In the final analysis it doesn't really matter what the political system is...We don't need perfect political systems; we need perfect participation.
Interpretation
Participation in a political system is more important than the system itself.
Cesar Chavez emphasizes that the effectiveness of any political system relies more on the active engagement and participation of its citizens than on the system's theoretical perfection. He encourages people to focus on fostering meaningful involvement rather than getting caught up in the intricacies of the political structure.
In practice
Use this quote during a civic engagement workshop to encourage community involvement.
I became a vegetarian after realizing that animals feel afraid, cold, hungry and unhappy like we do. I feel very deeply about vegetarianism and the animal kingdom. It was my dog Boycott who led me to question the right of humans to eat other sentient beings.
I think one of the great, great problems...is confusing people to the point where they become immobile. In fact, the more things people can find out for themselves, the more vigor the organization is going to have.
There is enough love and good will in our movement to give energy to our struggle and still have plenty left over to break down and change the climate of hate and fear around us.
Our union represents a breaking away...represents sharing a power, represent questioning, represents a new force...however long it takes, we are geared for a struggle.
Every time we sit at a table at night or in the morning to enjoy the fruits and grain and vegetables from our good earth, remember that they come from the work of men and women and children who have been exploited for generations.
I am convinced that the truest act of courage, the strongest act of manliness, is to sacrifice ourselves for others in a totally nonviolent struggle for justice. To be a man is to suffer for others. God help us to be men!
Government isn't there just to administer life support to failing markets. Without the government, many of those markets would not even exist.
A constitution that is made for all nations is made for none.
In a democracy, citizens pass judgment on their government, and if they are kept in the dark about what their government is doing, they cannot be in a position to make well-grounded decisions.
Virtually all informed observers agree that a fair and equitable resolution of the plight of the Palestinians would considerably weaken the anger and hatred of Israel and the US in the Arab and Muslim worlds - and far beyond, as international polls reveal. Such an agreement is surely within reach, if the US and Israel depart from their long-standing rejectionism.
The rule of law should be respected so that the basic structure of our democracy is maintained and further strengthened.
The authority of the Supreme Court must not be permitted to control the Congress or the Executive when acting in their legislative capacities, but to have only such influence as the force of their reasoning may deserve.
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