--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the American people said, look…" description: "\"I think the American people said, look, you know, we can't control what every government does to its people, but we shouldn't be aiding and assisting a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/400/tom-harkin-19587_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-said-look-yo_2207934.jpg" --- # I think the American people said, look, you know, we can't… ![“I think the American people said, look, you know, we can't control what every government does to its people, but we shouldn't be aiding and assisting a government in having these kinds of repressive prisons. It added to the public outcry against our involvement in Vietnam.” quote by Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/400/tom-harkin-19587_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-said-look-yo_2207934.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/400/tom-harkin-19587_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-said-look-yo_2207934.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/400/tom-harkin-19587_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-said-look-yo_2207934.jpg) > “I think the American people said, look, you know, we can't control what every government does to its people, but we shouldn't be aiding and assisting a government in having these kinds of repressive prisons. It added to the public outcry against our involvement in Vietnam.” [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Supporting oppressive regimes, moral responsibility; aid can enable human rights abuses. **In simple terms:** Aid can empower oppression. Key Takeaway Avoid aiding repressive governments. Themes ethics human rights political responsibility Mood concerned thoughtful Type political ethical When to use this quote - international aid - military assistance - NGO funding - diplomatic negotiations Key Concepts moral philosophy foreign policy Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance strategic interests with human rights? - What alternatives exist to direct aid? A Different Perspective Complex geopolitics may limit options. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Control Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-government/) [Involvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involvement/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Shouldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-shouldn/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Public Outcry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-outcry-1008808/) [Repressive Prisons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repressive-prisons-4876523/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [A public outcry usually masks a private obsession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/a-public-outcry-usually-masks-a-private-obsession/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [The photos were taken by African Union soldiers. People in Congress saw them. I thought if people could see them, there would be public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/the-photos-were-taken-by-african-union-soldiers-people-in-congress/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [I think only a massive public outcry would result in my receiving any measure of justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/i-think-only-a-massive-public-outcry-would-result-in-my-receiving-any/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [“There should be a public outcry about what happened to me and other women in the name of our government! But history has shown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-chamberlain/there-should-be-a-public-outcry-about-what-happened-to-me-and-other/) [Diane Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-chamberlain/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Money power means budget power and it is folly to imagine that the citizen can control government unless he can control its budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-c-riegel/money-power-means-budget-power-and-it-is-folly-to-imagine-that-the/) [E.C. Riegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-c-riegel/) > [“As long as government has the power to regulate business, business will control government by funding the candidate that legislates in their favor. 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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’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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Tom Harkin > [The Gulf War was like teenage sex. We got in too soon and out too soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/the-gulf-war-was-like-teenage-sex-we-got-in-too-soon-and-out-too-soon/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [The President must stop gambling with taxpayers' money and get the country back on the path of fiscal sanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/the-president-must-stop-gambling-with-taxpayers-money-and-get-the/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [I've always been for immigration reform; in 2007 I just didn't feel it had enough protections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/i-ve-always-been-for-immigration-reform-in-2007-i-just-didn-t-feel-it/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [The burning issue of our time is the growing inequality in income and wealth in our country, and it's got to be addressed. We've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/the-burning-issue-of-our-time-is-the-growing-inequality-in-income-and/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [ You \[the Gallaudet students\] have brought the deaf community together… You are my heroes. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/you-the-gallaudet-students-have-brought-the-deaf-community-together/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [Today, only two groups in the United States have total immunity from lawsuits: foreign diplomats and HMOs. We believe it's time to end diplomatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/today-only-two-groups-in-the-united-states-have-total-immunity-from/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [The planes were hijacked, the buildings fell, and thousands of lives were lost nearly a thousand miles from here. But the attacks on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/the-planes-were-hijacked-the-buildings-fell-and-thousands-of-lives/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [I am a Democrat and I love my party and I want them to have good policies and good candidates, so I hope to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/i-am-a-democrat-and-i-love-my-party-and-i-want-them-to-have-good/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [If we are serious about combating the childhood obesity epidemic and improving child nutrition, then everyone must chip in -- parents, schools, and yes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/if-we-are-serious-about-combating-the-childhood-obesity-epidemic-and/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [There is no such thing as a pro-nuclear environmentalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-pro-nuclear-environmentalist/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [It's been years, but I still say that I went out with the same progressive values and liberal ideals that I went in with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/it-s-been-years-but-i-still-say-that-i-went-out-with-the-same/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [Stem cell research holds enormous promise for easing human suffering, and federal support is critical to its success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/stem-cell-research-holds-enormous-promise-for-easing-human-suffering/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [When you dig down, people are pretty progressive, by and large. I guess, I've said it many times - that a lot of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/when-you-dig-down-people-are-pretty-progressive-by-and-large-i-guess/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [There's no one silver bullet, but money really is the root of all evil. The single biggest problem is how much more money is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/there-s-no-one-silver-bullet-but-money-really-is-the-root-of-all-evil/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [I fully support President Bush's decision to strike Al Qaeda's terrorist network. Now more than ever, we must stand united as a nation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/i-fully-support-president-bush-s-decision-to-strike-al-qaeda-s/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) [Explore all 32 Tom Harkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [If a financial institution has business operations in the United States, hires people in the United States, if they are clogged with illiquid assets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-a-financial-institution-has-business-operations-in-the-united/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [The American people demand results, not rhetoric, especially when it comes to national security issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-hayworth/the-american-people-demand-results-not-rhetoric-especially-when-it/) [J. 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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": "I think the American people said, look, you know, we can't control what every government does to its people, but we shouldn't be aiding and assisting a government in having these kinds of repressive prisons. 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