[T]he reigns of good princes have been always most dangerous to the liberties of their people. For when their successors managing the government with different thoughts would draw the actions of those good rulers into precedent, and make them the standard of their prerogative, as if what had been done only for the good of the people was a right in them to do for the harm of the people, if they so pleased.
LOCKE, JOHN, Two Treatises of Government, Book II, Chapter XIVAll this seems to show that change of ministers amounts to nothing. One goes out, another comes in, and still the same measures, vices, and extravagance are pursued. It signifies not who is minister. The defect lies in the system.
PAINE, THOMAS, The Rights of Man, Volume III’m not crazy for state regulation...but leaving such power to the states allows more diversity and even experimentation with legalizing some activities that current national hysteria prohibits at the federal level.
SLAGLE, TIM, Liberty, September 2001