It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their own selfish purposes.

Too often government responds to the whispers of lobbyists before the cries of the people.

The goal to strive for is a poor government but a rich people.

The duty of government is to leave commerce to its own capital and credit as well as all other branches of business, protecting all in their legal pursuits, granting exclusive privileges to none.

The mischief springs from the power which the monied interest derives from a paper currency which they are able to control, from the multitude of corporations with exclusive privileges which they have succeeded in obtaining...and unless you become more watchful in your states and check this spirit of monopoly and thirst for exclusive privileges you will in the end find that the most important powers of government have been given or bartered away….- Andrew Jackson, Farewell Address, 1837

I always felt too young and selfish to have children of my own.