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About this quote

What does it mean?
Hoover urges the public to uphold principles of local responsibility and self-help rather than adopting what he views as a disastrous centralization system.
In plain terms
Keep local responsibility and self-help; avoid big government systems.
What can you take from it?
Local responsibility and self-help preserve core principles.

Where it applies

  • policy debates
  • political campaigning
  • community organizing

Putting it to work

  • support local initiatives
  • value self-reliance
  • protect local responsibility

Questions to consider

  • When is self-help not enough?
  • How do we balance local and federal roles?

Another view

This stance can limit support for necessary social safety nets.

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