Jimmy Carter Quotes

Government just simply can't do everything for everyone.

Government cannot substitute for a healthy private sector, and both need a strong civil society.

The market economy does not automatically guarantee growth, social justice, or even economic efficiency; achieving those ends requires that government play an important role.

The United States is at a critical juncture in time. Our government is riddled with historic debt, and the limited resources of philanthropic and non-profit efforts cannot meet the scale of social challenges we face with necessary force.

As the economy faces such difficulties, more tough questions need to be asked about what the Tories would do if elected. Their ideology of free markets and small government needs challenging. That has to be part of our job.

I clearly believe a lot more than some of my coalition colleagues - Tories - in redistribution and using the tax system for that purpose. I also believe in the government having an active role in the economy, which is having an industrial strategy. I'm not a believer in laissez-faire.

Activist government overreach and ongoing economic stagnation have shown us why Washington should not try to displace what is best left to civil society.

While many of Mr. Obama's ideas warrant skepticism, conservative opposition to any expanded role for government is a mistake.

That is the best government which desires to make the people happy, and knows how to make them happy.

Too many Mainers are dependent on government handouts. Government dependency has not - and never will - create prosperity.

Higher taxes still does not create prosperity for all. And, more government still does not grow jobs.

There are a lot of good causes out there, but they can't possibly all be served by government.

I urge the Bush Administration to rethink its priorities. We can't talk about community values without being prepared to invest in those very same communities.

Romney is right that the Obama vision is too centered on government. But his is too centered on the promotion of business and wealth creation at the expense of everything else.

I think governments can't do much.

When government grows, it breaks the family.

If we can but prevent the government from wasting the labours of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy.

We have to be bold in our national ambitions. First, we must win the fight against poverty within the next decade. Second, we must improve moral standards in government and society to provide a strong foundation for good governance. Third, we must change the character of our politics to promote fertile ground for reforms.

Government should concentrate on building up infrastructure and skill development. Simplification of taxation is another important area.

You measure a government by how few people need help.

I believe that the role of limited government should be looking after the needs of veterans, the elderly, children and those institutions that improve the quality of life for struggling families - I don't believe that government should bend to serve the needs of subsidized multi-national corporations and entitled billionaires.

Government has a responsibility to the have-nots.

I am profoundly disturbed by any attempt to take government responsibility away from government … it is government’s responsibility to educate all of our children …. The fundamental responsibility for poverty of this country does not belong to the churches; it belongs to the government.

The role of government is to encourage—not discourage.

The state of our state is fragile …. Our revenue system is broken because it has relied on regressive and unstable taxes …. I refuse to balance this budget on the backs of the children, the elderly, and the poor.