--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everybody complains about pork, but…" description: "\"Everybody complains about pork, but members of Congress keep spending because voters do not throw them out of office for doing so. The rotten system in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/ron-paul-686_american-people_everybody-complains-about-pork-but-membe_349206.png" --- # Everybody complains about pork, but members of Congress… ![“Everybody complains about pork, but members of Congress keep spending because voters do not throw them out of office for doing so. The rotten system in Congress will change only when the American people change their beliefs about the proper role of government in our society. Too many members of…” quote by Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/ron-paul-686_american-people_everybody-complains-about-pork-but-membe_349206.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/ron-paul-686_american-people_everybody-complains-about-pork-but-membe_349206.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/ron-paul-686_american-people_everybody-complains-about-pork-but-membe_349206.png) > “Everybody complains about pork, but members of Congress keep spending because voters do not throw them out of office for doing so. The rotten system in Congress will change only when the American people change their beliefs about the proper role of government in our society. Too many members of Congress believe they can solve all economic problems, cure all social ills, and bring about worldwide peace and prosperity simply by creating new federal programs. We must reject unlimited government and reassert the constitutional rule of law if we hope to halt the spending orgy.” [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unlimited government spending persists because voters tolerate it; change requires a cultural shift toward fiscal responsibility and constitutional limits. **In simple terms:** Government overspending continues; citizens must demand limits. Key Takeaway Advocate for limited government and fiscal restraint. Themes politics economics government fiscal responsibility constitutional law Mood concerned determined Type political motivational When to use this quote - voter education - policy advocacy - grassroots campaigning - budget reform - public debates Key Concepts libertarianism public policy budgetary discipline Questions to Reflect On - What can individuals do to shift beliefs about government role? - How can constitutional principles guide modern fiscal policy? A Different Perspective Political realities often limit immediate reforms despite public desire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Economic problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-problems/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Limited government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limited-government/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Our society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-society/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-change/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Role of government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-of-government/) [Rule of law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-of-law/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Voters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voters/) ## Related quotes > [Too many members of Congress believe they can solve all economic problems, cure all social ills, and bring about worldwide peace and prosperity simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/too-many-members-of-congress-believe-they-can-solve-all-economic/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Tom Coburn never forgot that members of Congress are spending the hard-earned money of the people back home. Even a lot of conservatives end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fund/tom-coburn-never-forgot-that-members-of-congress-are-spending-the/) [John Fund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fund/) > [I went to Congress to change the policies of our country. I did not go to change the behaviors of members of Congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-went-to-congress-to-change-the-policies-of-our-country-i-did-not-go/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [In America ... who is to stop congress from spending too much money. They will not stop themselves, that is certain. Everybody has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/in-america-who-is-to-stop-congress-from-spending-too-much-money-they/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [The Republican Party is in charge. They've been charge of the Congress and spending for 10 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaka-fattah/the-republican-party-is-in-charge-they-ve-been-charge-of-the-congress/) [Chaka Fattah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaka-fattah/) > [To say Congress is spending like drunken sailors is an insult to drunken sailors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/to-say-congress-is-spending-like-drunken-sailors-is-an-insult-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It is past time for Congress to get serious about our spending crisis and impose fiscal restraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-johnson/it-is-past-time-for-congress-to-get-serious-about-our-spending-crisis/) [Ron Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-johnson/) > [You can't have a healthy economy without sound money, which is why we're on the verge of very serious economic problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/you-can-t-have-a-healthy-economy-without-sound-money-which-is-why-we/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Once we secure our borders - and the federal government has not done a good job - then Congress, I believe, needs to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dewhurst/once-we-secure-our-borders-and-the-federal-government-has-not-done-a/) [David Dewhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dewhurst/) > [As a member of Congress, I believe Congress must provide oversight of actions by the Executive Branch as our system of checks and balances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/as-a-member-of-congress-i-believe-congress-must-provide-oversight-of/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [ They \[Democrats in Congress\] believe in communism. They believe and have called for a revolution. You're going to have to shoot them in the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/they-democrats-in-congress-believe-in-communism-they-believe-and-have/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [As a member of Congress, I believe it is the responsibility of those elected to represent the people at every level of government to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-boswell/as-a-member-of-congress-i-believe-it-is-the-responsibility-of-those/) [Leonard Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-boswell/) > [I have been with the Congress because I believe in a secular ideology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagma/i-have-been-with-the-congress-because-i-believe-in-a-secular-ideology/) [Nagma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagma/) > [Congress seems to believe that 'Children are our future' is a phrase coined by tobacco advertisers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jef-i-richards-2/congress-seems-to-believe-that-children-are-our-future-is-a-phrase/) [Jef I. