--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we think that we can somehow gain…" description: "\"If we think that we can somehow gain control of the US government, bring it under popular, enlightened progressive control, preserve a habitable climat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb5/david-swanson-29886_absolutes_if-we-think-that-we-can-somehow-gain-con_1828394.jpg" --- # If we think that we can somehow gain control of the US… ![“If we think that we can somehow gain control of the US government, bring it under popular, enlightened progressive control, preserve a habitable climate, and rein in the dangers of nuclear and other warfare, then we should. However, if we think it's more likely that California can achieve those…” quote by David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb5/david-swanson-29886_absolutes_if-we-think-that-we-can-somehow-gain-con_1828394.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb5/david-swanson-29886_absolutes_if-we-think-that-we-can-somehow-gain-con_1828394.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb5/david-swanson-29886_absolutes_if-we-think-that-we-can-somehow-gain-con_1828394.jpg) > “If we think that we can somehow gain control of the US government, bring it under popular, enlightened progressive control, preserve a habitable climate, and rein in the dangers of nuclear and other warfare, then we should. However, if we think it's more likely that California can achieve those goals by secession, then we should go down that path. There's no question. It's an absolute moral imperative.” [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that secession is the only viable moral solution to achieve progressive climate and peace goals, claiming other methods are ineffective. **In simple terms:** Secession is presented as the moral imperative for progressive change. Key Takeaway Consider secession as a strategic option. Themes politics ethics climate peace secession Mood determined urgent Type political strategic When to use this quote - national policy debates - environmental activism - peace negotiations - regional independence movements Key Concepts sovereignty moral imperative strategic calculus Questions to Reflect On - Is secession truly the most effective path? - What alternatives could achieve similar goals? A Different Perspective The argument assumes secession is feasible and universally supported, which may not be realistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [California](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/california/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Control Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-government/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened/) [Gains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gains/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals Secession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals-secession-2252648/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Imperatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperatives/) [Likely California](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likely-california-2252650/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Preserves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preserves/) [Progressive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progressive/) [Reins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reins/) [Secession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secession/) [Secession Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secession-path-2252649/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Warfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warfare/) ## Related quotes > [I can't say with certainty that slavery would have ended more quickly and more completely if the South had been allowed to leave and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/i-can-t-say-with-certainty-that-slavery-would-have-ended-more-quickly/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [The class which has the power to rob upon a large scale has also the power to control the government and legalize their robbery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/the-class-which-has-the-power-to-rob-upon-a-large-scale-has-also-the/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [The mischievous idea that all public needs should be satisfied by compulsory organization and that all the means that individuals are willing to devote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/the-mischievous-idea-that-all-public-needs-should-be-satisfied-by/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [We...are not really free if we can't control our own government and its policies. 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Ruwart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-ruwart/) > [ \[D\]ecade after decade, through taxes and regulations, governments at all levels took ever-increasing control over people's lives, wealth, and property. The control grew exponentially,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-g-hornberger/d-ecade-after-decade-through-taxes-and-regulations-governments-at-all/) [Jacob G. Hornberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-g-hornberger/) > [ This \[2016\] is not simply another four-year election. This is a crossroads in the history of our civilization that will determine whether or not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/this-2016-is-not-simply-another-four-year-election-this-is-a/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [People everywhere face the threat of control by government and technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/people-everywhere-face-the-threat-of-control-by-government-and/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [it is the people who control the Government, not the Government the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-people-who-control-the-government-not-the-government-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As long as we cling to the superstition that we must look to government for money supply, instead of requiring it to look to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-c-riegel/as-long-as-we-cling-to-the-superstition-that-we-must-look-to/) [E.C. Riegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-c-riegel/) > [“If men were angels, no government would be necessary…In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-men-were-angels-no-government-would-be-necessary-in-framing-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let's say there are 500 sons and daughters like you in each state. Then we could control the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-myung-moon/let-s-say-there-are-500-sons-and-daughters-like-you-in-each-state/) [Sun Myung Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-myung-moon/) > [“It’s almost as if Congress has no idea that a giant occult power struggle for control of the US government is in progress … or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/it-s-almost-as-if-congress-has-no-idea-that-a-giant-occult-power/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [The budget doesn't have much control over the government. Then again, the government doesn't have much control over the budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-budget-doesn-t-have-much-control-over-the-government-then-again/) [P. J. 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