Charles Dickens: Melted Into Dollars

Charles Dickens Money Quote saying people turn everything they care about into money or financialize their cares. Charles Dickens said:
 

“All their cares, hopes, joys, affections, virtues, and associations, seemed to be melted down into dollars. Whatever the chance contributions that fell into the slow cauldron of their talk, they made the gruel thick and slab with dollars. Men were weighed by their dollars, measures gauged by their dollars; life was auctioneered, appraised, put up, and knocked down for its dollars” — Charles Dickens

In this quote, Charles Dickens is criticizing the prioritization of money above all else in society. The best interpretation is:

• Dickens saw that people had reduced all aspects of life – cares, hopes, loves, virtues, relationships – and boiled them down primarily to their monetary worth or value in “dollars.”
• In conversations too, the topic that most thickened and saturated any discussion was dollars, as people viewed and assessed everything through a financial lens.
• He observed how people judged one another based on their net worth, and how life itself had become treated almost like a commodity to be bought and sold in a marketplace for its economic value alone in terms of “dollars.”

The overall message is one of social commentary – Dickens was denouncing the obsession with wealth and materialism as corrupting because it made people lose sight of deeper human qualities and experiences that can’t truly be quantified or replaced by money.

Birthday: February 7, 1812 – Death: June 9, 1870

John Pudner: Constitutional Amendment

John Pudner Money Quote saying he supports an amendment to the U.S. Constitution which would prevent big, anonymous political contributions to prevent money being considered speech and protect the taxpayer. John Pudner said:
 

 

“To date, 18 of our United States have asked Congress for a Constitutional amendment that would allow limits on political spending where appropriate and let us take our government back from those who give big transaction money – in other words, trading millions in contributions for billions of your taxpayer dollars” — John Pudner

This quote from John Pudner is referring to campaign finance reform and the influence of money in politics. It suggests that large political donations from wealthy donors and corporations have essentially “bought” influence over certain politicians and policies to the detriment of taxpayers. By “trading millions in contributions for billions of taxpayer dollars”, it means that donors get favorable legislation or contracts worth far more public money than they originally contributed.

Pudner advocates for amending the US Constitution to allow reasonable limits on political spending, which he believes could help reduce this donor influence. By doing so, it may help “take our government back” for ordinary citizens rather than large financial backers. The quote expresses concern that big money in politics has disproportionate power and that campaign finance reform could help even the playing field and make elected officials more accountable to all voters rather than just their largest funders.

Elizabeth Warren: We Work for Big Pharma?

Elizabeth Warren Money Quote saying in a floor speech opposing the 21st Century Cures Act, which includes corrupt giveaways for big pharma as well as good legislation. Elizabeth Warren said:
 

 

“Does the senate work for big pharma that hires lobbyists and people who make giant campaign contributions, or does the senate work for the American people who actually sent us here?”

In this quote, Elizabeth Warren is directly challenging who the Senate represents and works for. Some key points:

• She poses the question of whether the Senate works for “big pharma” companies that employ lobbyists and make large political donations.
• Or, does the Senate work for “the American people who actually sent us here” through elections.
• Warren appears to be implying the Senate is more responsive to pharmaceutical industry influence campaigns than the voters who elected Senators.
• She is calling out the industry’s lobbying and campaign contributions as a way to gain political influence and question whose interests the Senate prioritizes.
• Overall, the quote frames it as a choice – does the Senate serve big donors and lobby groups, or the American public? Warren suggests the former has more sway currently.

Teddy Roosevelt on Corporate Campaign$

Theodore Roosevelt proposing elimination of corporate political campaign funding with the Tilman Act of 1907. Theodore Roosevelt said:
 

 

“Let individuals contribute as they desire: but let us prohibit in effective fashion all corporations from making contributions for any political purpose, directly or indirectly” — Theodore Roosevelt

In this quote, Theodore Roosevelt is advocating for restrictions on political donations by corporations. The best interpretation is that Roosevelt felt corporations, as entities separate from individuals, should not be able to indirectly influence elections and policymaking through financial contributions.

He wanted donations from corporations to be “prohibited in effective fashion” for any political aims. Roosevelt believed individuals should be free to donate as they choose, but that corporations should have limits on using money to sway the political process, possibly because of concerns about undue corporate influence over government.

The overall message is that Roosevelt saw a need to separate corporate money from politics through effective donation restrictions and prohibitions.

Birthday: October 27, 1858 – Death: January 6, 1919

Theodore Roosevelt Proposes Tillman Act

Theodore Roosevelt Money Quote saying corporate campaign contributions would be illegal in any form under Tillman Act of 1907. Theodore Roosevelt said:
 

 

“All contributions by corporations to any political committee or for any political purpose should be forbidden by law” — Theodore Roosevelt 1905

In this quote, Theodore Roosevelt is directly advocating for the passage of the Tillman Act, which was the first law to ban corporate political donations to candidates for federal office.

The best interpretation is that Roosevelt firmly believed corporations should be prohibited by law from financially contributing to any political campaigns or causes, as such donations could unfairly influence the political process and policymaking.

He saw a need to restrict corporate money in politics through legislation like the Tillman Act in order to separate corporate interests from elections and governance.

The overall message is that Roosevelt felt banning corporate political donations was crucial to preserve the integrity of the democratic system and prevent undue sway over government by wealthy organizations.

Roosevelt Birthday October 27, 1858 – Died January 6, 1919

Christopher Weyant, The Hill

Move to Amend on Corporate Political Contributions

Move to Amend Money Quotation saying as an organization dedicated to gaining a constitutional amendment claiming corporations are not people and their political contributions are not appropriate. Move to Amend said:
 

 

“Money is not speech, and therefore regulating political contributions and spending is not equivalent to limiting political speech” — Move to Amend

In this quote, the organization “Move to Amend” is advocating for a distinction between money and political speech. They are arguing that spending large amounts of money to influence elections and policy should not be seen in the same light as individual political expression and debate of ideas.

By stating that “money is not speech,” they aim to counter the premise that unlimited political donations are a form of constitutionally protected free speech. The quote conveys Move to Amend’s view that financial contributions to politicians and campaigns can be regulated without infringing on free expression, as money and speech are not equivalent in this context.

They appear to support reforms limiting the role of money in politics in order to safeguard democratic processes.