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jef-i-richards-2/) > [All of us want to see the details of any legislative plan if there's going to be a legislative response, but Congress, I believe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-of-us-want-to-see-the-details-of-any-legislative-plan-if-there-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ron Paul > [Washington bureaucrats have classified the very air we exhale as a pollutant and have gone unchallenged in this incredible assertion. The logical consequence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/washington-bureaucrats-have-classified-the-very-air-we-exhale-as-a/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [I'm an imperfect messenger, but the message is perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/i-m-an-imperfect-messenger-but-the-message-is-perfect/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [History has shown that the masses have been quite receptive to the promises of authoritarians which are rarely if ever fulfilled,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/history-has-shown-that-the-masses-have-been-quite-receptive-to-the/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [The reality is that our military presence on foreign soil is as offensive to the people that live there as armed Chinese troops would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-reality-is-that-our-military-presence-on-foreign-soil-is-as/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Right now, nobody legalized paper money. Where did that come from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/right-now-nobody-legalized-paper-money-where-did-that-come-from/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Real patriotism is a willingness to challenge the government when it's wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/real-patriotism-is-a-willingness-to-challenge-the-government-when-it/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Expect the rapidly expanding homeschooling movement to play a significant role in the revolutionary reforms needed to build a free society with Constitutional protections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/expect-the-rapidly-expanding-homeschooling-movement-to-play-a/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [“Intellectually and compassionately explaining the reason freedom works is required for credibility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/intellectually-and-compassionately-explaining-the-reason-freedom/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Governments have nothing. They can't create anything, they never have. All they can do is steal from one group and give it to another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/governments-have-nothing-they-can-t-create-anything-they-never-have/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Why is it is claimed that if people won't or can't take care of their own needs, that people in government can do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/why-is-it-is-claimed-that-if-people-won-t-or-can-t-take-care-of-their/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [It is dissent from government policies which defines the true Patriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/it-is-dissent-from-government-policies-which-defines-the-true-patriot/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [The moral and constitutional obligations of our representatives in Washington are to protect our liberty, not coddle the world, precipitating no-win wars, while bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-moral-and-constitutional-obligations-of-our-representatives-in/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [I will veto any spending bill that contains funding for Planned Parenthood, facilities that perform abortion and all government family planning schemes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/i-will-veto-any-spending-bill-that-contains-funding-for-planned/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Prices are going up. Unemployment is continue to go up. And we have not had the necessary correction for the financial bubble created by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/prices-are-going-up-unemployment-is-continue-to-go-up-and-we-have-not/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Scientifically, there's no debate over whether the fetus is alive and human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/scientifically-there-s-no-debate-over-whether-the-fetus-is-alive-and/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) [Explore all 411 Ron Paul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) ## More American people quotes > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/) Victor Gold > [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. Simpson (who was acquitted by the almost all Black jury),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/when-the-american-people-saw-the-la-riots-and-crowds-of-blacks/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [In any event, it is one thing to assert, then or now, that the Iraq war was ill-advised. It is quite another to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-silberman/in-any-event-it-is-one-thing-to-assert-then-or-now-that-the-iraq-war/) [Laurence Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-silberman/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. 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Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-hayworth/) > [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The American people are incredibly generous and even playful when you open yourself up and feed the media beast until it goes away satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-american-people-are-incredibly-generous-and-even-playful-when-you/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) [Browse all 2,233 American people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everybody complains about pork, but members of Congress keep spending because voters do not throw them out of office for doing so. 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