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It is because the fight against the harshest aspects of unrestricted capitalism is therefore a political problem and not an intellectual one that community action remains so essential.

Barney Frank

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Barney Frank
Age: 84
Born: 1940
Born: March 31
Former U.S. Representative
Politician
Bayonne
New Jersey
Barnett Frank
Fighting
Capitalism
Action
Essentials
Political
Aspect
Problem
Remains
Harshest
Intellectual
Unrestricted
Therefore
Aquariums
Fight
Aspects
Community
Essential

More quotes by Barney Frank

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I had always been interested in politics. I had assumed - for two reasons, being Jewish and being gay back in the late '50s, early '60s - that I would never be elected or anything, but I would participate as an activist.
Barney Frank
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There are no moderate Republicans left, with the exception of a few who would vote with us when it doesn’t make any difference,” Frank said. “It’s the most rigid ideological party since before the Civil War. … The bumper sticker I’m going to have printed up for Democrats this year is, ‘We’re not perfect, but they’re nuts.’
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Ridicule is about the most powerful weapon possible.
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Whenever people are being intellectually dishonest in debate, it is an implicit concession they have lost the fight
Barney Frank
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And I think there is too much bloviating around from politicians.
Barney Frank
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I believe it is a good thing to get rid of Gaddafi. But does America have to do everything?
Barney Frank
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They have to convert our agenda into something aggressive. Two guys wanting to be happy together are invading their marriages. Helping a kid who's getting beaten up in school is promoting homosexuality. If you gave me a million dollars, I wouldn't know how to promote homosexuality.
Barney Frank
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Capitalism works better from every perspective when the economic decision makers are forced to share power with those who will be affected by those decisions.
Barney Frank
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I do not believe that the federal government should treat adults who choose to smoke marijuana as criminals.
Barney Frank
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Moderate Republicans are reverse Houdinis. They tie themselves up in knots and then tell you they can’t do anything because they’re tied up in knots.
Barney Frank
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The people who started the American government, the founders of the Constitution, didn't like political parties but they were forced to start them. Nobody ever created political parties in England, they evolved. And there do tend to be two general tendencies that focus around how much government you think you need.
Barney Frank
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What's troubling is that the Republicans to defend Mr. DeLay are weakening the ethics process.
Barney Frank
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There is an irony that the most active anti-gay groups are Al-Qaeda and the American Right wing.
Barney Frank
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I was still closeted, but from the day I decided to run for office, knowing that I was gay, I decided that I would, of course, still be closeted but that I would work very hard for gay rights. It would be totally dishonorable, being gay, not to do that. So I had that as kind of a secondary agenda.
Barney Frank
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I wouldn't want [gay marriage] to go to the United States Supreme Court now because that homophobe Antonin Scalia has too many votes on this current court.
Barney Frank
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I am not aware of any specific provision that mandates any tightening of lending to small business other than a requirement that people who lend and then sell that loan be prepared to take a part of the risk. And I'm proud of that.
Barney Frank
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And unless you think there is a serious chance you're going to jail, don't listen to your lawyer.
Barney Frank
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The fact that theyre a congressionally chartered group should no more incline people to give to that group than the fact that its National Pickle Month should make them eat more pickles.
Barney Frank
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A leader can`t move a country that`s not ready. You can`t make the waves, but when you see them coming, you can help direct them.
Barney Frank
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But when others suggested that the poor should not simply be the objects of these programs but also the subjects - that they should be actively involved in shaping the programs, making decisions about how to spend the money etc. - some of the previous supporters reconsidered.
Barney Frank