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I believe democracy requires a ‘sacred contract’ between journalists and those who put their trust in us to tell them what we can about how the world really works.

Bill Moyers

The struggle of ordinary people for a decent living, for security, is as old as the republic, but it’s taken on a new and urgent edge. Instead of shared prosperity our political system has now produced a winner-take-all economy.
BILL MOYERS

People Struggle Taken
Lyndon Johnson believed the poor deserved a better life than the economy was providing them. He thought private power and greed had to be checked by a vibrant democracy.
BILL MOYERS

Democracy Economy Greed
In uniform patriotism can salute one flag only, embrace but the first circle of life – one’s own land and tribe. In war that is necessary, in peace it is not enough.
BILL MOYERS

Circles Enough Land Tribe War
I take “We, the People” seriously because I don’t know how we build a civilization without reciprocity.
BILL MOYERS

Civilization People Reciprocity
He even jeopardized his pledge to preserve women’s rights under Roe v. Wade in order to get a health care bill written by the corporate lapdog Max Baucus and the gang of revolving door mercenaries he hired to write a bill friendly to industry.
BILL MOYERS

Corporate Health Mercenaries Revolving Under Women
News is what people want to keep hidden and everything else is publicity.
BILL MOYERS

News People Want
Secrecy is the freedom tyrants dream of.
BILL MOYERS

Dream Freedom Tyrants
We now know that a neo-conservative is an arsonist who sets the house on fire and six years later boasts that no one can put it out.
BILL MOYERS

Fire House Years
The quality of democracy and the quality of journalism are deeply entwined.
BILL MOYERS

Democracy Media Quality
Unless you’re willing to fight and refight the same battles until you go blue in the face, drive the people you work with nuts going over every detail to make certain you’ve got it right, and then take hit after unfair hit accusing you of bias, there’s no use even trying.
BILL MOYERS

Blue Fighting Nuts
Charity provides crumbs from the table; justice offers a place at the table.
BILL MOYERS

Charity Justice Tables
Plutocracy too long tolerated leaves democracy on the auction block, subject to the highest bidder.
BILL MOYERS

Block Democracy Long
I’ll believe corporations are people when Texas executes one
BILL MOYERS

Believe Country People
What’s right and good doesn’t come naturally. You have to stand up and fight for it – as if the cause depends on you, because it does.
BILL MOYERS

Causes Doe Fighting
Hyperbole was to Lyndon Johnson what oxygen is to life.
BILL MOYERS

Country Hyperbole Johnson Oxygen
It’s the people who are doing the nonviolent organizing at the grassroots that make me think there’s still hope.
BILL MOYERS

Grassroots People Thinking

I believe democracy requires a ‘sacred contract’ between journalists and those who put their trust in us to tell them what we can about how the world really works.

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I believe democracy requires a ‘sacred contract’ between journalists and those who put their trust in us to tell them what we can about how the world really works.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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