Abuse Quote by Calvin Coolidge
“There are always those who are willing to surrender local self-government and turn over their affairs to some national authority in exchange for a payment of money out of the Federal Treasury. Whenever they find some abuse needs correction in their neighborhood, instead of applying the remedy themselves they seek to have a tribunal sent on from Washington to discharge their duties for them, regardless of the fact that in accepting such supervision they are bartering away their freedom.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks at the Republican National Convention, 1924
People trade local autonomy for federal aid, losing freedom when they let distant authorities solve community problems.
In simple terms: Giving up local control for money costs freedom.
Key Takeaway
Preserve local decision‑making.
Themes
government
freedom
centralization
citizen responsibility
taxation
Mood
concerned
reflective
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- neighborhood disputes
- tax policy debates
- community organizing
- local elections
Key Concepts
federalism
subsidiarity
public choice
Questions to Reflect On
- How can communities address issues without external intervention?
- What safeguards protect local autonomy?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on distant tribunals can create dependency and erode civic engagement.
![“...[We] must stop these swarms of Jews who are trading, bartering and robbing.” quote by William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/168/william-tecumseh-sherman-7374_bartering_we-must-stop-these-swarms-of-jews-who-ar_956179.jpg)
