"The use of methamphetamines has become pervasive in our country, and especially in rural areas."
About Collin Peterson
Collin Peterson — Life and Legacy
Collin Peterson served as a U.S. Congressman for over two decades, representing Minnesota's 7th congressional district. His significance lies in his unwavering commitment to agricultural policy and rural advocacy, where he championed the interests of farmers and rural communities. Peterson's core philosophy revolves around the idea that leadership is fundamentally about service. He famously stated, 'Leadership is about serving others,' which encapsulates his belief that effective leaders prioritize the needs of their constituents. This perspective is reflected in his legislative efforts, where he consistently sought to amplify the voices of those often overlooked in political discourse. Peterson's quotes often emphasize resilience, particularly in the face of adversity. He articulated that 'You can't lead if you don't listen,' a statement that underscores his approach to governance—one that values dialogue and understanding. By advocating for policies that support rural development and sustainable agriculture, he challenged the status quo and pushed for a more inclusive political landscape. Today, Peterson's insights remain relevant as they resonate with ongoing discussions about leadership, community, and the importance of perseverance. His emphasis on listening and serving continues to inspire current and future leaders in navigating the complexities of governance and public service.
Quote collection
Collin Peterson quotes (page 1 of 2)
38 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"I am personally saddened and stunned by the tragic events that took place in Red Lake."
"I fought NAFTA when it passed; it has been a big disaster for us, in my opinion. If we can renegotiate that, it would be wonderful."
"We [Democrats] have become a party of assembling all these different groups, the women's caucus and the black caucus and the Hispanic caucus and the lesbian-gay-transgender caucus and so forth, and that doesn't relate to people out in rural America."
"I think we are starting to get some information that will allow us to get to the bottom of this, and I hope we continue to work on this until we get to the bottom of it."
"The [Democratic] party's become an urban party, and they don't get rural America. They don't get agriculture."
"You can't have a majority party in Minnesota or throughout the country without [support from] the people in these [rural] districts. Given the position [the Democratic Party] has taken, it's very hard to see how you can do that."
"Some of the people in my caucus, some of the people in the state party in Minnesota have basically said, "We don't want to deal with these guys because they're too conservative," or "We don't agree with them on social issues.""
"I agree with [Donald] Trump: These trade agreements have not been good deals for America, and they need to be fixed."
"[Bernie] Sanders tapped into that [trade issues]; that was part of his support. And then when he didn't make it, some of those Sanders people went to [Donald] Trump."
"[Trade] was clearly a factor.That was a complete reversal of where things are normally at. Usually Republicans are all for free trade."
"Pushing gun control drives people [in my district] crazy, gay marriage, abortion, deficit spending.All of that stuff adds up to be a problem for Democrats."
"[Rural people] have a different lifestyle, and they don't want to change it. They're happy with the way things are. It's causing the party political problems."
"You know what the economics are like in Red Lake County. There's no way a family can pay $15,000, $20,000 a year for health insurance and make it work. You just can't do it. It's got to change."
"I heard a lot about the Affordable Care Act, too. About how people in the individual market were getting clobbered with all these increases, which is a legitimate issue."
"[People] think [the government is] coddling people, like when people's feelings are hurt at the colleges and they send somebody in to make them feel better. Stuff like that drives [voters here] crazy."
"A lot of it is backlash against all this political correctness that's going on."
"It was kind of interesting: [People] didn't really want to talk about it too much. And then after the election, it's kind of like they've been unleashed."
"Well, the sugar guys have been dealing with NAFTA ever since it passed. Now we've got Mexico dumping sugar that's subsidized by the Mexican government into our market in violation of the World Trade Organization, because NAFTA gave them open access to our sugar market. They claim they're not subsidized, but the government owns half the industry in Mexico."
"If everybody in our caucus had a 50/50 [Democrat/Republican] district, we'd have a lot different discussion. But if they have a 90 percent Democratic district, they don't ever talk to a Republican, they don't have to and they don't want to."