Who Said This:

"We say we have public opinion in America. We have none. We only think second hand. How many of us are there to-day who know whether it is better for the country to have a tariff or free trade? The only opinions most of us have on this subject are the opinions derived second hand from certain men who seek to influence us to their way of thinking, and their way of thinking is generally in a direction that will subserve their own private ends or the ends of the party which they represent. So, you see, we have no citizenship, and our so-called patriotism is a patriotism that is employed for the benefit of political parties and is made a party cry."

But let's see if people want to play or let this sink before giving the answer...

time bound to an American before 1900 when tariff or free trade was the discussion of the day.

So one is limited to Twain, or Paine!

:-)

... but the politicians have been mum on "tarrifs" since Smoot-Hawley, that's fer sure.

Maybe durham wheat and soft lumber?
I'd say they're very much alive today, and actually piss off the paleocons!
And Maha, be quiet!

I had to edit my subject line, cause I keep moving down the list and it appears I'm with whatever post I'm underneath.

So it would have to be Rogers, Twain, or maybe even Paine.

quote--figured he'd get some humor in there. This quote is cut and dry.

The more I read the quote, the more it sounds like Bill. The party statement was the closer.

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also

Yet to-day in the public schools we teach our children to salute the flag, and this is our idea of instilling in them patriotism. And this so-called patriotism we mistake for citizenship; but if there is a stain on that flag it ought not to be honored, even if it is our flag. The true citizenship is to protect the flag from dishonor -- to make it the emblem of a nation that is known to all nations as true and honest and honorable. And we should forever forget that old phrase -- 'My country, right or wrong, my country!'

What a polemicist!

Sounds like Ike, too.

What the hell...

(supposedly)
Sounds like a good, anti-social, individualist political standing (obviously a very intelligent man). ;) hee hee

nt

Most of you got it, but Rad_Mod, with his 7th post (!) even got the source!
Thanks to Maha for keeping her yap shut during this poll... she was the inspiration for this poll with her blog post today. There are some more pertinent Twain quotes on patriotism, and some good links to Twain sites at Maha. You can visit her here:
http://www.mahablog.com/
(Fair warning: if you're traveling at 56k, she's graphics heavy!)

Thanks to all for participating!

Fun to play. It made me do some thinking.

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http://www.mahablog.com/2003.10.19_arch.html#1066661841412

Otherwise you have to scroll through all the dreadfully boring stuff I've written since then. :-)