--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm witnessing the problems that the…" description: "\"I'm witnessing the problems that the federal government is passing down in terms of drones, in violation of our civil liberties, spying on our citizens..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/130/matt-rosendale-8096_civil-liberties_i-m-witnessing-the-problems-that-the-fed_2585888.jpg" --- # I'm witnessing the problems that the federal government is… ![“I'm witnessing the problems that the federal government is passing down in terms of drones, in violation of our civil liberties, spying on our citizens, death panels in the form of the government taking over the health care system and the national debt they're just saddling our grandchildren with.” quote by Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/130/matt-rosendale-8096_civil-liberties_i-m-witnessing-the-problems-that-the-fed_2585888.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/130/matt-rosendale-8096_civil-liberties_i-m-witnessing-the-problems-that-the-fed_2585888.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/130/matt-rosendale-8096_civil-liberties_i-m-witnessing-the-problems-that-the-fed_2585888.jpg) > “I'm witnessing the problems that the federal government is passing down in terms of drones, in violation of our civil liberties, spying on our citizens, death panels in the form of the government taking over the health care system and the national debt they're just saddling our grandchildren with.” [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques government overreach in surveillance, health policy, and debt, claiming it harms civil liberties and burdens future generations. **In simple terms:** Government actions threaten freedoms and future generations. Key Takeaway Demand transparency and accountability. Themes government civil liberties health policy debt future generations Mood critical concerned Type political activist When to use this quote - voting - activism - policy advocacy - public discourse Key Concepts surveillance policy overreach intergenerational equity Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens effectively influence policy? - What safeguards protect civil liberties? A Different Perspective Complex issues require nuanced solutions beyond blame. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil liberties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-liberties/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Federal government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federal-government/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [Health care system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care-system/) [National debt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-debt/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems/) ## Related quotes > [My effectiveness is best placed in solving problems through federal solutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-nethercutt/my-effectiveness-is-best-placed-in-solving-problems-through-federal/) [George Nethercutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-nethercutt/) > [Unfortunately, bureaucratic problems at the federal level are causing many other small Washington companies to be denied federal funding that would help transfer their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-inslee/unfortunately-bureaucratic-problems-at-the-federal-level-are-causing/) [Jay Inslee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-inslee/) > [ \[Several candidates talked of problems with the federal Medicare system, particularly concerns about whether it would cover prescription drug costs in the future.\] We're… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/several-candidates-talked-of-problems-with-the-federal-medicare/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [One of the major problems with Obamacare - and another reason it needs to be entirely repealed - is that it prevents Montanans from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/one-of-the-major-problems-with-obamacare-and-another-reason-it-needs/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [The case decided on Thursday, though, seemed promising to takings fans because it wasn't about compensation. It was about the requirement that any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/the-case-decided-on-thursday-though-seemed-promising-to-takings-fans/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [No government has ever been beneficent when the attitude of government was that it was taking care of the people. The only freedom consists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/no-government-has-ever-been-beneficent-when-the-attitude-of/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [More and more people are becoming aware that government has nothing to give them without first taking it away from somebody else-or from themselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/more-and-more-people-are-becoming-aware-that-government-has-nothing/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [“Imagine, representatives of our own government taking the side of a foreign country over the interest of American citizen. If it ever gets to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-w-johnstone/imagine-representatives-of-our-own-government-taking-the-side-of-a/) [William W. Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-w-johnstone/) > [I've always considered the government taking one out of every two dollars I earn absolute tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-van-zandt/i-ve-always-considered-the-government-taking-one-out-of-every-two/) [Steven Van Zandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-van-zandt/) > [Obama actually believes that as small business grows, the government should be taking more and more from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/obama-actually-believes-that-as-small-business-grows-the-government/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [That is the crux of modern conservatism - government taking strong measures to foster the attitudes and aptitudes necessary for increased individual independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/that-is-the-crux-of-modern-conservatism-government-taking-strong/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [I thought I was benefiting the Indians as well as the government, by taking them all over the United States, and giving them a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buffalo-bill/i-thought-i-was-benefiting-the-indians-as-well-as-the-government-by/) [Buffalo Bill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buffalo-bill/) > [I didn't defraud the government by taking money that was not mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-snipes/i-didn-t-defraud-the-government-by-taking-money-that-was-not-mine/) [Wesley Snipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-snipes/) > [At times it felt as if no one in Government was taking ownership of how COVID-19 directives would be perceived, interpreted and understood on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pritam-singh/at-times-it-felt-as-if-no-one-in-government-was-taking-ownership-of/) [Pritam Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pritam-singh/) > [I'm saying the federal government is taking away the freedom of Americans to make choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lepage/i-m-saying-the-federal-government-is-taking-away-the-freedom-of/) [Paul LePage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lepage/) ## More by Matt Rosendale > [You are innocent until proven guilty. And if folks have come forward, whether it is judge Roy Moore or whether it is anyone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/you-are-innocent-until-proven-guilty-and-if-folks-have-come-forward/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [What's good for America is great for Montana.