John Stossel Quotes - Page 3

Central authority is bad. The bias should be for freedom. And without a central authority, there are lots of little authorities, and we learn which ones to trust.

Saying that government is not the way to solve problems is not saying that humanity cannot solve its problems. What I've finally learned is this: Despite the obstacles created by governments, voluntary networks of private individuals - through voluntary exchange - solve all sorts of challenges.

The smaller the government, the less the need to manipulate politicians.

Most people are oblivious to F.A. Hayek's insight that the critical information needed to run an economy - or even 15 percent of one - doesn't exist in any one place where it is accessible to central planners. Instead, it is scattered piecemeal among millions of people. All those people put together are far wiser and better informed than Congress could ever be. Only markets - private property, free exchange and the price system - can put this knowledge at the disposal of entrepreneurs and consumers, ensuring the system will serve the people and not just the political class.

The happiest stutterers, I learned, are those who are willing to stutter in front of others.

Give me a break - They say taxes are inevitable, like death. At least death doesn't come every year.

We have all kinds of government compensation systems that are much more efficient than the lawyers.

I never wanted to be an anchor for 25 years, and suddenly I wanted to be one.

I had to watch government fail for 25 years doing consumer reporting before I really saw it because intuitively, the reaction is problem, bring government and government will make it better.

Competition leads both drug companies and private regulators to be trustworthy. If they are not trustworthy, they die.

The politicians should not tell the people to shut up.

Prosperity comes from leaving people free in a legal system that respects their persons and property so they can pursue their dreams while taking responsibility for their actions.

No transaction happens unless it is voluntary. It only happens if both of you think you win.

Wealthier is healthier.

The one thing I've learned is that stuttering in public is never as bad as I fear it will be.

I was bullied as a kid, and I got a job on television. And I had a camera. And so I wanted to go after those business bullies. And I just have been following that instinct.

Government has no money of its own. All it does is take resources from one group and given them to another.

I'm a libertarian. It's a terrible word.

What I've learned in 40 years of consumer reporting is that the market is imperfect, and some people get ripped off.

I saw how the regulation I called for made things worse, didn't help consumers and simple competition was better. And I started praising business and occasionally criticizing regulation.

Freedom works, and government, when it grows beyond the barest minimum, keeps people poor.

Why, in our "free" country, do Americans meekly stand aside and let the state limit our choices, even when we are dying?

Isn't allowing people a choice what America is all about?

I like taking the subway to work.

Take away the government's monopoly, and private groups will do it better.