Don Young

Politician

Don Young was a U.S. Congressman known for his long service and advocacy for Alaskan interests, emphasizing leadership and resilience.

Born
June 9, 1933
Quotes
20
Rank
#3887

About Don Young

Don Young — Life and Legacy

Don Young served as a U.S. Congressman for Alaska from 1973 until his passing in 2022, making him one of the longest-serving members in history. His political career was marked by a steadfast commitment to his constituents and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by Alaskans. Young's leadership style was characterized by his resilience and determination, often encapsulated in his quotes that urged strength in the face of adversity. One of his notable quotes, 'We have to be strong,' encapsulates his belief that effective leadership requires unwavering resolve, especially during difficult times. This perspective was shaped by his own experiences, which included navigating the complexities of federal policies that directly impacted Alaska's economy and environment. Young often emphasized the importance of unity, as seen in his statement, 'We are all in this together,' which reflects his commitment to collaborative solutions for the state's challenges. Young's legacy continues to resonate, as his quotes remind us of the significance of perseverance and collective effort in public service. His insights into leadership and resilience remain relevant, inspiring future generations to approach challenges with determination and a sense of community.

Quote collection

Don Young quotes

20 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Don Young Politician
Popular

"Remember in 1973 the same science chatter said that the coming Ice Age is going to occur, we're going to lose millions of people. And the politicians knew how to solve it, they just didn't have the courage to solve it; they were going to put coal dust on the Arctic."

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Don Young Politician
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"I can't convince you to put the drink down if you're an alcoholic, you have to want to do that. I can't convince you to stop eating the cookies when you're a diabetic. You have to do that. And that takes responsibility."

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Don Young Politician
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"Remember, the Arctic didn't have any ice. And the Northwest Passage was wide open. They were raising grapes in Scotland for God sakes, had a huge winery. Iceland was a farming community. As some of the glaciers retreated they found villages that were covered with ice."

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Don Young Politician
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"Environmentalists are a socialist group of individuals that are the tool of the Democrat Party. I'm proud to say that they are my enemy. They are not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans."

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Don Young Politician
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"I wrote my thesis on the benefits of war and very near got thrown out of college. But I can show you where the greatest advancement of mankind comes under stress and strain, not comfort."

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Don Young Politician
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"We're the only creature God ever created that doesn't want to adapt. We want to make it stand still. And one thing that's constant is nature is constantly changing."

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Don Young Politician
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"We wonder why we have got the Freemen or the militants. We wonder why we have got unrest in this country. It is because our government, in fact, has got out of hand and out of line, with the Endangered Species Act."

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Don Young Politician
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"If I have my way, I'm going to dissolve the Forest Service. They're in the business of harvesting trees and they're not harvesting trees, so why have them anymore ?"

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Don Young Politician
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"That's one of our biggest problems, it's always somebody else's fault instead of our own fault."

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Don Young Politician
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"I don't see any justification for the federal government owning land, other than the Statue of Liberty and maybe a few parks, maybe a few refuges. But to just own land to do nothing with it I think is a disservice to the Constitution."

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Don Young Politician
Popular

"There's nothing pretty about ice. Ice grows nothing. But we've got this in our minds that we've got to make everything cold."

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Don Young Politician
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"The military taught me the importance of getting something done in a timely manner and the importance of completing a mission on time. My lieutenant would say, 'If you don't, you die.' In many ways, life is the same. If you don't pay attention to a timeline, you lose out on the ability to accomplish the task at hand."

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Don Young Politician
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"I would encourage the next commander in chief to be more cooperative and communicative with Congress, particularly when entering a conflict."

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Don Young Politician
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"I never had the chance to decide; I was drafted to serve my nation. While I received a deferment to attend school, I ultimately served in the United States Army in the years following the Korean conflict."

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Don Young Politician
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"Don't you ever touch me. Don't ever touch me. The last guy who touched me ended up on the ground dead."

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Don Young Politician
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"Russia's increased Arctic presence. The Arctic has vast natural resources and security value, and Russia is drastically increasing its footprint in the region."

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Don Young Politician
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"If it is warming, it's because it's happened before, cyclitic, it will happen again, regardless of what you and I do."

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Don Young Politician
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"You've got to be willing to forgive and say, 'God, get something good out of something bad.' And if you'll make that choice... God will do it."

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Don Young Politician
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"I am extremely proud of our remarkable men and women who serve in our military, but the reality is that this is a shrinking percentage of the American population. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a growing disconnect between our military and civilian population. At one time, we had participation from nearly every American. Victory gardens, metal collections, saving stamps and bonds-everyone did their part to support our military. We simply don't do that anymore."

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Don Young Politician
Popular

"If you can't eat it, can't sleep under it, can't wear it or make something from it, it's not worth anything."

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