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/what-s-good-for-america-is-great-for-montana/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [Health insurance costs in the United States are on an unsustainable path. I've heard from hundreds of Montanans who are paying thousands of dollars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/health-insurance-costs-in-the-united-states-are-on-an-unsustainable/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [People understand that they can spend their money better than the government can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/people-understand-that-they-can-spend-their-money-better-than-the/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [Though I had been born in Maryland, Montana was where I truly belonged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/though-i-had-been-born-in-maryland-montana-was-where-i-truly-belonged/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [When you look at all of the problems that are streaming and flowing over that border, the first thing we have to do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/when-you-look-at-all-of-the-problems-that-are-streaming-and-flowing/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [If we allow responsible management of our forests and end the nonsense litigation from radical environmental groups, we can get our timber mills up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/if-we-allow-responsible-management-of-our-forests-and-end-the/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [What I am is a principled conservative individual who believes in fiscal responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/what-i-am-is-a-principled-conservative-individual-who-believes-in/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [Jon Tester had a chance to stop sanctuary cities, but he voted with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/jon-tester-had-a-chance-to-stop-sanctuary-cities-but-he-voted-with/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [If you flatten out the tax rates... and you start eliminating the different write-offs that are allowed to take place there, you make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/if-you-flatten-out-the-tax-rates-and-you-start-eliminating-the/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [Jon Tester has been a loyal, loyal, reliable vote for Chuck Schumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/jon-tester-has-been-a-loyal-loyal-reliable-vote-for-chuck-schumer/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [With regards to the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act, I believe it lacks a balanced approach. It designates 79,000 acres as new wilderness while only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/with-regards-to-the-blackfoot-clearwater-stewardship-act-i-believe-it/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [Not using fly ash in our highways would just be a plain waste of taxpayers' money, which I find unacceptable. Most people don't realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/not-using-fly-ash-in-our-highways-would-just-be-a-plain-waste-of/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [The one thing that our nation is truly responsible for is securing the nation, make sure the citizens are safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/the-one-thing-that-our-nation-is-truly-responsible-for-is-securing/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [Spying on our citizens? That's just wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/spying-on-our-citizens-that-s-just-wrong/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) [Explore all 84 Matt Rosendale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) ## More Civil liberties quotes > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Using a broad brushstroke, I think Libertarian - most of America are socially accepting and fiscally responsible. I'm in that category. I think, broadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/using-a-broad-brushstroke-i-think-libertarian-most-of-america-are/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [As long as I have any choice in the matter, I shall live only in a country where civil liberty, tolerance and equality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/as-long-as-i-have-any-choice-in-the-matter-i-shall-live-only-in-a/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [It is aspiring tyrants who say that 'civil liberties end when an attack on our safety begins.' Conversely, leaders who wish to preserve the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/it-is-aspiring-tyrants-who-say-that-civil-liberties-end-when-an/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Since I became chairman, I've tried to turn EFF into civil liberties and responsibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/since-i-became-chairman-i-ve-tried-to-turn-eff-into-civil-liberties/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [For the hundreds of thousands of Californians in gay and lesbian households who are managing their day-to-day lives, this decision affirms the full legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/for-the-hundreds-of-thousands-of-californians-in-gay-and-lesbian/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [“It's almost hard to imagine anything more undemocratic than the view that political officials should not debate American wars in public, but only express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/it-s-almost-hard-to-imagine-anything-more-undemocratic-than-the-view/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Critics have stepped up their attacks on the President for authorizing the National Security Agency to listen to international communications of known al Qaeda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/critics-have-stepped-up-their-attacks-on-the-president-for/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [I was on the state board of directors of the American Civil Liberties Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-hill/i-was-on-the-state-board-of-directors-of-the-american-civil-liberties/) [Betty Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-hill/) > [George W. Bush and his administration embarked on a full-scale assault on civil liberties, human rights and the rule of law, walking away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/george-w-bush-and-his-administration-embarked-on-a-full-scale-assault/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [I have very real concerns about the civil liberties implications of ultimately requiring every resident to submit themselves for compulsory fingerprinting or some other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-hewitt/i-have-very-real-concerns-about-the-civil-liberties-implications-of/) [Patricia Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-hewitt/) > [I think when people talk about civil liberties, they sometimes forget that action taken to protect the citizen against physical violence and physical attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-howard/i-think-when-people-talk-about-civil-liberties-they-sometimes-forget/) [John Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-howard/) > [“Fugitive Peace (Sonnet 2219) In the opera of war, peace is fugitive - thinking soldiers are no good to state, either you kill without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fugitive-peace-sonnet-2219-in-the-opera-of-war-peace-is-fugitive/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [It is no response to assert that the Patriot Act has been useful; what you need to explain is how any particular safeguard would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-sanchez/it-is-no-response-to-assert-that-the-patriot-act-has-been-useful-what/) [Julian Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-sanchez/) > [Funny, for all surveillance, Osama bin Laden is still free—and we're not. Guess who's winning the "war on terror?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/funny-for-all-surveillance-osama-bin-laden-is-still-free-and-we-re/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) [Browse all 325 Civil liberties quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-liberties/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm witnessing the problems that the federal government is passing down in terms of drones, in violation of our civil liberties, spying on our citizens, death panels in the form of the government taking over the health care system and the national debt they're just saddling our grandchildren with.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matt Rosendale" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/i-m-witnessing-the-problems-that-the-federal-government-is-passing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Civil liberties" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/i-m-witnessing-the-problems-that-the-federal-government-is-passing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/130/matt-rosendale-8096_civil-liberties_i-m-witnessing-the-problems-that-the-fed_2585888.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/130/matt-rosendale-8096_civil-liberties_i-m-witnessing-the-problems-that-the-fed_2585888.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/130/matt-rosendale-8096_civil-liberties_i-m-witnessing-the-problems-that-the-fed_2585888.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm witnessing the problems that the federal government is passing down in terms of drones, in violation of…” — Matt Rosendale", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Matt Rosendale", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm witnessing the problems that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/i-m-witnessing-the-problems-that-the-federal-government-is-passing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/i-m-witnessing-the-problems-that-the-federal-government-is-passing/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```