What kind of relationship should citizens have to their government that most effectively safeguards democracy? The collected wisdom from numerous historical figures who studied and lived in democratic societies seems to be summed up in one word: distrust. The below quotes appear to agree that the most necessary and foresightful activities any society that loves its democratic character are these: watchful wariness of the government, a well-informed citizenry, and constant and active demands for full disclosure and transparency.
In other words: if we fall asleep at the wheel, it will guarantee that the vehicle of democracy will crash into a catastrophic brick wall. Concord has a highly educated population, one that knows the value of looking back to learn how to best move forward. Therefore, in celebration of Sunshine Week, we provide the following:
Demosthenes, prominent Athenian orator and statesman, 4th century BC: "There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots. What is it? Distrust."
Edward R. Murrow, broadcast journalist noted for his honesty and integrity: "A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves."
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President of the US: "The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control over the government."
John Gardner, Founder of Common Cause: "The citizen can bring our political and governmental institutions back to life, make them responsive and accountable, and keep them honest. No one else can."
Noam Chomsky, father of modern linguistics and a political dissident: "States are not moral agents, people are, and can impose moral standards on powerful institutions."
Robert A. Heinlein, famed novelist who often used social themes integrated into his science fiction: "Love your country, but never trust its government."
And last -- and certainly not least -- five gems from Thomas Jefferson (at right), 3rd President of the US and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence:"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."
"Experience hath shown, that even under the best forms (of government) those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny."
"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive."
"Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories."
"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."
