Pierre Trudeau Quote

“As against the "invisible hand" of Adam Smith, there has to be a visible hand of politicians whose objective is to have the kind of society that is caring and humane.”

~ Pierre Trudeau

Memoirs (1993), Part 3, 1974 - 1979 Victory And Defeat, p. 190

Ratings and Comments


J Carlton, Calgary

This from a Nazi sympathizer and anti-semite. Like all politicians who want to "seem" like they are working for the people...Trudeau wanted people to think he actuually cared. He didn't...and no politician can legislate or "mandate" morality, ethics or altruism. That comes from a flourishing and spiritually sound society, not a control freak.

Mike, Norwalk

Carlton, you may have candy coated that one a bit ;-) I like it. The "Invisible Hand" by Smith did address politicians and others that vain claimed a mandated objective to implement a caring and humane society. The occupying statist theocracy infesting this land also claims the same in its destruction of prosperity, justice, freedom and liberty. A society that is caring and humane is an object of RELIGION, NOT ! ! ! government.

jim k, Austin, Tx

A visible hand of caring and humane politicians is a contradiction in terms. It should read a visible bunch of politicians whose objective is to enrich themselves by stealing from the people and to get reelected and stay in office forever.

E Archer, NYC

Before anyone starts with the bashing of liberals here, there are plenty of 'conservatives' who also believe they know better and that the common man is an uncaring brute.

Freedom lovers are well aware that there are people in this world whose ambitions are to forcibly impose the ordering of society to their own will. They justify their enforcement as for the betterment of society, that it is "caring and humane" according to their own values, which they view as paramount. Ego-maniacal power-trippers are the extreme and they wield their power with the full support of the 'law' as they have written it. They cut down a forest to plant a garden, they have all the wild animals penned up and domesticated, they write laws imposing the neutering of whatever genealogical line they wish to control -- animals, pets, slaves, and adversaries. All this for the common good. Even when they are dropping their bombs, they are doing it for our own good. Whenever we hear people in seats of power justifying their control and theft as being caring and humane, you can bet they are taking something from you because they believe that you are NOT caring and humane enough to choose for yourselves. Wild mustangs are rounded up, and shipped off to be sold -- why? Because it is the most 'humane' thing they can do for them, they say. Life is rough in the wild, they say, and in captivity animals live longer and are put to 'productive' use. The same psychological leap is used to justify the subservience of the people to their 'leaders.' Thus, the invisible hand is stomped by a visible boot.

Matthew, People's Republic of California

That "visible hand" of the parasites (politicians) is to beat the freedom out of you, that way you have more time to meditate on your love of Big Brother.

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