In Praise of Public Life: on Principles & Values


Personal faith is his basis for public service

[My faith] gave me clear answers to life’s most difficult questions. The summary of our aspirations was in the Hebrew phrase tikkun olam, which is translated “to improve the world” or “to complete God’s Creation.” It presumes the inherent but unfulfilled goodness of people and requires action for the benefit of the community. These beliefs were a powerful force in my upbringing and seem even more profound and true to me today. The ideal of service [is] fundamental to my religious faith.
Source: Excerpt from “In Praise of Public Life”, p. 24-5 & p. 30 May 2, 2000

Good laws protect us from private interests & profit

My consumer and environmental protection enforcement work [as Connecticut Attorney General] reinforced that people need the protection of good laws or they will be cheated, polluted, and otherwise taken advantage of by those who have more interest in profit or convenience than in doing what is fair & just. There is a relevant insight from the Talmud: “As with fishes, the one that is larger swallows the others. Were it not for the fear of government, everyone greater than his fellow would swallow him.
Source: Excerpt from “In Praise of Public Life”, p. 70 May 2, 2000

Legislating has become campaigning; wrong focus

The problem in Congress today is that campaigns never end. Legislating has become campaigning by another name, which often means not much legislating gets done. Elected officials at the federal level regularly position themselves for the next campaign. They focus too much on raising the vast sums of money needed for expensive television advertising, and worry too often about the ramifications of a single vote they cast, for fear that it will come back to haunt them in the next election.
Source: Excerpt from “In Praise of Public Life”, p.124-5 May 2, 2000

  • The above quotations are from In Praise of Public Life, by Joe Lieberman.
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Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
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Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
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Robert Steele(L-NY)
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Page last updated: Feb 21, 2019