“I hope for an America where neither fundamentalist nor humanist will be a dirty word, but a fair description of the different ways in which people of good will look at life and into their own souls.” PeopleWayLooksDifferentSoulAmericaFairsDirtyDifferent WaysDescriptionHumanistGood WillFundamentalistDirty Words Author:Edward Kennedy
“People of faith should not invoke the power of the state to decide what everyone can believe or think or read or do. In such cases, like abortion or prayer or prohibition or sexual identity, the proper role of religion is to appeal to the free conscience of each person, not the coercive rule of secular law.” PeopleThinkingShouldBelievePersonsStatesLawPrayerRolesCasesAtheismIdentityConscienceAppealsAbortionSecularProhibitionInvoke Author:Edward Kennedy
“I believe that religious witness should not mobilize public authority to impose a view where a decision is inherently private in nature or where people are deeply divided about whether it is... Americans are plainly and persistently divided about abortion and the fiat of government cannot settle the issue as a matter of conscience or of conduct.” PeopleShouldBelieveMatterGovernmentI BelieveReligiousDecisionViewsIssuesAtheismAuthorityConsciencePositive AtheismWitnessSettlingAbortionDivided Author:Edward Kennedy
“The real transgression occurs when religion wants government to tell citizens how to live uniquely personal parts of their lives. The failure of Prohibition proves the futility of such an attempt when a majority or even a substantial minority happens to disagree. Some questions may be inherently individual ones, or people may be sharply divided about whether they are. In such cases, like Prohibition and abortion, the proper role of religion is to appeal to the conscience of the individual, not the coercive power of the state.” PeopleWantMayRealStatesGovernmentHappensIndividualRolesCasesCitizensProveConscienceMajorityAppealsAbortionMinoritiesDividedDisagreeProhibitionFutilityTransgression Author:Edward Kennedy
“In the United States Senate, one of the things I observed in the early days - and it's still used - and that is that you take someone's argument and then you misrepresent it and misstate and disagree with it. And it's very effective. I've done it myself a number of times. But eventually, eventually people catch on.” PeopleStillsStatesDoneUsedFreedomUnitedNumbersLibertyUnited StatesArgumentDisagreeSenate Author:Edward Kennedy
“Under the Bush administration, openness and accountability have been replaced by secrecy and evasion of responsibility. They abuse their power, conceal their actions from the American people, and refuse to hold officials accountable.” PeopleHas BeensActionResponsibilityAbuseRefuseAdministrationOfficialsAccountabilityOpennessReplacedSecrecyEvasion Author:Edward Kennedy
“The demand of our people in 1980 is not for smaller government or bigger government but for better government.” PeopleGovernmentDemandBiggerSmaller Government Author:Edward Kennedy
“If a legislator is safe from competition, or if he represents groups with the same economic and political beliefs, he does not have to change his ideas or respond to the needs of the broader population. He can rest content with a mediocre, absentee performance knowing he will be returned to office. And as he is returned year after year the seniority system gives him immense control over people from other parts of the country whose views he need not heed at all.” PeopleIfsNeedsGivingYearsDoeIdeasCountryPoliticalBeliefViewsKnowingGroupsEconomicSafeOfficePerformancesCompetitionPopulationImmenseMediocreHeedLegislatorsPolitical BeliefsSeniority Book:Decisions for a Decade: Policies and Programs for the 1970s Source: Decisions for a Decade: Policies and Programs for the 1970s
“Floating screw - that's what people used to call me.” PeopleUsedCall MeFloatingScrews Author:Edward Kennedy
“As we have seen from Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's example, even one justice can profoundly alter the meaning of those words for our citizens. Even one justice can deeply affect the rights and liberties of the American people.” PeopleJusticeLibertyRightsExampleCitizensSandra Day O Connor Author:Edward Kennedy
“Judges are appointed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. And it is our duty to ask questions on great issues that matter to the American people and to speak for them.” PeopleMatterAsksSpeakIssuesAdviceJudgingDutySenateConsent Author:Edward Kennedy
“My father enabled me to really believe in myself. And yet I've heard very similar stories - from many, many people. It's the way he approached his life. The way he approached his life - he was the eternal optimist. He was the most optimistic person that I've ever known. Even in the face of this diagnosis with cancer, he was filled with optimism about what he could do and what he could accomplish.” PeopleBelieveFatherOptimismCancerAccomplishOptimisticOptimist Author:Edward Kennedy
“Never listen to a phone call that isn't meant for you. Never read a letter that isn't meant for you. Never pay attention to a comment that isn't meant for you. Never violate people's privacy. You will save yourself a lot of anguish.” PeoplePayAttentionAdviceLettersPhonesPay AttentionPrivacyCommentAnguishPhone CallsSave Yourself Author:Edward Kennedy
“The AMA puts the lives and well being of the American citizens well below it's own special interest...It deserves to be ignored, rejected, and forgotten. No amount of historical gymnastics can hide the public record of AMA opposition to virtually every major health reform in the past 50 years....The AMA has turned into a propaganda organ purveying 'medical politics' for deceiving the Congress, the people, and the doctors of America themselves.” PeopleYearsWellsAgeAmericaPastInterestDarkRecordsSpecialAmountCitizensMajorsDeserveDoctorsHistoricalForgottenCongressMedicalReformWell BeingPropagandaOppositionOrgansDeceivingRejectedIgnoredDark AgesGymnasticsSpecial InterestsAmerican CitizensHealth Reform Author:Edward Kennedy
