the people, rather than being swayed by special interest groups and wealthy donors.

This quote suggests that he believes that the current system of big money in politics is a barrier to effective leadership and progress, and that amending the Constitution may be necessary to achieve a more equitable and just system.